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. 










THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL BUILDING 



































































DAILY STORIES 

OF 

PENNSYLVANIA 


Prepared for publication in the leading daily 
newspapers of the State by 


<y 


<9 

FREDERIC A. GODCHARLES 

' V 

Milton, Pennsylvania 


FORMER REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, STATE 
SENATOR, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH, 
MEMBER HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF UNION COUNTY, 
HISTORICAL SOCIETY LYCOMING COUNTY, 

AND OTHERS 

Author of Freemasonry in Northumberland 
and Snyder Counties, Pennsylvania 





MILTON, PA. 

1924 




F7f<? 


Copyrighted 1924 

BY 

FREDERIC A. GODCHARLES 


Printed in the United States of America 


DEC 18 *24 



©C1A814286 






These Daily Stories of Pennsylvania 

ARE DEDICATED TO 

MY MOTHER 

THROUGH WHOM I AM DESCENDED FROM 
SOME OF ITS EARLIEST PIONEERS AND 
PATRIOTS AND FROM WHOM I INHERITED 
MUCH LOVE FOR THE STORY OF MY NATIVE 
STATE. 






PRINCIPAL SOURCES UTILIZED 


Archives of Pennsylvania. 

Colonial Records of Pennsylvania. 

Hazard’s Annals of Philadelphia. 

Egle’s History of Pennsylvania. 

Gordon’s History of Pennsylvania. 

Cornell’s History of Pennsylvania. 

Day’s Historical Collection. 

Shimmel’s Pennsylvania. 

Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania. 

Pennypacker’s Pennsylvania The Keystone. 

The Shippen Papers. 

Loudon’s Indian Narratives. 

Sachse’s German Pietists. 

Rupp’s County Histories. 

Magazine of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 
American Magazine of History. 

Egle’s Notes and Queries. 

Harvey’s Wilkes Barre. 

Miner’s History of Wyoming. 

Jenkin’s Pennsylvania Colonial and Federal. 

Scharf and Westcott’s History of Philadelphia.. 

Lossing’s Field Book of the Revolution. 

On the Frontier with Colonel Antes. 

Meginness’ Otzinachson. 

Linn’s Annals of Buffalo Valley. 

Hassler’s Old Westmoreland. 

Fisher’s Making of Pennsylvania. 

McClure’s Old Time Notes. 

Parkman’s Works. 

Shoemaker’s Folklore, Legends and Mountain Stories. 
Jones’ Juniata Valley. 

Prowell’s York County. 

Smull’s Legislative Hand Book. 

Journal of Christopher Gist. 

Journal of William Maclay. 

Journal of Samuel Maclay. 

Journal of Rev. Charles Beatty. 

Scrap Books of Thirty Years’ Preparation. 

Annual Reports State Federation of Historical Societies. 
And others. 


IV 


INTRODUCTION 


I HE Daily Stories of Pennsylvania were published in the news¬ 
papers under the title “Today’s Story in Pennsylvania 
History,” and there has been a genuine demand for their publi¬ 
cation in book form. 

During all his active life the author has been impressed 
with the unparalleled influence of Pennsylvania in the develop¬ 
ment of affairs which have resulted in the United States 
of America. 

Since youth he has carefully preserved dates and facts of historical 
importance and has so arranged this data that it made possible these 
stories, each of which appeared on the actual anniversary of the event or 
person presented. 

This idea seems to have been a new venture in journalism and the 
enterprising editors of our great Commonwealth, contracted for and 
published “Today’s Story in Pennsylvania History,” and their readers 
have manifested a deep interest to these editors and to the author. 

Soon as there developed a demand for the collection of stories in 
book form, the author determined to add a story for the fifty-three 
Sunday dates, which have not before been published, and to arrange the 
entire collection according to the calendar, and not chronologically. In 
this arrangement they can be more readily found when desired for quick 
reference or study. 

These stories have been prepared from many different sources, not 
a few from original manuscripts, or from writings which have not been 
heretofore used; many are rewritten from familiar publications, but too 
frequent reference to such sources has been omitted as these would 
encumber the foot of so many pages that the stories would require a 
much larger book or a second volume, either of which would be objec¬ 
tionable and unnecessary. 

It is a hopeless task to acknowledge the many courtesies received, 
but in some slight manner the author must recognize the friendship of 
Prof. Hiram H. Shenk, custodian of records in the State Library, who 
so generously placed him in touch with many valuable papers, books 
and manuscripts, and in many ways assisted in much of the historical 
data. The names of Dr. Thomas L. Montgomery, Librarian Historical 
Society of Pennsylvania; Dr. George P. Donehoo, former State 
Librarian; the late Julius Sachse; the late Dr. Hugh Hamilton; former 
Governor Hon. Edwin S. Stuart and Colonel Henry W. Shoemaker, 
each of whom contributed such assistance as was requested. The 
valuable help extended by officers and assistants in the State Library, 
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, The Wyoming Historical and 
Geological Society, The Historical Society of Dauphin County, The 
Lycoming County Historical Society and other similar organizations 
deserves particular mention and gratitude. 

It is also a matter of intense satisfaction that the author acknowl¬ 
edges the following progressive newspapers which carried the stories, 





VI 


INTRODUCTION 


and the editors of which so materially assisted by their personal 
attention in making his work such an unusual success: Allentown 
Chronicle and News, Altoona Mirror, Berwick Enterprise, Bethlehem 
Globe, Bloomsburg Morning Press, Carlisle Sentinel, Chester Times, 
Coatesville Record, Danville Morning News, Doylestown Democrat, 
Du Bois Courier, Easton Free Press, Ellwood City Ledger, Erie Dis¬ 
patch-Herald, Farrell News, Greensburg Record, Greenville Advance 
Argus, Harrisburg Evening News, Hazleton Standard-Sentinel, Indiana 
Gazette, Johnstown Tribune, Lancaster Intelligencer, Lansford Evening 
Record, Mauch Chunk Daily News, Meadville Tribune-Republican, 
Milton Evening Standard, Mount Carmel Item, Norristown Times- 
Herald, Philadelphia Public Ledger, Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph, 
Pittston Gazette, Pottsville Republican, Reading Herald-Telegram, 
Ridgway Record, Scranton Republican, Shamokin Dispatch, Sharon 
Herald, Shenandoah Herald, Stroudsburg Times-Democrat, Sunbury 
Daily Item, Tamaqua Courier, Titusville Herald, Uniontown Herald, 
Waynesboro Record-Herald, Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, Williamsport 
Sun, and York Gazette. 

Frederic A. Godcharles. 

Milton, Penna., September 4, 1924. 


CONTENTS 


Adoption of Federal Constitution.. 

.Sept. 

Allummapees, King of Delaware 


Indians.Aug. 

American, John Penn, the.Jan. 

Antes, Lt. Col. John Henry... .May 

Antes, Pious Henry.Jan. 

Anti-Masonic Investigation . .. .Dec. 
Anti-Masonic Outbreak in Penn¬ 
sylvania .Aug. 


Anti-Masonic Period Terminates... 

.Dec. 

Armed Force to Forks of Ohio.Feb. 
Armstrong, Captain John, Murdered 

.April 

Armstrong Destroys Kittanning. . .. 

.Sept. 

Arnold Arrested, General Benedict 

. Feb. 

Asylum, the French Settlement.Dec. 
Attempted Slaughter of Indians at 


Wichetunk.Oct. 

Attempt to Navigate Susquehanna 

Fails .April 

Baldwin, Matthias.Jan. 

Bank, First in America.Dec. 

Bank of North America.Jan. 

Bard Family Captured by Indians. . 


Bartram, John.March 

Battle of Brandywine.Sept. 

Battle of Bushy Run. Aug. 

Battle of Fallen Timbers ....Aug. 

Battle of Germantown.Oct. 

Battle of Gettysburg... .July 1 and 

Battle of the Kegs.Jan. 

Battle 5f Lake Erie :. Sept. 

Battle of Minisinks .July 

Battle of Monongahela.July 

Battle of Muncy Hills.Aug. 

Battle of Trenton.Dec. 

Beatty, Rev. Charles, and Old Log 

College.Jan. 

Bedford County Erected.March 

Beissel, John Conrad.July 

Bell for State House.. .June 

Berks County Outrages.Nov. 

Bethlehem as Base Hospital in 

Revolution .March 

Bi-centennial .Oct. 

Bills of Credit Put State on Paper 

Money Basis.March 

Binns, John.Nov. 

Binns, John.June 

Binns, John, Fights Duel with Sam¬ 
uel Stewart.Dec. 


Black Boys . 


26 

Bloody Saturday . 

.Aug. 

14 

Bloody Election. 


1 

Boone, Daniel. 


22 

Border Troubles Reach 

Provincial 


Authorities. 


14 


Border Troubles with Maryland. . . 

.May 25 

Border Troubles with Thomas 

Cresap .Nov. 23 

Boundary Disputes Settled ...Nov. 5 

Boundary Dispute with Maryland.. 

.May 10 

Boundary Dispute with Virginia.. 

. Sept. 23 

Bounty for Indian Scalps.April 14 

Bouquet Defeats Indians at Bushy 

Run./..Aug. 6 

Bouquet Relieves Fort Pitt....Aug. 10 

Boyd, Captain John.Feb. 22 

Boyd, Lieutenant Thomas Murdered 

.Sept. 13 

Braddock’s Defeat.July 9 

Braddock’s Road Begun.May 6 

Braddock’s Troops Arrive ....Feb. 20 
Brady, Captain James, Killed.Aug. 8 

Brady, Captain John.April 11 

British and Indians Attack and 

Destroy Fort Freeland.July 28 

British Destroy Indian Towns. Aug. 25 
British Evacuate Philadelphia .June 17 
British Invest Philadelphia ...Sept. 26 
Brodhead Arrives at Fort Pitt to 

Fight Indians .March 5 

Broadhead Destroys Coshocton.April 20 
Brodhead Makes Indian Raid.Aug. 11 

Brown, General Jacob.Feb. 24 

Brule, Etienne .Oct. 24 

Buchanan, President James.. .April 23 

Buck Shot War.Dec. 5 

Bucks County Homes Headquarters 
for Washington and Staff...Dec. 8 

Bull, Ole.Feb. 5 

Bull, Gen John.June 1; Aug. 9 

Cameron, Colonel James.July 21 

Cameron Defeats Forney for Senate 

.Jan. 13 

Cammerhoff, Bishop John Chris¬ 
topher .Jan. 6 

Camp Curtin.April 18 

Canal Lottery, Union.April 17 

Canals Projected in Great Meeting 

.Oct. 20 

Canal System Started.Feb. 19 

Capitol, Burning of.Feb. 2 

Capitol, New State.Jan. 2 


17 

12 

29 

13 

12 

4 

18 

4 

17 

9 

8 

3 

20 

12 

27 

8 

31 

7 

13 

23 

11 

6 

20 

4 

2 

5 

10 

22 

9 

26 

26 

22 

9 

6 

2 

14 

27 

21 

2 

16 

24 

14 





































































CONTENTS 


viii 

Capital, Removed to Harrisburg... 

. Feb. 

Capture of Timothy Pickering. June 

Carlisle Indian School .July 

Carlisle Raided by Rebels.June 

Carey, Matthew.Sept. 

Chambers-Rieger Duel .May 

Chambersburg Sacked and Burned 

by Rebels.July 

Charter for City of Pittsburgh.... 

. March 

Charter for Pennsylvania Received 

by William Penn.March 

Chester County, Deed for.June 

Church West of Alleghenies, First 

.June 

Civil Government Established in 

Pennsylvania.Aug. 

Clapham Builds Fort Halifax.June 
Clapham Family Murdered by In¬ 
dians .May 

Clark Drafts Troops for Detroit 

Expedition .March 

Coal First Burned in a Grate..Feb. 

Cochran, Dr. John.Sept. 

Cooke & Co. Fail, Jay.Sept. 

Cooper Shop and Union Saloon 

Restaurants .May 

Commissioners Appointed to Pur¬ 
chase Indian Lands.Feb. 

Conestoga Indians Killed by Pax- 

tang Boys.Dec. 

Confederate Raids into Pennsyl¬ 
vania .Oct. 

Congress Threatened by Mob of 

Soldiers.June 

Constitutional Convention of 1790.. 

.Nov. 

Constitution of 1790. 

.March 24; Sept. 

Constitution of United States 

Adopted .Sept. 

Continental Congress First Meets in 

Philadelphia.Sep^ 

Conway Cabal .Nov. 

Cornerstones Laid for Germantown 

Academy.April 

Council of Censors.Nov. 

Cornwallis Defeats Americans at 

Brandywine.Sept. 

Counties, First Division into...Feb. 
Counties of Pennsylvania Organized 

.March 

Courts, Early Records.Jan. 

Court Moved from Upland to King- 

sesse.June 

Cruel Murder of Colonel William 

Crawford.June 11 and 

Crawford Burned at Stake by In¬ 
dians .June 

Crawford Captured by Indians, 
Colonel William.June 


Cresap’s Invasion.Nov. 23 

Croghan, George, King of Traders 

.May 7 

Crooked Billet Massacre.May 1 

Curtin Inaugurated Governor. .Jan. 15 

Darrah, Lydia.Dec. 11 

Davy, the Lame Indian.May 30 

Declaration of Independence.. .July 4 

Deed for Chester County.June 25 

Deed for Province Obtained by 

Penn.Aug. 31 

Denny Succeeded by Governor 

Hamilton.Oct. 9 

DeVries Arrives on Delaware. .Dec. 6 

Dickinson, John .Nov. 10 

Disberry, Joseph, Thief.Nov. 22 

Doan Brothers, Famous Outlaws... 

.Sept. 24 

Donation Lands .March 12 

Drake Brings in First Oil Well 

.Aug. 28 

Duel, Binns-Stewart.Dec. 14 

Duel in Which Capt. Stephen 

Chambers is Killed.May 11 

Dutch Gain Control of Delaware.. 

.Sept. 25 

Easton, Indian Conference at. 

.Jan. 27; Aug. 7; Oct. 8 

Education Established, Public 

School .March 11 

End of Indian War.Oct. 23 

Ephrata Society.July 6 

Era of Indian Traders.Aug. 12 

Erie County Settled.Feb. 28 

Erie Riots.Dec. 9 

Erie Triangle ...April 3 

Etymology of Counties.Aug. 30 

Europeans Explore Waters of Penn¬ 
sylvania .Aug. 27 

Ewell Leads Raid on Carlisle.June 27 

Excise Laws, First.March 17 

Expedition Against Indians. 

.Nov. 4; Nov. 8 

Exploits of David Lewis, the Rob¬ 
ber.March 25 and 26 

Farmer’s Letters, Dickinson’s. .Nov. 10 
Federal Constitution Ratified by 

Pennsylvania.Dec. 12 

Federal Party Broken Up.Nov. 29 

Fell Successfully Burns Anthracite 

Coal .Feb. 11 

Fires, Early, in Province.Dec. 7 

First Bank in America.Dec. 31 

First Bank in United States.. .Jan. 7 

First Church.in Province.Sept. 4 

First Church West of Allegheny 

Mountains .June 20 

First Continental Congress_Sept. 5 

First Excise Laws.March 17 

First Fire Company in Province 
.Dec. 7 


21 

26 

31 

27 

16 

11 

30 

18 

4 

25 

20 

3 

7 

28 

3 

11 

1 

18 

27 

29 

27 

10 

21 

21 

2 

17 

5 

28 

21 

13 

11 

1 

10 

11 

8 

12 

12 

11 













































































CONTENTS 


ix 


First Forty Settlers Arrive at Wyo¬ 
ming .Feb. 

First Governor of Commonwealth 

^. Dec. 

First Jury Drawn in Province.Nov. 
First Law to Educate Poor Chil¬ 
dren .March 

First Magazine in America_Feb. 

First Massacre at Wyoming.. .Oct. 
First Mint in United States. .April 

First Oil Well in America_Aug. 

First Newspaper in Province. .Dec. 
First Newspaper West of Alle¬ 
gheny Mountains .July 

First Northern Camp in Civil War 

. April 

First Paper Mill in America.. .Feb. 
First Permanent Settlement... .Sept. 

First Post Office.Nov. 

First Protest Against Slavery. .Feb. 
First Settlement of Germantown... 

.Oct. 

First Theatrical Performances .... 

.April 

First Troops to Reach Washington 

at Cambridge.July 

First Union Officer Killed in Civil 

War.July 

Flag, Story of. June 

Flight of Tories from Fort Pitt.... 

.March 

Forbes Invests Fort Duquesne.Nov. 
Forney Defeated for U. S. Senate by 


General Simon Cameron.Jan. 

Forrest, Edwin .April 

Forrest Home for Actors.April 

Fort Augusta.March 

Fort Freeland Destroyed by British 

and Indians .July 

Fort Granville Destroyed ....Aug. 

Fort Halifax.June 

Fort Henry.Jan. 

Fort Hunter.Jan. 

Fort Laurens Attacked by Simon 

Girty .Feb. 

Fort Mifflin Siege Begins.Sept. 

Fort Montgomery.Sept. 

Fort Patterson .Oct. 

Fort Pitt First So Called.Nov. 

Forts Built by Colonel Benjamin 

Franklin.Dec. 

Fort Swatara .Oct. 

Fort Wilson Attacked by klob.Oct. 

Frame of Government.April 

Francis, Colonel Turbutt, Leads 

Troops to Wyoming.June 

Franklin, Benjamin .Jan. 

Franklin at Carlisle Conference... 


Franklin at French Court.Dec. 


Franklin Builds Chain of Forts... 
.Dec. 


Franklin County Erected.Sept. 9 

Franklin Sails for England. . .Nov. 8 

Free Society of Traders.May 29 

French and Indians Destroy Fort 

Granville.Aug. 1 

French and Indian War .May 5 

French and Indian War Started... 

. Feb. 20 

French Defeat Major Grant at Fort 

Duquesne.Sept. 14 

French Plant Leaden Plates..June 15 
Frenchtown, or Asylum Founded by 

Refugees .Dec. 20 

Freitchie, Barbara .Dec. 18 

Fries Rebellion .March 14 

Fulton, Robert .Aug. 17 

Gallatin, Albert.Jan. 20 

Galloway, Joseph.Aug. 29 

Garrison at Fort Pitt Relieved by 

Colonel Henry Bouquet.Aug. 10 

German Pietists Organize Harmony 

Society.Feb. 15 

Germantown Academy.April 21 

Gettysburg Address, Lincoln’s.Nov. 19 

Gnadenhutten Destroyed .Nov. 24 

Gnadenhutten (Ohio) Destroyed 

.March 8 

Gibson’s Lambs.July 16 

Gilbert Family in Indian Cap¬ 
tivity .Aug. 22 

Girard, Captain Stephen.May 21 

Girty Attacks Fort Laurens-Feb. 23 

Girty, Simon, Outlaw and Renegade 

. Jan. 16 

Gordon, Governor Patrick... .Aug. 5 
Grant Leaves Philadelphia on 

World Tour .Dec. 16 

Grant Suffers Defeat at Fort Du¬ 
quesne .Sept. 14 

Great Runaway. .July 5 

Groshong’s, Massacre at Jacob.May 16 
Hambright’s Expedition Against 

Great Island.Nov. 4 

Hamilton, James, Becomes Governor 

.Oct. 9 

Hand, General Edward.Sept. 3 

Hand’s Expedition Moves from Fort 

Pitt.Oct. 19 

Hannastown Burned .July 13 

Hannastown Jail Stormed by Mob 

.Feb. 7 

Harmony Society.Feb. 15 

Harris, John.Oct. 25 

Hartley’s Expedition Against In¬ 
dians .Sept. 7 

Hiester, Governor Joseph.Nov. 18 

Hiokatoo, Chief .Nov. 20 

Hospital at Bethlehem, Base.March 27 

Hot Water War.March 14 

Howe Moves Against Philadelphia 
.July 23 


8 

21 

12 

1 

13 

15 

2 

28 

22 

29 

18 

18 

4 

27 

12 

6 

15 

25 

21 

14 

28 

25 

13 

7 

7 

29 

28 

1 

7 

25 

9 

23 

27 

6 

2 

25 

29 

30 

5 

25 

22 

17 

22 

28 

29 








































































X 


CONTENTS 


Impeachment, Supreme Court Judges 
Yeates, Smith and Shippen. .Dec. 
Inland Waterways Meeting. .. .Oct. 
Inquisition on Free Masonry a 

Fiasco.Dec. 

Inauguration of Governor Curtin 

.Jan. 

Inauguration, Governor Thomas 

Mifflin.Dec. 

Inauguration of Governor Packer 

. Jan. 

Indian Conference at Easton. 

.Jan. 27; Aug. 7; Oct. 

Indian Conference at Harris Ferry 

. April 

Indian Conference at Philadelphia 

.June 30; Aug. 

Indian Conference at Lancaster. ... 

. Apr. 

Indian School at Carlisle.July 

Indian Shoots at Washington. Nov. 

Indian Traders, Era of.Aug. 

Indian War Ends .Oct. 

Indians Capture Assemblyman 

James McKnight .April 

Indians Commit Outrages in Berks 

County .Nov. 

Indians Defeated at Fallen Timbers 

. .. Aug. 

Indians Destroy Widow Smith’s 

Mill .July 

Indians Kill Major John Lee and 

Family .Aug. 

Indians Murder Colonel William 

Clapham and Family.May 

Indians Ravage McDowell Mill 

Settlement .Oct. 

Indians Slaughtered at Gnadenhut- 

ten, Ohio.March 

Jail at Hannastown Stormed.. .Feb. 
Jennison, Mary, Capture of.. .April 

Johnstown Flood .May 

Journey of Bishop Cammerhoff. Jan. 
Judges Yeates, Shippin and Smith 

Impeached .Dec. 

Kegs, Battle of the.Jan. 

Keith, Sir William.Nov. 

Kelly, Colonel John.April 

Kittanning Destroyed by Colonel 

John Armstrong.Sept. 

Know Nothing Party and Pollock 

... •;.June 

Labor Riots After Civil War. .Sept. 

Lacock, General Abner.April 

Lafayette Retreats at Matson’s Ford 

.May 

Leaning Tower, John Mason’s. April 

Lee Family, Massacre of.Aug. 

Lewis, David, The Robber. 

.March 25 and 

Lewistown Riot..Sept. 


Liberty Bell Hung in State House 

. June 2 

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. .Nov. 19 
Littlehales Murdered by Mollie Ma¬ 
guires .March 15 

Lochry Musters Troops in West¬ 
moreland County.Aug. 2 

Locomotive, First Successful. . .Jan. 8 

Logan, Hon. James.Oct. 28 

Logan’s Family Slain, Chief...May 24 

Log College, Old.Jan. 22 

Lost Sister of Wyoming.Nov. 2 

Lottery for Union Canal.April 17 

Lower Counties in Turmoil. . .Nov. 1 
Lumbermen’s War at Williamsport 

.July 10 

Lycans, Andrew .March 7 

Maclay, Samuel.Jan. 4 

Maclay, Hon. William.July 20 

Magazine, First in America. .. .Feb. 13 
Major Murdered by Mollie Ma¬ 
guires .Nov. 3 

Maguires, Mollie . 

....Jan. 18; Feb. 10; March 15; 
May 4; Aug. 14; Nov. 3; Dec. 2 
Mason & Dixon Boundary Line... 

.Dec. 30 

Mason, John, and His Leaning 

Tower.April 22 

Massacre Along Juniata River.Jan. 28 
Massacre at Conococheague Valley 

.July 26 

Massacre at Crooked Billet.. . .May 1 
Massacre at French Jacob Gro- 

shong’s .May 16 

Massacre at Mahanoy Creek...Oct. 18 
Massacre at Patterson’s Fort...Oct. 2 

Massacre at Penn’s Creek.Oct. 16 

Massacre at Standing Stone...June 19 
Massacre at Williamsport ....June 10 

Massacre at Wyoming.July 3 

Massacre of Americans at Paoli 

. Sept. 20 

McAllister, Colonel Richard.. .Oct. 7 
McDowell’s Mills, Outrages at.Oct. 31 


McFarlane, Andrew.Feb. 25 

McKee, Captain Thomas.Jan. 24 

McKnight, James, Captured by In¬ 
dians .April 26 

Meschianza .May 18 

Mexican War .Dec. 15 

Mifflin, General Thomas.Jan. 21 

Mifflin, General Thomas, Inaugu¬ 
rated Governor.Dec. 21 

Military Laws Repealed.March 20 

Militia Organization .Jan. 23 

Minisink Battle.July 22 

Mint, First in United States. . April 2 

Minuit, Peter, Arrives.March 30 

Mob Attacks Court House at Lewis- 
town .Sept. 12 


13 

20 

19 

15 

21 

19 

8 

1 

16 

1 

31 

15 

12 

23 

26 

14 

20 

8 

13 

28 

31 

8 

7 

5 

31 

6 

13 

5 

17 

8 

8 

5 

18 

12 

20 

22 

13 

26 

12 


































































CONTENTS 


xi 


Mob Attacks Home of James Wil¬ 
son .;.Oct. 5 

Mob Threatens Congress.June 21 

Monmouth, Battle of.June 28 

Montour, Madame ..Sept. 15 

Moravian Church Established when 

Mob Assails Pastor.July 27 

Moravian Indian Mission at Wya- 

1 using.May 23 

Moravians Massacred at Gnaden- 

hutten .Nov. 24 

Moravians Visit Great Island. .July 11 

More, Dr. Nicholas.May 15 

Morris, Robert.Jan. 31 

Mother Northumberland, Old.March 21 

Mott, Lucretia .Jan. 3 

Murder of Sanger and Uren by 

Mollie Maguires.Feb. 10 

Mutiny in Pennsylvania Line. .Jan. 1 

Navy of Pennsylvania.May 8 

Negro Boy Starts Race Riot in 

Philadelphia.July 12 

Negro School at Nazareth Started 

by Whitefield .May 3 

Neville, Captain John, Sent to Fort 

Pitt.July 17 

News of Revolution Reaches Phila¬ 
delphia .April 24 

New Sweden, Governor Printz Ar¬ 
rives .Feb. 16 

Northumberland County Erected 

.March 21 

Oil Discovered at Titusville. .Aug. 28 
Pack Trains Attacked at Fort Lou¬ 
doun .March 6 

Paoli Massacre.Sept. 20 

Paper Mill, First in America. .Feb. 18 

Paper Money Basis.March 2 

Pastorius and Germans Settle at 

Germantown.Oct. 6 

Patent for Province Given Duke of 

York .June 29 

Patriotic Women Feed Soldiers in 

Civil War.May 27 

Pattison to Burning of Capitol.Feb. 2 
Paxtang Boys Kill Conestoga In¬ 
dians .Dec. 27 

Pence, Peter.March 22 

Penn, John .Feb. 9 

Penn (John) Succeeds Richard Penn 

as Governor.Feb. 4 

Penn, John, “The American”. .Jan. 29 
Penn Lands in His Province.. .Oct. 29 
Penn Obtains Deed for Province 

.Aug. 31 

Penn Receives Charter for Penn¬ 
sylvania .March 4 

Penn Sails for England.Nov. 1 

Penn, William.Oct. 14 

Penn’s Creek Massacre.Oct. 16 

Penn’s First Wife, John.June 6 

Penn’s Frame of Government.April 25 


Penn’s Second Visit to Province 

• .. Dec. 1 

Penn’s Trip Through Pennsyl¬ 
vania .April 6 

Pennamites Driven from Wyoming 

. Aug. 15 

Pennsylvania in Battle of Mon- 

moujh ..June 28 

Pennsylvania Line, Mutiny in..Jan. 1 
Pennsylvania Navy in Revolution 

. May 8 

Pennsylvanian Proposes Railway to 

Pacific .. June 23 

Pennsylvania Railroad Organized 

. March 31 

Pennsylvania Ratifies Federal Con¬ 
stitution .Dec. 12 

Pennsylvania Reserve Corps..April 19 
Perry Wins Victory on Lake Erie 

• .;.Sept. 10 

Philadelphia Evacuated by British 

• . June 17 

Philadelphia Invested by British 

• .Sept. 26 

Philadelphia Riots .July 7 

Pickering, Colonel Timothy... .June 26 

Pitcher, Molly .Oct. 13 

Pittsburgh Gazette ..July 29 

Pittsburgh Receives City Charter 

.March 18 

Pittsburgh Railroads Fight for En¬ 
trance ..Jan. 14 

Plot to Kidnap Governor Snyder 

.Nov. 9 

Pluck, Colonel John, Parades..May 19 
Plunket Defeated by Yankees..Dec. 25 
Plunket Defeats Yankees ....Sept. 28 
Plunket’s Expedition Against 

Yankees....Dec. 24 

Pollock and Know Nothing Party 

. June 5 

Pontiac’s Conspiracy.May 17 

Post, Christian Frederic.April 29 

Post Office, Pioneer.Nov. 27 

Powder Exploit, Gibson’s.July 16 

Powell, Morgan, Murdered by Mol¬ 
lie Maguires .Dec. 2 

Presqu’ Isle Destroyed by Indians 

. June 4 

Preston, Margaret Junkin.. .March 19 

Priestley, Dr. Joseph.Feb. 6 

Printz, Johan .Feb. 16 

Provincial Conference.June 18 

Provincial Convention.July 15 

Provincial Troops March Against 

Wyoming Settlements .June 22 

Public Education Established.March 11 
Purchase Caused Boundary Dispute 

. June 9 

Quakers Protest vs. Slavery... Feb. 12 

Quick, Tom .July 19 

Race Riot in Philadelphia.July 12 





































































CONTENTS 


Xll 


Railroads Fight to Enter Pittsburgh 

...Jan. 14 

Reading Railroad Organized. .April 4 

Rebels Raid on Carlisle.June 27 

Rebels Sack and Burn Chambers- 

burg.July 30 

Records of Early Courts.Jan. 11 

Reign of Mollie Maguire Terror 

Ended .Jan. 18 

Riots at Philadelphia.July 7 

Rittenhouse, William.Feb. 18 

Ross, Betsy.Jan. 30 

Ross, George .July 14 

Ruffians Mob Pastor.July 27 

Runaway, Great. July 5 

Sailors Cause Bloody Election.. Oct. 1 

Saturday Evening Post.Aug. 4 

Sawdust War .July 10 

School Law, First.March 1 

Schoolmaster and Pupils Murdered 

by Indians .July 26 

Second Constitution for State.March 24 
Settlers Massacred at Lycoming 

Creek.June 10 

Settlers Slay Chief Logan’s Family 

. May 24 

Shawnee Indians Murder Conestoga 

Indians .April 28 

Shikellamy, Chief .Dec. 17 

Sholes, Christopher L., Inventor of 

typewriter.Feb. 14 

Siege at Fort Mifflin Opens.. .Sept. 27 

Slate Roof House.Jan. 29 

Slavery, Quakers Protest Against 

. Feb. 12 

Slocum, Francis, Indian Captive 

.Nov. 2 

Smith, Captain James.Nov. 26 

Smith, Captain John.Sept. 29; July 24 
Smith, Colonel Matthew... .March 13 

Smith’s Mill, Widow.July 8 

Snyder Calls for Troops in War of 

1812 . Aug. 24 

Snyder Escapes Kidnapping.. .Nov. 9 

Springettsbury Manor.June 16 

Squaw Campaign .May 2 

Stamp Act.Nov. 7 

Steamboat, Robert Fulton’s... .Aug. 17 
Steamboat “Susquehanna” Explodes 

.April 27 

Stevens, Inquiry About Free Ma¬ 
sonry .Dec. 19 

Story of “Singed Cat”.Aug. 4 

Stump, Frederick.Jan. 10 

Sullivan’s Expedition Against Six 

Nations.May 26 

Sunbury & Erie Railroad.Oct. 17 

Susquehanna Company .Feb. 8 

Susquehanna Company Organized 

.July 18 

Swedes Come to Delaware River 
.March 30 


Swedes Make First Permanent Set¬ 
tlement . Sept. 4 

Tedyuskung Annoys Moravians at 

Bethlehem .Aug. 21 

Tedyuskung at Easton Conference 

. Oct. 8 

Tedyuskung Defends Himself at 

Easton Council.Aug. 7 

Tedyuskung, King of Delaware In¬ 
dians .April 16 

Theatrical Performances, First.April 15 

Thief Joseph Disberry.Nov. 22 

Thompson’s Battalion of Riflemen, 

Colonel William.July 25 

Threatened War with France. .Nov. 11 
Tories Flee from Fort Pitt.. .March 28 

Tories of Sinking Valley.April 10 

Transit of Venus.June 3 

Treaty of Albany.Oct. 26 

Treaty Ratified by Congress, 

Wayne’s .Dec. 3 

Trent, Captain William.Feb. 17 

Trimble, James.Jan. 26 

Tulliallen or Story of John Penn’s 

First Wife.June 6 

Turmoil in Lower Counties... .Nov. 1 
Typewriter, Sholes Invents the.Feb. 14 
Unholy Alliance with Indians.Sept. 21 
Upland Changed to Chester.. .Oct. 29 
Venus, Observation of Transit of 

. June 3 

Veterans French and Indian War 

Organize.April 30 

Vincent, Bishop John Heyl....May 9 

Walking Purchase.Sept 19 

War of 1812.Aug. 24 

War of 1812 Begun.May 12 

Washington and Whisky Insurrec¬ 
tion .Sept. 30 

Washington at Logstown ....Nov. 30 
Washington Leads Troops in 

Whisky Insurrections.Oct. 3 

Washington Shot at by Indians... 

.Nov. 15 

Washington to Command Troops in 

War with France.Nov. 11 

Washington Uses Bucks County 

Homes for Headquarters_Dec. 8 

Washington, Lady Martha... .May 22 
Waters of State Explored by Euro¬ 
peans .Aug. 27 

Watson, John Fanning.Dec. 23 

Wayne Defeats Indians.Dec. 3 

Wayne Defeats Indians at Fallen 

Timbers.Aug. 20 

Weiser, Conrad .June 13 

Westmoreland County Erected.Feb. 26 
Whisky Insurrection in Pennsyl¬ 
vania .Sept. 30 

Whitefield Starts Negro School at 

Nazareth.May 3 

White Woman of Genesee... April 5 






































































CONTENTS 


xm 


Wiconisco Valley Suffers Indian At¬ 


tack .March 7 

Wilmot, David .March 16 

Wilson, Alexander, The Orni¬ 
thologist .Aug. 23 

Wilson’s Indian Mission.Oct. 27 

Witchcraft in Pennsylvania... .Feb. 27 
Wolf, Governor George and Public 

Education.March 11 

Wyalusing Indian Mission... .May 23 
Wyoming, First Massacre.Oct. 15 


Wyoming Massacre.July 3 

Yankees Drive Pennamites from 

Wyoming .Aug. 15 

Yankees Humiliatingly Defeat Col¬ 
onel Plunket .Dec. 25 

Yellow Fever Scourges.Nov. 6 

York County in Revolution... .Aug. 19 

York, Duke of.June 29 


Yost Murdered by Mollie Maguires 

.May 4 

Zinzindorf, Count Nicholas... .Dec. 10 


















































- • 
































' 

- 

' 










■ 














Mutiny Broke Out in Pennsylvania Line, 
January 1, 1781 

S THE year 1780 drew to a close there were warm disputes in 
the Pennsylvania regiments as to the terms on which the men 
had been enlisted. This led to such a condition by New Year’s 
Day, 1781, that there broke out in the encampment at Mor¬ 
ristown, N. J., a mutiny among the soldiers that required the 
best efforts of Congress, the Government of Pennsylvania and 
the officers of the army to subdue. 

New Year’s Day being a day of customary festivity, an extra pro¬ 
portion of rum was served to the soldiers. This, together with what 
they were able to purchase, was sufficient to influence the minds of the 
men, already predisposed by a mixture of real and imaginary injuries, 
to break forth into outrage and disorder. 

The Pennsylvania Line comprised 2500 troops, almost two-thirds of 
the Continental Army, the soldiers from the other colonies having, in 
the main, gone home. The officers maintained that at least a quarter 
part of the soldiers had enlisted for three years and the war. This 
seems to have been the fact, but the soldiers, distressed and disgusted for 
want of pay and clothing, and seeing the large bounties paid to those 
who re-enlisted, declared that the enlistment was for three years or the 
war. 

As the three years had now expired, they demanded their discharges. 
They were refused, and on January 1, 1781, the whole line, 1300 in 
number, broke out into open revolt. An officer attempting to restrain 
them was killed and several others were wounded. 

Under the leadership of a board of sergeants, the men marched 
toward Princeton, with the avowed purpose of going to Philadelphia to 
demand of Congress a fulfillment of their many promises. 

General “Mad” Anthony Wayne was in command of these troops, 
and was much beloved by them. By threats and persuasions he tried 
to bring them back to duty until their real grievances could be re¬ 
dressed. They would not listen to him; and when he cocked his pistol, 
in a menacing manner, they presented their bayonets to his breast, saying: 

“We respect and love you; you have often led us into the line of 
battle; but we are no longer under your command. We warn you to 
be on your guard. If you fire your pistol or attempt to enforce your 
commands, we shall put you instantly to death.” 

General Wayne appealed to their patriotism. They pointed to the 
broken promises of Congress. He reminded them of the effect their 
conduct would have on the enemy. They pointed to their tattered gar¬ 
ments and emaciated forms. They avowed their willingness to support 

1 





2 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the cause of independence if adequate provision could be made for their 
comfort and they boldly reiterated their determination to march to Phila¬ 
delphia, at all hazards, to demand from Congress a redress of their 
grievances. 

General Wayne determined to accompany them to Philadelphia. 
When they reached Princeton the soldiers presented the general with a 
written list of their demands. These demands appeared so reasonable 
that he had them laid before Congress. They consisted of six general 
items of complaint and were signed by William Bearnell and the other 
sergeants of the committee, William Bouzar, acting as secretary. 

Joseph Reed, President of Pennsylvania, who had been authorized 
by Congress to make propositions to the mutineers, advanced near Prince¬ 
ton on January 6, when he wrote to General Wayne in which he ex¬ 
pressed some doubts as to going into the camp of the insurgents. The 
general showed this letter to the sergeants and they immediately wrote 
the President: 

“Your Excellency need not be in the least afraid or apprehensive of 
any irregularities or ill treatment.” 

President Reed went into Princeton. His entry was greeted with the 
whole line drawn up for his reception, and every mark of military honor 
and respect was shown him. 

Articles of agreement were finally assented to and confirmed on both 
sides, January 7, 1781. These articles consisted of five sections and 
related to the time of their enlistment, terms of payment, arrearages and 
clothes. It was also agreed that the State of Pennsylvania should carry 
out its part of their contract. 

The agreement was signed by Joseph Reed and General James Potter. 

General Arthur St. Clair, the distinguished Pennsylvanian, and Gen¬ 
eral Lafayette went voluntarily to Princeton and offered their services 
in the settlement of the difficulty, especially as they had learned of the 
attempt of the British to win the malcontents to their cause. 

When Sir Henry Clinton heard of the revolt of the Pennsylvania 
Line he misunderstood the spirit of the mutineers and dispatched two 
emissaries—a British sergeant named John Mason and a New Jersey 
Tory named James Ogden—to the insurgents, with a written offer that, 
on laying down their arms and marching to New York, they should 
receive their arrearages; be furnished with good clothes, have a free par¬ 
don for all past offenses and be taken under the protection of the British 
Government and that no military service should be required of them 
unless voluntarily offered. 

Sir Henry entirely misapprehended the temper of the Pennsyl¬ 
vanians. They felt justified in using their power to obtain a redress of 
grievances, but they looked with horror upon the armed oppressors of 
their country; and they regarded the act and stain of treason under the 
circumstances as worse than the infliction of death. 


MUTINY IN PENNSYLVANIA LINE 


3 


Clinton’s proposals were rejected with disdain. “See, comrades,” 
said one of them, “he takes us for traitors. Let us show him that the 
American army can furnish but one Arnold, and that America has no 
truer friends than we.” 

They seized the two emissaries, and delivered them, with Clinton’s 
papers, into the hands of General Wayne. 

The court of inquiry sat January 10, 1781, at Somerset, N. J., with 
the court composed of General Wayne, president, and General William 
Irvine, Colonel Richard Butler, Colonel Walter Stewart and Major 
Benjamin Fishbourne. The court found John Mason and James Ogden 
guilty and condemned them to be hanged. 

Lieutenant Colonel Harmar, Inspector General of the Pennsylvania 
Line, was directed to carry the execution into effect. The prisoners 
were taken to “cross roads from the upper ferry from Trenton to Phil¬ 
adelphia at four lanes’ ends,” and executed. 

The reward which had been offered for the apprehension of the of¬ 
fenders was tendered to the mutineers who seized them. They sealed 
the pledge of patriotism by nobly refusing it, saying: “Necessity wrung 
from us the act of demanding justice from Congress, but we desire no 
reward for doing our duty to our bleeding country.” 

The whole movement, when all the circumstances are taken into 
account, should not be execrated as a military rebellion, for, if ever there 
was a just cause for men to lift up their strength against authority, these 
mutineers of the Pennsylvania Line possessed it. It must be acknowl¬ 
edged that they conducted themselves in the business, culpable as it 
was, with unexpected order and regularity. 

A great part of the Pennsylvania Line was disbanded for the win¬ 
ter, but was promptly filled by new recruits in the spring and many 
of the old soldiers re-enlisted. 


General Assembly Occupies New State 
Capitol, January 2, 1822 

HE General Assembly of Pennsylvania met in the Dauphin 
County courthouse for the last time December 21, 1821, and 
then a joint resolution was adopted: 

“Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, 
That when the Legislature meets at the new State Capitol, on 
Wednesday, the 2d of January next, that it is highly proper, 
before either house proceeds to business, they unite in prayer to the 
Almighty God, imploring His blessing on their future deliberations, 
and that the joint committee already appointed be authorized to make 
the necessary arrangements for that purpose.” 







4 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


On Wednesday, January 2, 1822, on motion of Mr. Lehman and 
Mr. Todd, the House proceeded to the building lately occupied by the 
Legislature. There they joined the procession to the Capitol and at¬ 
tended to the solemnities directed by the resolution of December 21, 
relative to the ceremonies to be observed by the Legislature upon taking 
possession of the State Capitol. 

The Harrisburg Chronicle of January 3, 1822, printed an account 
of the proceedings from which the following is taken: 

“The members of both branches of the Legislature met in the morn¬ 
ing at 10 o’clock, at the old State House (court house) whence they 
moved to the Capitol in the following 

Order of Procession 

The Architect and his Workmen, two and two. 

Clergy. 

Governor and Heads of Departments. 

Officers of the Senate. 

Speaker of the Senate. 

Members of the Senate, two and two. 

Officers of the House of Representatives. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Members, two and two. 

Judges. 

Civil Authorities of Harrisburg. 

Citizens. 

“In front of the Capitol the architect and his workmen opened into 
two lines and admitted the procession to pass between them and the 
Capitol. 

“The service was opened by a pertinent and impressive prayer, by 
Rev. Dr. A. Lochman, of Harrisburg. The prayer was followed by an 
appropriate discourse, by Rev. D. Mason, principal of Dickinson College, 
Carlisle, Pa., which concluded as follows: 

“Sixty years have not elapsed since the sound of the first axe was 
heard in the woods of Harrisburg. The wild beasts and wilder men 
occupied the banks of the Susquehanna. Since that time, with the mild¬ 
ness which has characterized the descendants of William Penn, and that 
industry which has marked all the generations of Pennsylvania, the 
forests have been subdued, the wild beasts driven away to parts more 
congenial to their nature, and the wilder men have withdrawn to regions 
where they hunt the deer and entrap the fish according to the mode 
practiced by their ancestors. 

“In the room of all these there has started up, in the course of a few 
years, a town respectable for the number of its inhabitants, for its 
progressive industry, for the seat of. legislation in this powerful State. 

“What remains to be accomplished of all our temporal wishes? 


ASSEMBLY OCCUPIES NEW CAPITOL 


5 


What more have we to say? What more can be said, but go on and 
prosper, carry the spirit of your improvements through till the sound of 
the hammer, the whip of the wagoner, the busy hum of man, the voices 
of innumerable children issuing from the places of instruction, the lofty 
spires of worship, till richly endowed colleges of education, till all those 
arts which embellish man shall gladden the banks of the Susquehanna 
and the Delaware, and exact from admiring strangers that cheerful 
and grateful tribute, this is the work of a Pennsylvania Legislature!” 

The act to erect the State Capitol was passed March 18, 1816, and 
carried an appropriation of $50,000. A supplement to this act was ap¬ 
proved February 27, 1819, when there was appropriated $70,000, with 
the provision that the said Capitol should not cost more than $120,000. 

But a further supplement was approved March 28, 1820, for “the 
purpose of constructing columns and capitols there of hewn stone, and 
to cover the roof of the dome, etc.,” there was appropriated $15,000. 

At this time the total cost of all the public buildings was $275,000, 
and consisted of the new Capitol, $135,000; executive offices on both 
sides of the Capitol building, $93,000; Arsenal, $12,000, and public 
grounds, its enclosure and embellishment, $35,000. 

The cornerstone of this new Capitol was laid at 12 o’clock on Mon¬ 
day, May 31, 1819, by Governor William Findlay, assisted by Stephen 
Hills, the architect and contractor for the execution of the work; Wil¬ 
liam Smith, stone cutter, and Valentine Kergan and Samuel White, 
masons, in the presence of the Commissioners and a large concourse of 
citizens. The ceremony was followed by the firing of three volleys from 
the public cannon. 

The newspaper account of the event states that the above-mentioned 
citizens then partook of a cold collation, provided on the public ground 
by Mr. Rahn. 

The Building Commissioners deposited in the cornerstone the fol¬ 
lowing documents : 

Charter of Charles II to William Penn. 

Declaration of Independence. 

Constitution of Pennsylvania, 1776. 

Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the several 
States. 

Copy of so much of an act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, 
by which indemnity was made to the heirs of William Penn for their 
interest in Pennsylvania. 

Treaty of peace and acknowledgment by Great Britain of the inde¬ 
pendence of the United States. 

Constitution of the United States, 1787. 

Constitution of Pennsylvania, 1790. 

Acts of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, by which the seat of 
government was removed from Philadelphia to Lancaster and Har- 


6 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


risburg, and the building of a State Capitol at the latter place au¬ 
thorized. 

A list of the names of the Commissioners, architects, stonecutter and 
chief masons; likewise, a list of the then officers of the Government of 
Pennsylvania, embracing the Speakers of the two Houses of the Legis¬ 
lature, the Governor, the heads of departments, the Judges of the Su¬ 
preme Court and Attorney General, with the names of the President and 
Vice President of the United States. 

It was a singular oversight that this cornerstone was not marked as 
such, and in after years it was not known at which corner of the build¬ 
ing the stone was situated. 

An act providing for the furnishing of the State Capitol was ap¬ 
proved March 30, 1821: Section 1. The Governor, Auditor General, 
State Treasurer, William Graydon, Jacob Bucher, Francis R. Shunk 
and Joseph A. McGinsey were appointed Commissioners to superintend 
the furnishing of the State Capitol. This able commission expended the 
$15,000 appropriated, and the new Capitol was a credit to the Common¬ 
wealth of Pennsylvania when the General Assembly formally occupied it 
January 2, 1822. 


Lucretia Mott, Celebrated Advocate of 
Anti-Slavery, Born January 3,1793 

ROM the earliest settlement at Germantown, and especially 
in the period following the Revolutionary War, there were 
many thoughtful people in all walks of life who considered 
slavery to be an evil which should be stopped. But the ques¬ 
tion of actually freeing the slaves was first seriously brought 
forward in 1831, by William Lloyd Garrison, in his excellent 
paper, “The Liberator,” published in Boston. 

Seventy-five delegates met in Philadelphia in 1833 to form a Na¬ 
tional Anti-Slavery Society. It was unpopular in those stirring days to 
be an abolitionist. John Greenleaf Whittier acted as one of the secre¬ 
taries, and four women, all Quakers, attended the convention. 

When the platform of this new society was being discussed, one 
of the four women rose to speak. A gentleman present afterward said: 
“I had never before heard a woman speak at a public meeting. She 
said only a few words, but these were spoken so modestly, in such sweet 
tones and yet so decisively, that no one could fail to be pleased.” The 
woman who spoke was Lucretia Mott. 

Lucretia Coffin was born in Nantucket January 3, 1793. In 1804 
her parents, who were Quakers, removed to Boston. She was soon 
afterward sent to the Nine Partners’ Boarding School in Duchess 






LUCRETIA MOTT 


7 


County, N. Y., where her teacher (Deborah Willetts) lived until 1879. 
Thence she went to Philadelphia, where her parents were residing. 

At the age of eighteen years she married James Mott. In 1818 she 
became a preacher among Friends, and all her long life she labored for 
the good of her fellow creatures, especially for those who were in bonds 
of any kind. 

She was ever a most earnest advocate of temperance, pleaded for 
the freedom of the slaves, and was one of the active founders of the 
“American Anti-Slavery Society” in Philadelphia in 1833. 

She was appointed a delegate to the World’s Anti-Slavery conven¬ 
tion, held in London in 1840, but was denied a seat in it on account of 
her sex. She also was a very prominent advocate of the emancipation of 
her sex from the disabilities to which law and custom subjected them. 

When the Female Anti-Slavery Society was organized Lucretia 
Mott was its first president and served in that office for many years. 

The anti-slavery enthusiasts dedicated a building, Pennsylvania Hall, 
in Philadelphia, May 14, 1838, which excited the rage of their enemies 
and the mob burned the building three days later. The excited crowd 
marched through the streets, threatening also to burn the houses of the 
abolitionists. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. James Mott stood on Ninth Street 
above Race. Lucretia Mott and her husband were warned of their dan¬ 
ger, but refused to leave their home. Their son ran in from the street, 
crying, ‘They’re coming!” 

The mob intended to burn the house, but a young man friendly to 
the family assumed leadership and with the cry “On to Motts!” led 
them past the place and the mob satisfied its thirst by burning a home 
for colored orphans, and did not return. 

Such incidents failed to daunt the spirit of Lucretia Mott, and her 
husband, who approved the part she took. 

A meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society in New York City was 
broken up by roughs, and several of the speakers, as they left the hall, 
were beaten by the mob. Lucretia Mott was being escorted from the 
hall by a gentleman. 

When she noticed some of the other ladies were frightened, she 
asked her friend to leave her and take care of the others. “Who will 
look after you?” he asked. Lucretia laid her hand on the arm of one of 
the roughest in the mob, saying: “This man will see me safely through 
the crowd.” Pleased by the mark of confidence, the rioter did as she 
asked and took her to safety. 

The home of the Motts was always open for the relief of poor 
colored persons, and they helped in sending fugitive slaves to places of 
refuge. On one occasion the Motts heard the noise of an approaching 
mob. Mr. Mott rushed to the door and found a poor colored man, pur¬ 
sued by the mob, rushing toward the friendly Mott house. He entered 



8 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


and escaped by the rear door. A brick hurled at Mr. Mott fortunately 
missed him, but broke the door directly over his head. 

A sequel to the riot at Christiana, Lancaster County, September 11, 
1851, which occurred on the farm then owned by Levi Powell, was the 
arrest of Castner Hanway and Elijah Lewis, two Quakers of the 
neighborhood, and nearly fifty others, mostly Negroes, on the charge of 
high treason for levying war against the Government of the United 
States. 

The trial began in the United States Court at Philadelphia, before 
Judges Green and Kane, November 24. It was one of the most exciting 
ever held in the State. Thaddeus Stevens, John M. Read, Theodore 
C. Cuyler, and Joseph J. Lewis, conducted the defense, while District 
Attorney John W. Ashmead was assisted by the Attorney General of 
Maryland, and by James Cooper, then a Whig United States Senator 
from Pennsylvania. 

Lucretia Mott attended the trial personally every day, and after the 
elaborate argument of counsel, Judge Green delivered his charge. The 
jury returned a verdict, in ten minutes, of “not guilty.” 

A colored man named Dangerfield was seized on a farm near Harris¬ 
burg on a charge of being a fugitive slave. He was manacled and taken 
to Philadelphia for trial. 

The abolitionists engaged a lawyer to defend the Negro. Lucretia 
Mott sat by the side of the prisoner during the trial. Largely through 
her presence and influence Dangerfield was released. The mob outside 
the court awaited Dangerfield to deliver him over to his former master, 
but a band of young Quakers deceived the crowd by accompanying 
another Negro to a carriage and Dangerfield walked off in another 
direction. 

Lucretia Mott and her friends were rejoiced to see the Negroes all 
free. There was still much to be done after the Civil War. This noble 
woman remained a hard worker for their cause all through her life. 

Lucretia Mott died in Philadelphia, November 21, 1881, at the age 
of nearly ninety years. Thousands attended her funeral, the proceed¬ 
ings were mostly in silence. At last some one said, “Will no one speak?” 
The answer came back: “Who can speak now ? The preacher is dead.” 
Her motto in life had been “Truth for authority, not authority for 
truth.” 

Lucretia Mott’s influence still lives. Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, 
Hampton Institute in Virginia, and Lincoln University in Chester 
County, Pennsylvania, are institutions made possible by such as she, and 
in them young colored persons are taught occupations and professions in 
which they can render the best service to themselves and to their 
country. 


SAMUEL MACLAY 


9 


Samuel Maclay Resigned From United 
States Senate January 4,1809 

MONUMENT was unveiled in memory of Samuel Maclay, a 
great Pennsylvanian, October 16, 1908. The scene of these 
impressive ceremonies was a beautiful little cemetery close by 
the old Dreisbach Church, a few miles west of Lewisburg in 
the picturesque Buffalo Valley, Union County. 

Samuel Maclay was the eighth United States Senator ffom 
Pennsylvania and had the proud distinction of being the brother of Wil¬ 
liam Maclay, one of the first United States Senators from Pennsylvania. 
The Maclays are the only brothers to ever sit in the highest legislative 
body of this country. The third brother, John, was also prominent and 
served in the Senate of Pennsylvania. 

The imposing shaft was erected by Pennsylvania at a cost of only 
$1000, which included the contract for the marble shaft and the rein¬ 
terment of the Senator’s body. 

Miss Helen Argyl Maclay, of Belleville, a great-great-grand¬ 
daughter of Samuel Maclay, unveiled the monument assisted by her two 
brothers, Ralph and Robert Maclay. Rev. A. A. Stapleton, D. D., de¬ 
livered the principal address. Other speakers included Frank L. Der- 
sham, then the Representative in the General Assembly from Union 
County, who introduced the bill for this memorial; Alfred Hayes, now 
deceased, also a former member of the Assembly, who represented the 
Union County Historical Society; Captain Samuel R. Maclay, of Min¬ 
eral Point, Mo., a grandson of Senator Samuel Maclay. 

Lieutenant Governor Robert Murphy attended the ceremony, as did 
many distinguished citizens from this and other States, school children 
and military, civic, historical and patriotic societies. There were thirty- 
five representatives of the Maclay family in attendance. 

Perhaps the strangest emotion during the preparation of this shaft 
and its unveiling was caused by the seeming lack of knowledge of this 
statesman, farmer, frontiersman, soldier, surveyor, citizen, who was an 
officer in the Continental Army during the Revolution, who was a fore¬ 
most actor in the actual development of the interior of the State to com¬ 
merce, one who sat in the highest legislative councils of this Common¬ 
wealth and presided over its Senate, who represented his State in Con¬ 
gress and later in the United States Senate, and so serving was the com¬ 
peer of men whose names are radiant with luster on the pages of Ameri¬ 
can history. 

Yet, strange to say, the memory of this man had so completely faded 
from public view that college professors, members of the General As- 







10 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


sembly and men who held some claim to be styled historians asked in 
wonder, when the bill was before the Legislature, “Who was this man?” 

The ancestors of Senator Maclay came from Scotland, where the 
clan Maclay inhabited the mountains of County Boss in the northlands. 

When the darkest chapter of Scotch-Irish history was written in 
tears and blood, emigration was the only alternative to starvation, and 
among the 30,000 exiles who left for these shores were two Maclays. 

These two exiles were sons of Charles Maclay, of County Antrim 
and titular Baron of Finga. Their names were Charles, born in 1703, 
and John, born in 1707. They set sail for America May 30, 1734. 

Upon arrival they first settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, 
where they remained nearly seven years, when they removed to what is 
now Lurgan Township, Franklin County, on an estate, which is still 
in possession of their descendants. 

Here John, son of Charles, the immigrant, built a mill in 1755, 
which, with modern improvements and alterations, is still operated by 
the third succeeding generation. This mill was stockaded during the 
French and Indian War, as it was located on the well-traveled high¬ 
way leading from McAllister’s Gap to Shippensburg. 

During the Revolution every male member of the Maclay family, of 
military age, was in the service, and every one an officer. 

John Maclay, the younger of the immigrant brothers, married Jane 
MacDonald in 1747. To this union were born three sons and one 
daughter; John born 1748, a soldier of the Revolution, died 1800; 
Charles, born 1750, a captain in the Continental Army, who fell in the 
action at Crooked Billet, 1778; Samuel, born 1751, also an officer, fell 
at Bunker Hill; Elizabeth, wife of Colonel Samuel Culbertson, of the 
Revolution. 

Charles Maclay, the elder immigrant brother, died in 1753. His 
wife, Eleanore, whom he had married in Ireland, died in 1789. To 
them were born four sons and one daughter: John, born in Ireland, 
1734, for many years a magistrate, and in 1776 he was a delegate to 
convention in Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia. He also served in the 
General Assembly, 1790-1792 and 1794; William, born in Chester 
County, July 20, 1737, whose sketch appears in another story; Charles, 
also born in Chester County, in 1739, was a soldier of the Revolution, 
died in 1834 at Maclays Mills; Samuel, the subject of our sketch, was 
born June 17, 1741. 

Samuel Maclay was educated in the classical school conducted by 
Dr. J. Allison, of Middle Spring. He also mastered the science of sur¬ 
veying, which he followed for years. In 1769 he was engaged with his 
brother William and Surveyor General Lukens in surveying the officers’ 
tracts on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, which had been awarded 
to the officers of First Battalion in Bouquet’s expedition. 

A coincident fact is that the remains of this distinguished patriot lie 


SAMUEL MACLAY 


11 


buried on the allotment awarded Captain John Brady, who drew the 
third choice, and which was surveyed for him by Maclay. 

Samuel Maclay, November 10, 1773, married Elizabeth, daughter 
of Colonel William Plunket, then President Judge of Northumberland 
County, and commandant of the garrison at Fort Augusta. They took 
up their residence on the Brady tract in Buffalo Valley. To this union 
six sons and three daughters were born. 

From the moment Samuel Maclay became a resident of what is now 
Union County until his death he was identified with the important his¬ 
tory of the valley. 

Samuel Maclay was one of the commissioners to survey the head¬ 
waters of the Schuylkill, Susquehanna and Allegheny Rivers. The 
others were Timothy Matlack, of Philadelphia, and John Adlum, of 
York. They were commissioned April 9, 1789. These eminent men 
were skilled hydrographical and topographical engineers and completed 
the first great survey of Pennsylvania. 

The journal kept by Maclay is interesting and valuable and relates 
many thrilling experiences quite foreign to those of present-day sur¬ 
veyors. 

He was lieutenant colonel of the First Battalion, Northumberland 
County Militia, organized at Derr’s Mills, now Lewisburg, September 
12, 1775. 

In 1787 Samuel Maclay was elected to Pennsylvania Assembly and 
served until 1791, when he became Associate Justice of Northumber¬ 
land County. In 1794 he was elected to Congress. Three years later 
he was elected to Pennsylvania Senate, where he served six years. He 
was elected Speaker in 1802 and he served in this capacity until March 
16, 1802, when he took his seat in the United States Senate, where he 
continued until January 4, 1809, resigning on account of broken health. 

He died October 5, 1811, at the age of seventy years. His wife, 
Elizabeth Plunket Maclay, survived her distinguished husband until 

1835. 


12 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Amusing and Memorable “Battle of the 
Kegs,” January 5, 1778 

N JANUARY, 1778, while the British were in possession of 
Philadelphia, some Americans had formed a project of sending 
down by the ebb tide a number of kegs, or machines that re¬ 
sembled kegs as they were floating, charged with gunpowder 
and furnished with machinery, so constructed that on the least 
touch of anything obstructing their free passage they would im¬ 
mediately explode with great force. 

The plan was to injure the British shipping, which lay at anchor 
opposite the city in such great numbers that the kegs could not pass 
without encountering some of them. But on January 4, the very even¬ 
ing in which these kegs were sent down, the first hard frost came on 
and the vessels were hauled into the docks to avoid the ice which was 
forming, and the entire scheme failed. 

One of the kegs, however, happened to explode near the town. This 
gave a general alarm in the city, and soon the wharves were filled with 
troops, and the greater part of the following day was spent in firing at 
every chip or stick that was seen floating in the river. The kegs were 
under water, nothing appearing on the surface but a small buoy. 

This circumstance gave occasion for many stories of this incident to 
be published in the papers of that day. The following account is taken 
from a letter dated Philadelphia, January 9, 1778: 

“This city hath lately been entertained with a most astonishing in¬ 
stance of activity, bravery and military skill of the royal army and navy 
of Great Britain. The affair is somewhat particular and deserves your 
notice. Some time last week a keg of singular construction was ob¬ 
served floating in the river. The crew of a barge attempting to take it 
up, it suddenly exploded, killed four of the hands and wounded the rest. 

“On Monday last some of the kegs of a singular construction made 
their appearance. The alarm was immediately given. Various reports 
prevailed in the city, filling the royal troops with unspeakable consterna¬ 
tion. Some asserted that these kegs were filled with rebels, who were 
to issue forth in the dead of night, as the Grecians did of old from the 
wooden horse at the siege of Troy, and take the city by surprise. Some 
declared they had seen the points of bayonets sticking out of the bung- 
holes of the kegs. Others said they were filled with inflammable com¬ 
bustibles which would set the Delaware in flames and consume all the 
shipping in the harbor. Others conjectured that they were machines 
constructed by art magic and expected to see them mount the wharves 
and roll, all flaming with infernal fire, through the streets of the city. 






“BATTLE OF THE KEGS 1 


13 


“I say nothing as to these reports and apprehensions, but certain it 
is, the ships of war were immediately manned and the wharves crowded 
with chosen men. Hostilities were commenced without much ceremony 
and it was surprising to behold the incessant firing that was poured 
upon the enemy’s kegs. Both officers and men exhibited unparalleled 
skill and prowess on the occasion, whilst the citizens stood gaping as 
solemn witnesses of this dreadful scene. 

“In truth, not a chip, stick or drift log passed by without ex¬ 
periencing the vigor of the British arms. The action began about sun¬ 
rise and would have terminated in favor of the British by noon had not 
an old market woman, in crossing the river with provisions, unfortunate¬ 
ly let a keg of butter fall overboard, which as it was then ebb tide, 
floated down to the scene of battle. At sight of this unexpected re-en¬ 
forcement of the enemy the attack was renewed with fresh forces, and 
the firing from the marine and land troops was beyond imagination and 
so continued until night closed the conflict. 

“The rebel kegs were either totally demolished or obliged to fly, as 
none of them have shown their heads since. It is said that His Excel¬ 
lency, Lord Howe, has dispatched a swift sailing packet with an ac¬ 
count of this signal victory to the Court of London. In short, Mon¬ 
day, January 5, 1778, will be memorable in history for the renowned 
battle of the kegs.” 

The entire transaction was laughable in the extreme and furnished 
the theme for unnumbered sallies of wit from the Whig press, while the 
distinguished author of “Hail Columbia,” Joseph H. Hopkinson, para¬ 
phrased it in a ballad which was immensely popular at the time. 

This ballad is worthy of reproduction and is given almost in full: 


The Battle of The Kegs 

By Joseph H. Hopkinson 

Gallants attend and hear a friend, 

Trill forth harmonious ditty, 

Strange things I’ll tell which late befell 
In Philadelphia City. 

’Twas early day, as poets say, 

Just when the sun was rising, 

A soldier stood on a log of wood 
And saw a thing surprising. 

As in a maze he stood to gaze, 

The truth can’t be denied, sir, 

He spied a score of kegs or more, 

Come floating down the tide, sir. 


14 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


A sailor too in jerkin blue, 

This strange appearance viewing, 

First d—d his eyes, in great surprise, 
Then said “some mischief’s brewing. 

“These kegs, I’m told, the rebels bold 
Pack up like pickl’d herring; 

And they’re come down t’attack the town 
In this new way of ferry’ng.” 

The soldier flew, the sailor too, 

And scar’d almost to death, sir, 

Wore out their shoes, to spread the news, 
And ran till out of breath, sir. 

Now up and down throughout the town, 
Most frantic scenes were acted; 

And some ran here, and others there, 

Like men almost distracted. 

Some fire cry’d, which some denied, 

But said the earth had quaked; 

And girls and boys, with hideous noise 
Ran thro’ the streets half naked. 

“The motley crew, in vessels new, 

With Satan for their guide, sir, 

Pack’d up in bags, or wooden kegs, 

Come driving down the tide, sir. 

“Therefore prepare for bloody war, 

These kegs must all be routed, 

Or surely despis’d we shall be 
And British courage doubted.” 

The cannons roar from shore to shore, 
The small arms loud did rattle, 

Since wars began I’m sure no man 
E’er saw so strange a battle. 

The rebel dales, the rebel vales, 

With rebel trees surrounded; 

The distant woods, the hills and floods, 
With rebel echoes sounded. 

The fish below swam to and fro, 

Attack’d from ev’ry quarter; 

Why sure, thought they, the devil’s to pay, 
’Mongst folks above the water. 


“BATTLE OF THE KEGS 


15 


The kegs, ’tis said, tho’ strongly made 
Of rebel staves and hoops, sir, 

Could not oppose their powerful foes, 

The conqr’ing British troops, sir. 

From morn to night these men of might, 
Display’d amazing courage— 

And when the sun was fairly down, 
Retir’d to sup their porrage. 

A hundred men with each a pen, 

Or more upon my word, sir, 

It is most true would be too few, 

Their valor to record, sir. 

Such feats did they perform that day, 
Against these wicked kegs, sir, 

That years to come, if they get home 
They’ll make their boasts and brags, sir. 


Bishop Cammerhoff Started Journey Among 
Indians on January 6, 1748 

JSjSTjlOHN CHRISTOPHER CAMMERHOFF was a Moravian 
fflj missionary who undertook several hazardous trips to the In- 
fCI/f dians along the Susquehanna and to Onondaga, and of whom 
there is an interesting story to be told. 
mX. He came to America in the summer of 1747, in company 
-— with Baron John de Watteville, a bishop of the Moravian 
Church, and son-in-law and principal assistant of Count Zinzindorf. 
They were also accompanied on the voyage by the Reverend John Mar¬ 
tin Mack and the Reverend David Zeisberger, the latter also an inter¬ 
preter, and each of these figured very prominently in the early history 
among the Indians of the great Susquehanna Valleys. 

Cammerhoff was born near Magdeburg, Germany, July 28, 1721; 
died at Bethlehem, Pa., April 28, 1751. He was educated at Jena and 
at the age of twenty-five was consecrated Bishop in London and came 
to America. 

His greatest success was among the Indians of Pennsylvania and 
New York. The Iroquois adopted him into the Turtle Tribe of the 
Oneida Nation, and gave him the name of Gallichwio or “A Good 
Message.” 

Accompanied only by Joseph Powell, he set out from Bethlehem 
for Shamokin on the afternoon of January 6, 1748, and reached Mac- 
ungy, now Emaus, by night. The next day they traveled through deep 







16 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


snow, sleeping that night at the home of Moses Starr, a Quaker. Early 
next morning the Schuylkill was reached, which was partly frozen over. 
A crossing was effected with great risk over the thin ice, leading their 
horses, which broke through and nearly drowned. They passed through 
Heidelberg, Berks County, and reached Tulpehocken, where they slept 
at Michael Schaeffer’s. 

Next morning they arrived at George Loesch’s and here determined 
to leave the mountain road via the Great Swatara Gap and Mahanoy 
Mountains, and to travel along the Indian path leading from Harris’ 
Ferry, which they were to meet at the river. 

They got as far as Henry Zender’s, where they spent the night, and 
next morning set out for Harris’ Ferry, a long day’s journey along the 
Great Swatara, which they reached at noon. Seven miles from Harris’ 
they got lost in the woods, but the missionaries arrived at Harris’ at 7 
o’clock and found there a great company of traders. 

Next morning, January 11, they proceeded toward Shamokin, fol¬ 
lowing the path made by some Indians who the previous day had 
traveled from Shamokin to Harris’ Ferry. They passed by Chambers’ 
Mill, at the mouth of Fishing Creek, seven miles above the ferry. They 
proceeded, after a sumptuous noonday meal, and in a few hours struck 
the base of the mountain, which marked the northern limit of Proprie¬ 
taries’ land. They passed over Peter’s Mountain, then forded Powell’s 
Creek, and, completely exhausted, arrived at Armstrong’s house, which 
was at the mouth of the present Armstrong Creek, above Halifax. 

In spite of a hard storm during the night they pressed on the next 
day and nearly lost their lives crossing Manhantango Creek, which was 
very high, reached the house of Captain Thomas McKee and passed the 
night. 

At 3 o’clock next day they reached Mahanoy Creek, which they 
forded at a place McKee had advised, and night overtook them five 
miles from their destination, but in the moonlight they pressed on, and 
descending the steep hills they encountered a miraculous escape, and again 
at Shamokin Creek were carried nearly 100 yards down stream by the 
raging current. Here Missionary Mack and others, anticipating their 
approach, met them at 9 o’clock at night and cheered them on the last 
two miles of their long and tedious trip. They arrived at Shamokin 
(now Sunbury) at daybreak on Sunday, January 14. 

Shikellamy went to see Cammerhoff and expressed his regret that 
he had such a fatiguing journey, and during his stay at that great 
Indian capital showed him every attention. 

Following the great conference at Philadelphia, in August, 1749, it 
became necessary the next spring for the Moravian missionaries to visit 
the Great Council of the Six Nations at Onondaga. 

It was arranged that the Rev. David Zeisberger, who was then at 
Shamokin, should join Bishop Cammerhoff at Wyoming and accompany 


BISHOP CAMMERHOFF 


17 


him on this journey. The latter, having obtained a passport from Gov¬ 
ernor Hamilton, set out from Bethlehem on May 14, accompanied by 
John Martin Mark, Timothy Horsfield and Gottlieb Bezold. They 
journeyed on foot up the Lehigh to Gnadenhutten, then over the moun¬ 
tains to Wyoming, where they arrived May 20, 1750, and “at once went 
to Nanticoke town; there they were kindly welcomed, and where they 
awaited the Indian who was to guide them.” 

When the Cayuga chief arrived, accompanied by his wife, his son, 
aged fourteen, and his daughter, aged four years, they departed in 
canoes on the afternoon of May 28. “David and. I, with the boy and 
girl, set out in our canoe and the Cayuga and his wife in their hunting 
skiff,” records Cammerholf. 

On June 6, they passed Wyalusing Falls, and then came to Gahon- 
toto, the site of an ancient Indian city where a peculiar nation once lived. 
Traces of their former Indian city were discernible in the old ruined 
corn fields. The Cayuga chief told the Bishop that the Five Nations 
had fought and exterminated the inhabitants of this city long before 
they fought with guns. 

They proceeded up the Susquehanna and then into the Tioga or 
Chemung River, and disembarked at Gandtscherat, a Cayuga village 
near Waverly, N. Y. Thence they traveled overland by way of Cayuga 
to Onondaga, where they arrived June 21, the very day the big council 
was to convene, but its actual assembly was delayed because a majority 
of the Indians got drunk. 

When the council finally met at Onondaga, the design of the pro¬ 
posed negotiations, as made known to the visitors, was that emissaries 
of the French were endeavoring to entice the Six Nations from their 
compact with the English. 

During the course of the conference, Cammerhofif presented to the 
Council a petition from the Nanticoke Indians at Wyoming, to the effect 
that they might have a blacksmith shop, under Moravian auspices, set 
up in ^their village. This request was denied by the Council, and the 
Nanticokes informed that they could avail themselves of the services of 
the blacksmith at Shamokin. This smith was Anthony Schmidt, who 
was sent to Shamokin from the Moravian Mission at Bethlehem. He 
arrived there August 3, 1747, accompanied by his wife. He remained 
there many years and performed his task to the general satisfaction of 
the Indians who traveled 100 or more miles to have a gun barrel 
straightened or the firelock repaired. 

Their business at Onondaga being finished, Cammerhoff and Zeis- 
berger journeyed overland to the Susquehanna, where they embarked 
in a canoe and floated down the river as far as the village of the Nan¬ 
ticoke, which they reached Sunday, August 2, 1750. They tarried only 
a day and then proceeded to Shamokin, where they arrived August 6, 
having traveled more than 600 miles on horseback, afoot and in canoes. 


18 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Bank of North America, First Incorporated 
Bank in the United States, Commenced 
Business January 7, 1782 

HE first incorporated bank in America was the Bank of North 
America, and its operations commenced January 7, 1782, in 
the commodious store belonging to its cashier, Tench Francis, 
on the north side of Chestnut Street, west of Third. 

In 1780 the Assembly of Pennsylvania made a strong effort 
to relieve the people from the withering blight of the Con¬ 
tinental money. It tried to redeem it by taxation at the rate of 1 to 
40. But neither this nor any other measure prevented the coinage of 
the phrase, “It is not worth a Continental. ,, 

To assist Congress in providing for the army, Robert Morris and 
other financiers of the State established the Bank of Pennsylvania, the 
first bank in America. The last attempt to prolong the life of the 
“Continentals” was made by the Supreme Executive Council in May, 
1781; but the remedy proved fatal. Pelatiah Webster said of the pro¬ 
ceedings: “Thus fell, ended and died the Continental currency, aged 
six years.” 

During the Revolutionary War the country was extremely poor, 
with few industries but agriculture, and was quite denuded of 
the precious metals, owing to a heavy and long continued adverse 
foreign trade, so that the Congress of the United States experienced 
great difficulties in providing the requisite means for carrying on the 
hostilities. 

On May 10, 1775, soon after the battle of Lexington, Congress 
made preparation to issue Continental paper, $2,000,000 of which were 
put in circulation on June 22 following. 

From month to month these issues, which in the aggregate reached 
three hundred millions, depreciated, until eventually they became en¬ 
tirely valueless, notwithstanding the passage of laws making them a 
legal tender for the payment of debts. 

On May 17, 1781, a plan for a National Bank was submitted to 
Congress by Robert Morris, of Pennsylvania, the principal provisions 
of which were as follows: The capital to be $400,000, in shares of 
$400 each; that each share be entitled to a vote for directors; that 
there be twelve directors chosen from those entitled to vote, who at 
their first meeting shall choose one as president; that the directors meet 
quarterly; that the board be empowered from time to time to open new 
subscriptions for the purpose of increasing the capital of the bank; 
statements to be made to the Superintendent of the Finances of America; 




BANK OF NORTH AMERICA 


19 


that the bank notes payable on demand shall by law be made receivable 
for duties and taxes in any state, and from the respective states by the 
treasury of the United States; that the Superintendent of Finances of 
America shall have a right at all times to examine into the affairs of 
the bank. 

On May 26, 1781, Congress adopted the following: “Resolved, 
that Congress do approve of the plan for the establishment of a National 
Bank in these United States, submitted for their consideration by Mr. 
R. Morris, May 17, 1781, and that they will promote and support the 
same by such ways and means, from time to time, as may appear neces¬ 
sary for the institution and consistent with the public good; that the 
subscribers to the said bank shall be incorporated agreeably to the prin¬ 
ciples and terms of the plan, under the name of ‘The President, Di¬ 
rectors, and Company of the Bank of North America,’ so soon as the 
subscription shall be filled, the directors and president chosen, and ap¬ 
plication for that purpose made to Congress by the president and 
directors elected.” 

On December 31 following Congress adopted “an ordinance to in¬ 
corporate the subscribers to the Bank of North America.” 

The first president was Thomas Willing, and the cashier was Tench 
Francis. The bank became at once a most important auxiliary in aid 
of the finances of the government, and so continued to the end of the 
war. 

This institution was also incorporated by the State of Pennsylvania, 
on April 18, 1782. 

Robert Morris subscribed for 633 shares of the bank on account 
of the United States, paying therefore $254,000, but, owing to the 
necessities of the government, he was almost immediately compelled to 
borrow a like amount from the bank, so that the institution derived but 
little benefit from the government subscription. 

The deposits gradually assumed large proportions. Some of the 
States gave to the bank the assistance of their recognition. Connecticut 
made the notes receivable in payment of taxes, Rhode Island provided 
punishment for counterfeiting its issue, and Massachusetts created it a 
corporation according to the laws of that Commonwealth. 

The operations of the bank were almost immediately attended with 
the restoration of confidence and credit. The State of Pennsylvania 
being unable to pay the officers of its army, relief was found in the bank, 
which advanced the money for the state, and received its reimbursement 
when the revenue was collected. 

The public enemy infested the Delaware River and Bay, and seized 
vessels in the port of Philadelphia. The bank advanced $22,500, which 
enabled the merchants to fit out a ship of war, which not only cleared 
the river of the enemy, but captured a cruiser of twenty guns belong¬ 
ing to the Britist fleet. 


20 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The defense of the Western frontier was promoted by the advance of 
£5000 by the bank in 1782. 

In the year 1785, when an ill feeling had arisen between the gov¬ 
ernment of the State of Pennsylvania and the bank, the former repealed 
the charter which it had granted in 1782. The bank, however, con¬ 
tinued its operations under the charter granted by the Federal Gov¬ 
ernment till 1787, when it was rechartered by Pennsylvania. 

The charter of the Bank of North America has been renewed from 
time to time, and was made a National Bank, December, 1864, and is 
still one of the leading financial institutions of the State and Nation. 

It is one of the only three banks in existence at the time of the 
adoption of the Federal Constitution, the others being the Bank of 
New York, at New York City, and the Bank of Massachusetts, at 
Boston. 


Matthias Baldwin Completed First Success¬ 
ful Locomotive January 8,1831 

HE first successful American locomotive was made in Philadel¬ 
phia by Matthias William Baldwin, and completed January 
8, 1831. 

The story of the man and his wonderful achievement is 
the story of one of the greatest industrial plans in the world 
and is full of human interest. 

Matthias Baldwin was born December 10, 1795, the son of an 
Elizabeth, N. J., carriage-maker, who was in affluent circumstances at 
the time of his death, but the mismanagement of his property caused 
the loss of nearly all. Matthias was the youngest of five children and 
but four years old when his father died. He inherited his father’s skill 
with tools and early began to construct labor-saving devices to assist 
his mother in her housework. 

At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to a firm of jewelers in 
Frankford, now a part of Philadelphia. His habits were sober, indus¬ 
trious and earnest. He devoted much of his spare time to singing in the 
little Presbyterian Church. 

At twenty-one he became an apprentice in the firm of Fletcher & 
Gardner, silversmiths and jewelers, of Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. 

In 1825 he formed a partnership with David Mason, a machinist, 
for the manufacture of bookbinder tools and cylinders for calico print¬ 
ing. Their first shop was in a small alley running north from Walnut 
Street above Fourth. Afterwards they moved into a shop on Minor 
Street, where they also began to manufacture machines of Mr. Baldwin’s 
invention. 









MATTHIAS BALDWIN 


21 


The first such invention was a small upright engine adapted to the 
motive power of a small factory. From this success the manufacture of 
stationary steam engines took a prominent place in the establishment. 

The plant now employed a number of young men. Baldwin felt 
that these needed some place where they could get instruction in science 
and mechanical art, so that they might become more intelligent and in¬ 
ventive. He talked over the matter with many other employers, and 
the result was the founding of Franklin Institute, the cornerstone of 
which was laid with Masonic ceremonies, June 8, 1824. This is still 
one of the active and valuable institutions of the country. 

About this time Mr. Mason withdrew from the firm, Mr. Baldwin 
continuing the manufacture of engines. 

It was in 1829-30 that steam, as a motive power on railroads, began 
to attract the attention of American engineers. George Stephenson had 
produced a successful locomotive in England. In 1830 the Camden and 
Amboy Railroad Company brought across the ocean a locomotive, which 
was kept hidden from the public eye until it should be used. 

Franklin Peale, who owned the Philadelphia Museum, where up-to- 
date novelties were shown, wished to have a small working model of a 
locomotive to exhibit, and he turned to Matthias Baldwin. 

The two men found out where the locomotive was kept, and visited 
the place. Baldwin was already familiar with the published description 
and sketches of engines which had taken part in the Rainhill competi¬ 
tions in England, but he now had an opportunity to see and measure 
for himself an actual engine. 

Baldwin made the model, completing it January 8, 1831. It was 
taken to the museum and on April 25 was put in motion on a circular 
track made of pine boards, covered with hoop-iron. It drew two small 
cars, each holding four persons, and attracted great attention from the 
crowds who saw it. Both anthracite and pine-knot coal were used as 
fuel, and the steam was discharged through the smokestack to increase 
the draught. 

The success of the model obtained for Mr. Baldwin an order for a 
locomotive for the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad 
Company. 

This engine when completed was called “Old Ironsides” and left the 
shop November 23, 1832. It stood on the rails like a “thing of life.” 
Its light weight, between four and five tons, did not give it that tractive 
power necessary to draw a loaded train on wet and slippery rails, hence 
the newspapers of that day termed it a “fair weather locomotive, be¬ 
cause the notices specified that “the locomotive built by Mr. M. W. 
Baldwin, of this city, will depart daily, when the weather is fair, with 
a train of passenger cars. On rainy days horses will be attached.” 

The “Old Ironsides” was a four-wheeled engine, modeled essen¬ 
tially on the English fashion of that day. The wheels were made with 


22 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


heavy cast-iron hubs, wooden spokes and rims, and wrought-iron tires. 
The price of this engine was $4,000, but the company claimed that it 
did not perform according to contract, and after correction had been 
made as far as.possible, a compromise was effected and Mr. Baldwin 
received $3,500 for his work. 

“Old Ironsides” on subsequent trials attained a speed of thirty miles 
an hour with the usual train. 

Only one man in Baldwin’s shop, besides the inventor himself, could 
properly run “Old Ironsides.” This man fell sick, and others who tried, 
could not get it to run satisfactorily. The president of the road was 
about to throw it back on Baldwin’s hands when the engineer recovered 
and the locomotive gave satisfaction. But Baldwin was so thoroughly 
disgusted with all the complaints, and such was his first locomotive that 
he said with much decision, “That is our last locomotive.” But other 
great men have been known to change their minds, and when Matthias 
Baldwin died, his works had built more than 1500 locomotives. 

“The Miller,” for the Charleston and Hamburg, S. C., Railroad 
Company was the next engine built by Mr. Baldwin. During 1834 he 
completed five locomotives, and his business was now fairly established. 
It was during this year that larger quarters were necessary, and Mr. 
Baldwin removed his shops to the location on Broad and Hamilton 
Streets, where, in 1835, the present Baldwin Locomotive Works had 
their origin, and where they have since developed into their immense 
proportions. 

The financial difficulties of 1836-37 did not leave Mr. Baldwin un¬ 
scathed. Great as his embarrassments were a full consultation with his 
creditors resulted in the wise determination to leave him in full and 
complete possession of the plant and business, under an agreement to pay 
full amount of indebtedness, principal and interest. In five years Bald¬ 
win discharged every dollar of debt. 

August 25, 1842, Mr. Baldwin obtained a patent for a six-wheel 
connected engine, which revived the business. In 1840 Baldwin built 
a locomotive for Austria and in 1845 he built three for Wurtemburg. 

Mr. Baldwin died September 7, 1865, after he had virtually per¬ 
fected the locomotive and witnessed the rise and wonderful increase of 
the most important material interest of the age, to the completion of 
which he had contributed more than any other individual. His name 
was familiar where the locomotive was known and his personal char¬ 
acter as a Christian and a philanthropist was as highly esteemed by his 
associates and acquaintances as his scientific achievements were valued 
by the profession. 


FORT HUNTER 


23 


Fort Hunter, an Important Defense, 
Garrisoned January 9, 1756 

MOTORIST touring north along the Susquehanna Trail, 
when six miles above Harrisburg, just at the point in the road¬ 
way where one would turn off sharply to the right, if going to 
the beautiful Country Club of Harrisburg, can see a boulder 
which marks the site of Fort Hunter, one of the busy places 
during the stirring period immediately following hostilities 
which inaugurated the French and Indian War. 

This fort stood on the south bank of Fishing Creek, at its junction 
with the Susquehanna River, on property now occupied by John W. 
Reily near the village known as Rockville. 

The date of its erection is uncertain, but it is probable that it was 
built by the settlers about October, 1755, immediately after the two 
terrible Indian massacres at Penn’s Creek and Mahanoy Creek. It was 
completed by the Provincial Government in January, 1756. 

Benjamin Chambers was the first white man to settle in that 
vicinity, where he built a mill in 1720. He was the senior of four 
brothers, all sturdy Presbyterians from the County of Antrim in the 
north of Ireland. He was subsequently joined by his three brothers, 
and in 1735 all but Thomas removed to the Cumberland Valley. 

Benjamin erected Fort Chambers and became a most influential 
citizen. Thomas remained on Fishing Creek and operated a mill. His 
son-in-law, Robert Hunter, subsequently fell heir to the improvements 
and henceforth the stockade was known as the fort at Hunter’s Mill, or 
Fort Hunter. 

The first orders on record relating to Fort Hunter were issued 
January 9, 1756, by Governor Morris to Adam Read, of Hanover 
Township, Lancaster County, and were as follows: 

“The Commissioner thinking that a company of fifty men under 
your command are sufficient to guard the frontier along the Kittektiny 
Hills, from your own house to Hunter’s Mill, have refused for the 
present to take any other men in that quarter into the pay of the Gov¬ 
ernment, and requested me to order, and I do hereby order you to 
detach twenty-five of the men now at your house, to the fort at Hunter’s 
Mill, upon Susquehanna, under the command of your lieutenant, or 
officer next under yourself, or in case there be none such appointed by 
the Government, then under the command of such person as you shall 
appoint for that service; and you are to give orders to the commander 
of such detachment to keep his men in order and fit for duty, and to 
cause a party of them, from time to time, to range the woods along 









24 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


and near the mountains toward your house; and you are in like man¬ 
ner to keep the men with you in good order, and to cause a party of 
them from time to time, to range the woods on or near the mountains 
toward Hunter’s Mill, and you and they are to continue upon this 
service till further order. 

“You are to add ten men to your company out of the township of 
Paxton, and to make the detachment at Hunter’s Mill of twenty more 
men, which with those ten, are to complete thirty for service, and keep 
an account of the time when these ten enter themselves, that you may be 
enabled to make up your muster roll upon oath.” 

Hardly had the above order been executed and the men recruited 
until additional orders were dispatched by the Governor to Captain 
Read: “I have also appointed Thomas McKee to take post at or near 
Hunter’s Mill with thirty men.” 

An interesting sentence in his letter revealed the hardships of a 
Provincial soldier: “But as the Province is at present in want of 
arms and blankets, if any of the men you shall enlist will find them¬ 
selves with those articles, they shall receive half a dollar for the use of 
their gun, and half a dollar for the use of a blanket.'” 

At the same time Governor Morris wrote to James Galbraith, Esq., 
a Provincial Commissioner, rehearsing the sundry orders given to Cap¬ 
tains Read and McKee, to which he added: 

“I have also instructed Capt. McKee to advise with you whether to 
finish the fort already begun at Hunter’s Mill, or to build a new one, 
and as to the place where it would be best to erect such new one. I 
therefore desire you will assist him in those matters, or in anything 
else that the King’s service and the safety of the inhabitants may 
require.” 

On December 9, 1755, Thomas Foster and Thomas McKee were 
furnished with “12 Yz pounds powder and 25 pounds swan shot.” It is 
therefore more than probable the soldiers ordered there in January, 
1756, by Governor Morris were the first Provincial soldiers put on 
duty at Fort Hunter. 

The activity of the French, in their efforts to enlist the Indians of the 
Province to take up the hatchet against the English, was felt at this 
post, as letters written by Captain McKee to Edward Shippen and others 
reveal. 

At this time the Province had decided to erect a great fortress at 
the forks of the Susquehanna, which was subsequently built and named 
Fort Augusta. Colonel William Clapham was commissioned early in 
April, 1756, to recruit a regiment of 400 men for this purpose. 

Governor Morris advised Colonel Clapman, April 7, that he had 
directed a rendezvous to be established at Fort Hunter and advised 
the colonel to use it for the safe storage of supplies and stocks which 
he would require in his expedition farther up the river. 


FREDERICK STUMP 


25 


June 11, 1756, Colonel Clapham stationed twenty-four troops there, 
under command of a Mr. Johnson, and directed him to “escort provis¬ 
ions, from there to McKee’s store.” November 3 the garrison consisted 
of “2 sargants and 34 Private Men.” 

March 14, 1757, at a conference on the defense of the Province, 
held at Philadelphia, it was decided that 400 men should be kept at 
Fort Augusta; 100 should constitute the garrison at Fort Halifax, and 
that Fort Hunter should be demolished, only fifty being retained there 
temporarily until the removal of the magazine which was to take place 
as soon as possible. 

The long frontier of the Blue Mountain, between the Susquehanna 
and Delaware was to be defended by Colonel Conrad Weiser’s battalion, 
and the forts reduced to three in number. 

This caused consternation among the settlers near Fort Hunter and 
they appealed to the Provincial authorities. 

Commissary Young, the Reverend John Elder and others appeared 
in person August 25 in Philadelphia, and strongly urged the retention 
of the garrison at this important place. Their appeal was effective. 
Fort Hunter was not demolished but strengthened. 

Indians appeared within twenty rods of Fort Hunter, October, 1757. 
William Martin was killed and scalped while picking chestnuts. 

Colonel James Patterson was in command of the garrison in January, 
1758. From that time until the Pontiac Conspiracy in 1763, there was 
not much activity about Fort Hunter, when it again became the rendez¬ 
vous of Provincial troops. After peace was declared Fort Hunter slowly 
but surely passed out of existence until the last log was rotted and dis¬ 
appeared and the old fort only existed as an historical memory. 


Founder of Stumpstown Murdered Ten 
Indians, January 10, 1768 

BOUT a dozen years ago the members of the Lebanon County 
Historical Society enjoyed three evenings of entertainment 
when that able and clever historian, Dr. E. Grumbine, of Mt. 
Zion, gave a history of interesting events, traditions and anec¬ 
dotes of early Fredericksburg, known for many years as 
Stumpstown. 

The village was laid out in 1761 by Frederick Stump, who for 
years afterwards led a most unusual and exciting life. The town was 
then in Lancaster County, later in Dauphin, then after 1813 in Lebanon 
County. 

In the year 1826 a postoffice was established in the place, which with 
eminent propriety received the name Stumpstown. In 1843 the name of 
the postoffice became Fredericksburg. 









26 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


In 1828 two enterprising citizens, named Henry and Martin Meily, 
built a canal boat, as the Union Canal had recently been opened and the 
canal was the talk of the day. While Stumpstown was distant from the 
canal, the Meilys did not seem to care for this handicap, but using a 
vacant corner of the only graveyard in the village, they constructed 
their boat and when finished they loaded it on heavy wagons and con¬ 
veyed it four miles overland to Jonestown, where they christened it 
“Columbus” and launched it on the raging canal. It carried freight 
to and from Philadelphia for many years. 

In 1767 the German Lutherans erected a church of logs, which 
served its purpose for sixty years. 

Like many places, Stumpstown had a big fire which destroyed 
nearly one-fourth of the village. That was in 1827, and was caused 
by a boy shooting at a crow perched on the thatched roof of a stable. 
His old flint-rock was wadded with tow, which being inflammable, set 
fire to the straw thatch, and soon the barn was in flames, and fanned by 
a strong northwest breeze, a total of twenty buildings including a tan¬ 
nery, sheds, dwelling of owner, blacksmith shop, the only school house, 
and other houses were consumed. 

Frederick Stump, the founder, was a notorious character. He was 
born in 1735 in the neighborhood of Stumpstown, and in 1768 was 
living near the mouth of Middle Creek in what is now Snyder County. 

On Sunday morning, January 10, 1768, six Indians went to the 
house of Frederick Stump. They were White Mingo, Cornelius, John 
Campbell, Jones and two squaws. They were in a drunken condition 
and behaved in a suspicious manner. Stump endeavored to get them to 
leave, but without success. Fearing injury to himself, he and his servant, 
John Ironcutter, killed them all, dragging their bodies to the creek, where 
they cut a hole in the ice and pushed their bodies into the stream. 

Fearing the news might be carried to the other Indians, Stump 
went the next day to their cabins, fourteen miles up the creek, where he 
found one squaw, two girls and one child. These he killed and threw 
their bodies in the cabin and burned it. 

The details of these murders were told by Stump to William Blythe, 
who found the charred remains of the four in the cabin ruins. Blythe 
testified to these acts before the Provincial authorities in Philadelphia, 
January 19, 1768. 

One of the bodies which Stump pushed through the hole in the ice 
floated down the Susquehanna until it finally lodged against the shore on 
the Cumberland County side, opposite Harrisburg, below the site of the 
present bridge at Market Street. 

The Indian had been killed by being struck on the forehead with 
some blunt instrument, which crushed in his skull. His entire scalp, 
including his ears, was torn from his head. An inquest was held 
February 28, 1768, at the spot where his body was found. 


FREDERICK STUMP 


27 


John Blair Linn, in his “Annals of Buffalo Valley,” places the scene 
of this crime on the run that enters the creek at Middleburgh, known 
by the name of Stump’s Run to this day. 

This crime caused the greatest consternation throughout the Prov¬ 
ince, as the authorities had just cause to fear a repetition of the Indian 
outrages unless Stump was apprehended and punished for his crime. 

A few Indians who escaped the wrath of Stump chased him toward 
Fort Augusta. Stump did not enter the fort, but rushed into a house 
occupied by two women. He claimed their protection, alleging he was 
pursued by Indians. They did not believe him, and feared the Indians, 
if his story be true, but he begged piteously they hide him between two 
beds. 

The Indians were but a moment behind Stump, but the women in¬ 
sisted they knew nothing of him. Before the Indians left the house 
they seized a cat, plucked out its hair and tore it to pieces, illustrating 
the reception which awaited Stump, had they found him. 

Captain William Patterson led a score of his neighbors to assist 
in arresting Stump and Ironcutter. 

On their approach Stump fled to the woods, but Patterson pretended 
that he wanted Stump to accompany him to Great Island to kill In¬ 
dians. This appealed to Stump, who returned to the house, when Pat¬ 
terson arrested and bound him and took him and his servant to Car¬ 
lisle, where they were lodged in jail, Saturday evening, March 23, 1768. 

But justice was to be cheated. The magistrates fought over the place 
of Stump’s trial, and it was decided to try him in Philadelphia. 

On Monday morning following his arrest, the Sheriff proceeded 
to do his duty, but was restrained by the magistrates. On Wednesday, 
forty of the country people assembled on the outskirts of Carlisle, and 
sent two messengers to the jail. When they learned Stump was not 
to be sent to Philadelphia for trial, they dispersed. 

On Friday a company from Sherman’s Valley, where Stump had 
lived, marched toward Carlisle, about eight entering the town. Two of 
them went to the jail and asked the jailor for liquor. As he was 
serving them the others entered with drawn cutlasses and pistols and 
demanded he make no outcry. Sixty others now surrounded the jail. 
Stump was taken from the dungeon, the handcuffs removed and he was 
released. 

The Sheriff, Colonel John Armstrong and others attempted to re¬ 
strain the mob, but in the struggle which ensued Stump escaped, as 
did his servant, Ironcutter. 

The Governor was angered at this escape and issued instructions 
for his rearrest and then a formal proclamation offering a reward of 
£200 for Stump and £100 for Ironcutter. 

After their rescue from the Carlisle jail both Stump and Ironcutter 
returned to the neighborhood of their bloody crime, but as their presence 



28 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


was not longer agreeable to the inhabitants, Stump soon left and went 
to the residence of his father at Tulpehocken and Ironcutter was spirited 
away by friends. 

They were never again arrested, for the settlers generally sympa¬ 
thized with them, but Stump and his servant both went to Virginia, 
where it is known that Stump died at an advanced age. 


First Records of Courts in State Preserved 
January 11, 1682 

EARLY a month after the signing of the charter, March 4, 
1681, King Charles II, April 2, issued a declaration informing 
the inhabitants and planters of the Province that William 
Penn, their absolute Proprietary, was clothed with all the 
powers and pre-eminences necessary for the Government. A 
few days later, April 8, the Proprietary addressed a proclama¬ 
tion to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania. 

Captain William Markham, a cousin of William Penn, was ap¬ 
pointed Deputy Governor and his commission contained five items of 
instructions, the fourth being “to erect courts, appoint sheriffs, justices 
of the peace, etc.” These courts were established and the new Govern¬ 
ment was soon functioning. 

The records of these early courts are interesting to both the lawyer 
and those who care for the history of our State. 

Most of our citizens are but little attracted by the tedious accounts 
of routine practice, or the fine distinction between one jurisdiction and 
another, yet they find gratification in contemplating the manners, cus¬ 
toms and modes of thought once prevalent in our courts of justice. 

A review of the practice of the courts of Pennsylvania in the seven¬ 
teenth century and as late as the eighteenth present many interesting 
subjects. 

The power to erect courts of justice and to appoint all judicial 
officers in and for the Province of Pennsylvania was by the express terms 
of the charter conferred upon the Proprietary. But, in deference to the 
wishes of the people, Penn was willing to forego to some degree the 
exercise of this extraordinary right and the concurrence of the Assembly 
was invariably required to the bill for the erection of a court. The 
judges during the early years of the Province were also selected by 
the Provincial Council, the members of which were elected annually 
by the people in accordance with provisions of the Frame of Gov¬ 
ernment. 

The County Courts of the Province had their origin in 1673, under 
the Government of James, Duke of York, and were established in every 








FIRST RECORDS OF COURTS 


29 


county, “to decide all matters under twenty pounds without appeal,” 
and to have exclusive jurisdiction in the administration of criminal jus¬ 
tice, with an appeal, however, in cases extending to “Life, Limbo and 
Banishment,” to the Court of Assizes in New York. These courts 
usually consisted of five or six justices, which met quarterly. No one 
learned in the law presided on the bench, no attorney was allowed to 
practice for pay. Juries were only allowed to consist of six or seven 
men, except in cases of life and death, and in all save those instances, 
the conclusions of the majority were allowed to prevail. 

The first court held in the Province, the records of which are pre¬ 
served, was held in Philadelphia January 11, 1682. There were six 
bills presented to the Grand Jury, all but one having to do with the 
highway. That one exception was a petition for a court house. 

These tribunals lacked almost every element of distinctly English 
procedure, but were continued by Penn. Justices of the Peace were 
from time to time commissioned, some for the whole Province and some 
for a particular county. Their attendance at court was secured by the 
penalty of a fine. 

Twelve jurymen were subsequently provided whose unanimous 
opinion was required to bring in a verdict. The panel of jurymen was 
drawn in a highly primitive manner. “The names of the freemen were 
writ on small pieces of paper and put into a hat and shaken, forty-eight 
of whom were drawn by a child, and those so drawn stood for the 
Sheriff’s return.” 

The civil jurisdiction of the County Courts was first distinctly de¬ 
fined in 1683, when all actions of debt, account or slander and all 
actions of trespass were by Act of Assembly declared to be originally 
cognizable solely by them. Other jurisdiction was given them by sub¬ 
sequent action of the Legislature. 

The justices interfered to promote and defend the popular interests 
in all matters that were of public concern. In very early times they 
granted letters of administration. They superintended the laying out 
of roads, apportioned the town lots to responsible applicants, took 
acknowledgments of deeds and registered the private brands and marks 
of considerable owners of cattle. 

They exercised, too, a supervision over all bond servants, regulated 
the sale of their time, afforded summary relief if they were abused by 
their masters, punished them with stripes or the pillory if they at¬ 
tempted to escape, and took care that they were at liberty to purchase 
their freedom on reasonable terms. 

July 8, 1683, “Philip England made complaint against Sea Captain 
James Kilner, who denieth all alleged against him, only the kicking of 
the maid, and that was for spilling a chamber vessel upon the deck; 
otherwise he was very kind to them.” 

They were also intrusted with other duties. The minutes of the 


30 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Provincial Council for February 12, 1687-8, show that the County 
Court of Philadelphia was ordered to cause “stocks and a cage to be 
provided,” and was required “to suppress the noise and drunkenness of 
Indians, especially in the night, and to cause the crier to go to the ex¬ 
tent of each street when he has anything to cry, and to put a check to 
horse racing.” 

In 1702 the Grand Jury found true bills for the following offenses: 

“John Simes, ordinary, and others, for keeping a disorderly house 
to debauch the youth. John was disguised in women’s clothes walking 
the streets openly, and going from house to house against the laws of 
God and this Province, to the staining of the holy profession, and 
against the law of nature. Edward James, a like offender, at an un¬ 
reasonable hour of night. 

“Dorothy, wife of Richard Conterill, is indicted also for being 
masked in men’s clothes, walking and dancing in the house of said John 
Simes at 10 o’clock at night. Sarah Stiver, wife of John Stiver, was 
also at the same house, dressed in men’s clothes, and walked the streets.” 

It is quite probable that these indictments stopped any further at¬ 
tempts to hold “masquerade balls” in Philadelphia for some years. 

In 1703 three barbers were indicted for “trimming on the First 
day”; three persons were brought before the Court for playing cards; a 
butcher was in court for “killing meat in the street and leaving their 
blood and offals there,” another for “setting up a great reed stack on 
Mulberry Street, and making a close fence about the same.” Many 
runaways were publicly whipped. 

In the year 1708 “Solomon Cresson, a constable of the City of 
Philadelphia, going his rounds at 1 o’clock at night and discovering a 
very riotous assembly in a tavern, immediately ordered them to disperse, 
when John Evans, Esq., Governor of the Province, happened to be one 
of them, and called Solomon in the house and flogged him very 
severely, and had him imprisoned for two days.” 

In 1731, at New Castle, “Catherine Bevan is ordered to be burned 
alive, for the murder of her husband; and Peter Murphy, the servant 
who assisted her, to be hanged.” 


PIOUS HENRY ANTES 


31 


Pious Henry Antes Organized First 
Moravian Synod January 12, 1742 

IOUS HENRY ANTES assembled at his home in German¬ 
town on January 12, 1742, thirty-five persons, representing 
eight distinct denominations of the Christian religion, and 
formed the first Moravian Synod. 

Heinrich Antes (Von Blume) of a noble family in the 
Palatinate, was born about 1620. He left a son, Philip Fred¬ 
erick, born about 1670. 

When Philip Frederick and his wife came to America they brought 
only the oldest, Johann Heinrich, born in 1701, and the youngest, Mary 
Elizabeth, along. 

It is not known exactly when the Antes family arrived in America. 
The last time we find the name of Philip Frederick Antes in the Frein- 
sheim Church book of baptisms is in September, 1716. The first time 
we find his name in America is in the Deed Book of Philadelphia 
County, in February, 1723, when there was recorded a deed conveying 
to Antes a tract of 154 acres along the Swamp Creek. In the deed 
Antes is described as a resident of Germantown. On April 9, 1742, he 
married Elizabeth Wayman. In 1725, Philip Frederick Antes lived in 
Frederick Township, where he died November 28,' 1746. 

Henry Antes, the son, was taught the trade of carpenter and mill¬ 
wright before coming to America. He was tall in stature, of a large 
frame, strong physique and enjoyed robust health. 

After his father moved to New Hanover Township, Henry stayed 
in Germantown, where he engaged in partnership with William Dewees 
in the construction of a paper mill and grist mill, both at Crefeld along 
the Wissahickon. 

On February 2, 1726, Henry Antes was married to his partner’s 
daughter, Christina Elizabeth Dewees, who was born in Pennsylvania 
in 1702. She died October 5, 1782. The ceremony was celebrated by 
John Philip Boehm, pastor of the German Reformed congregations of 
Falkner Swamp, Skippack and Whitemarsh. 

His trade took him to various parts of the settled portion of 
Pennsylvania. His services were in constant demand. Antes became 
known to many people. He was thoroughly familiar with the streams, 
water power, forest and soil of many localities. 

On September 2, 1735, he bought 175 acres in Frederick Township, 
near his father’s farm. In partnership with George Heebner he at once 
began the erection of a grist mill upon his own property, which for 
many years was known far and wide as Antes’ Mill. 






32 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Antes lived the rest of his life on his Frederick Township farm, 
except when temporarily called away, and during his short residence in 
Bethlehem among the Moravians. 

In 1736 Antes had a quarrel with the Reverend Mr. Boehm, the 
cause of which is not known. Boehm said he had occasion to speak to 
Antes several times on necessary matters. A statement friendly to 
Antes said it was caused by Antes rebuking Boehm for unbecoming 
behavior. It was probably caused by Boehm speaking to Antes in pro¬ 
test at his close association with Bishop Spangenberg. At any rate Antes 
left Boehm’s church and became a Moravian. 

In religious matters Henry Antes displayed much zeal and activity. 
He became known as the “Pious Layman of Fredericktown.” He 
taught the proper way of life to his countrymen, frequently calling them 
together in their homes for prayers, reading of the scriptures and 
exhortation. He was thus employed in Oley as early as 1736. 

In 1740 a great religious revival occurred in Falkner Swamp. 
George Whitefield, the great revivalist, preached at the house of Chris¬ 
topher Wiegner at Skippack, then later in the day he preached at the 
house of Henry Antes. About two thousand persons, mostly Ger¬ 
mans, with some Quakers, Dunkards, Swedes, Huguenots and other 
church people were in attendance. 

Antes yearned for the unity of the followers of the Christian religion. 

On November 24, 1741, Count Zinzindorf came to Philadelphia 
to unite the leading men of the several denominations in Pennsylvania 
for evangelical work. John Bechtel indorsed the movement, and Henry 
Antes issued a call for the first meeting in furtherance of this object to 
be held in Germantown. In order to command the confidence of 
German colonists it was necessary that the movement be recommended 
by one well known to the people, so Antes issued the call. 

Because the movement did not meet with success in the way antici¬ 
pated Henry Antes really died of a broken heart. The Moravian 
Church, however, was one of the results. 

During the session of the Moravian Synod, March, 1745, at the 
home of Henry Antes, he offered the use of his farm and buildings and 
his mill for the brethren to be used as boarding school for boys. 

On June 3, 1745, the school was started with thirty-four scholars. 
Christina Francke Christopher, of Bethlehem, was superintendent, and 
John C. Heyne, a teacher. The Moravians named it Mount Frederick 
School, and it was the first nonsectarian school in Pennsylvania. 

Antes and his family, excepting two sons, John and Henry, who re¬ 
mained as pupils, moved to Bethlehem. Here he gave his whole time 
to the temporal affairs of the Moravians. He planned and superin¬ 
tended the building of the first mills, dams, bridges and houses at the 
different Moravian settlements. 

On December 15, 1745, he was appointed by King George of Eng- 


GENERAL SIMON CAMERON 


33 


land, to be Justice of the Peace for Bucks County, in which Bethlehem 
was then a part. October 27, 1748, Henry Antes was appointed busi¬ 
ness manager of the Moravians. 

In 1750 Antes withdrew from the Moravians, because he did not 
approve of the introduction of the wearing of a white surplice by the 
minister at the celebration of the Eucharist. 

During the summer of that year the white scholars were transferred 
to the schools at Oley and Macgungie and the Indians and Negroes to 
Bethlehem, and in September, 1750, Mount Frederick School was 
closed and Henry Antes moved back to his farm. 

In 1752 Antes was appointed justice of the peace for Philadelphia 
County, but at this time his health was broken, caused by an injury 
received during the construction of the Friedenstal Mill, near Nazareth. 

On August 25, 1752, Antes accompanied Bishop Spangenberg to 
North Carolina. Antes was in miserable health and returned home in 
the spring of 1753. He was an invalid until he died July 20, 1755. 

He was buried by the Moravians in the family graveyard beside his 
father. Bishop Spangenberg preached the funeral sermon. Ten pall¬ 
bearers from Bethlehem carried his body to its final resting place. 

Antes left four distinguished sons: Frederick, a delegate to the 
Provincial Convention in Carpenters’ Hall, a colonel of the Sixth Bat¬ 
talion of Philadelphia County Militia, which participated in the Battle 
of Brandywine, etc. He removed to Northumberland where he held 
many important positions of honor and trust, and was president judge of 
the county. He was the father-in-law of Governor Simon Snyder; 
William, a lieutenant colonel in the Revolution; John, a Moravian who 
suffered untold agonies in a mission field in Egypt; and John Henry, 
Lieutenant Colonel in Revolution, sheriff of Northumberland County 
and the pioneer settler of what is Nippenose Valley in Lycoming Coun¬ 
ty. Five daughters also survived Pious Henry Antes. 


General Simon Cameron Defeated Colonel 
Forney for United States Senate, 

January 13, 1857 

REAT excitement prevailed all over the State of Pennsylvania, 
and the Democracy of the great Commonwealth were thrown 
into intense perturbation and indignation, January 13, 1857, 
by dispatches from Harrisburg announcing that Representa¬ 
tives Samuel Manear, of York County, William H. Lebo, and 
G. Wagenseller, of Schuylkill County, Democratic members 
of the Legislature, had not only refused to support John W. Forney, 
the caucus nominee of their party for United States Senator, but had 
given their votes to the opposition candidate, Simon Cameron. 



2—Oct. 24 







34 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Forney was one of the favorites of the Philadelphia Democracy at 
this time, and they were moved to the warmest feelings of resentment 
by the base treachery which had removed from his grasp the cherished 
object of his ambition. 

Meetings were held by various clubs and organizations, denouncing 
the traitors in unmeasured terms. The names of Manear, Lebo and 
Wagonseller remained for many years synonymous with corruption. 

At Harrisburg the hotels long refused to receive them, and in 
Philadelphia and other places there yet remain some who have not 
forgotten to regard them with contempt. 

The result of this unforeseen defeat of Colonel Forney was the loss 
of an accomplished publicist and statesman, and to give Philadelphia, 
in the career which opened before him a few months later, its most 
eminent journalist. 

The story of this political event is interesting to students of the 
history of our state. 

When Hon. James Buchanan was appointed Secretary of State, by 
President Polk, in 1845, he resigned from the United States Senate to 
accept the cabinet portfolio. 

This vacancy brought into the political limelight Simon Cameron, 
then one of the leaders of the Democratic Party in the State. 

Cameron had arisen from his printer’s case in his native county of 
Lancaster, and had attained prominence as a newspaper publisher in 
Doylestown and Harrisburg, and had been appointed to the office of 
Adjutant General by Governor Shulze, when he was but thirty years 
of age. He had extensive banking and large iron interests for that day. 
He had become a wealthy and influential man. 

On account of his business interests he did not give enthusiastic sup¬ 
port to Polk, yet held his grip on the management of the party in 
Pennsylvania. 

There were a number of prominent candidates for the senatorship to 
succeed Buchanan, one of whom was the able George W. Woodward, 
who finally received the nomination of his party, and there did not 
seem to be a ripple on the political surface. 

But Cameron saw his opportunity, and with the power of the canal 
board, which he controlled, together with a combination of Protection or 
Cameron Democrats with the Whigs, Cameron defeated Woodward, 
and served from 1845 to 1849. His election was a keen disappointment 
to President Polk and Secretary of State Buchanan. 

The new Republican Party became a national organization in 1856. 

Former Senator Simon Cameron was in the Know Nothing organ¬ 
ization but was smarting under his long and bitter contest for Sen¬ 
ator in 1855, when he was defeated by former Governor William 
Bigler. 

Colonel John W. Forney was chairman of Democratic State Com- 


GENERAL SIMON CAMERON 


35 


mittee and had absolute charge of the battle that was fought for the 
election of James Buchanan, to whom he was romantically attached. 

In the event of Buchanan’s election Forney was assured the editor¬ 
ship of the Washington Union, the organ of the administration, and the 
Senate printing. There were subsequent developments which led the 
President to assent to the sacrifice of Forney, and when tendered a 
cabinet position, the President was forced to recall it. 

President Buchanan then turned to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, 
which was still Democratic, and asked that Colonel Forney be elected 
United States Senator. 

The Democratic Party was demoralized in 1856, when many of its 
most distinguished members supported Fremont, and in this condition, 
the party lines were rather closely drawn. The Senate stood fifteen 
Democrats to eighteen opposition, and the House had fifty-three Demo¬ 
crats to forty-seven opposition, giving the Democrats three majority on 
joint ballot. 

The nomination of Forney was not cordially supported by those 
who were smarting under the defeat he had given them in October, but 
there were very few who were favorable to Cameron, and certainly not 
one-fourth of the members would have preferred him as a candidate. 

But Cameron, with his exceptional shrewdness as a political man¬ 
ager, saw that he could depend upon the resentments against Forney 
among the opposition members to support him if he could assure them 
of his ability to defeat Forney. 

Cameron was most fortunate in having in the Senate as one of his 
earnest friends Charles B. Penrose, of Philadelphia, a former Senator, 
and a man of ripe experience and great political sagacity. He was quite 
as earnest in his desire to punish Forney as he was to promote his 
friend, General Cameron. 

Cameron was not nominated in the caucus, but had the assurance 
from Representatives Lebo, Manear and Wagonseller, all Democrats, 
that they would vote for him if their votes could elect him. 

This information was communicated to Senator Penrose, who very 
shrewdly stated to the Republican caucus that the defection of these 
three votes would elect General Cameron, if they would unite in their 
support. The Republicans refused to take any action until the mem¬ 
bers could have absolute information as to the Democratic defection. 

Penrose had the caucus name three members who could be trusted 
and he would arrange for an interview. This was held at Omit s 
Hotel, and Lebo, Manear and Wagonseller gave the assurance re¬ 
quired, and the committee reported the fact to the caucus, but they 
were pledged not to divulge the names of the three persons. 

The caucus was somewhat distrustful, but agreed to vote once for 
Cameron. 

The voting took place only in joint convention, and when the House 


36 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


and Senate met, the compact was carried out to the letter, and Cameron 
was elected over Forney for a full term senatorship. 

The whole arrangement was conducted with such secrecy that not 
one of the opposition legislators had any idea as to what Democrats had 
bolted, and the Democrats themselves did not doubt the fidelity of any 
of their members. 


Railroads Fight to Enter Pittsburgh. Great 
State Convention January 14, 1846 

T WAS but natural that the great undeveloped wealth of the 
Mississippi Valley should attract those who had any vision as 
to the future of this vast country. This enormous wealth 
must be dumped into the great cities planted along the At¬ 
lantic seaboard. 

General Washington, skilled surveyor that he was, early 
trained his eyes westward, and he spent much time in outlining plans 
for connecting the Potomac and Ohio Rivers by means of a canal. 
Twenty-five years after his death the Erie Canal was opened, when the 
merchants of Philadelphia and Baltimore realized they must awaken 
or succumb. 

Baltimore believed a railroad should be built to the West. The 
Baltimore and Ohio, first of all great railroads, shows by its name the 
purpose for which it was incorporated. Pennsylvania, however, under¬ 
took to connect the West by a system of combined railroads and canals, ; 

From the first both cities looked to Pittsburgh as the logical terminus 
of their improvements. Then began a struggle of Philadelphia-Balti- 
more rivalry, which lasted for forty-three years, from 1828 to 1871. 

In 1828 Pennsylvania had given a chapter to the Baltimore and 
Ohio, by which it could construct its line through Southwestern 
Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh. The members of the Legislature at that 
time did not consider future competition, for the State works had not 
been built. 

The charter was granted for fifteen years, and, in 1839, another act 
extended its provisions until 1847. This act, among other onerous con¬ 
ditions, was discriminating in favor of traffic to Philadelphia; it also con¬ 
tained a heavy State tax on freight, and the company could not accept it. 

The Pennsylvania State works from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh were 
completed in 1834. When the charter of the Baltimore and Ohio 
expired in 1843, the road was completed only as far as Cumberland. 

The company tried to obtain better terms from Pennsylvania. The 
residents of the western part of the State were all eager for an addi¬ 
tional outlet to the coast, but the Philadelphia politicians were unwilling 
to yield any concession to their Baltimore rivals. 






RAILROADS FIGHT TO ENTER PITTSBURGH 37 


Several years later it was admitted that the State works would never 
provide adequate transportation facilities to the West, even though in 
excess of $10,000,000 had already been expended and the State seriously 
involved. Pennsylvanians were made to realize that railroads were 
superior to canals and that the commercial solution of Philadelphia lay 
in a central railroad to Pittsburgh. 

The feeling in all three cities reached fever heat. The legislative 
hall was the battleground and all interests were well represented. The 
battle centered on the bill granting right of way through Pennsylvania 
to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. 

Public meetings were held in Philadelphia and elsewhere. A State 
railroad convention was held at Harrisburg, January 14, 1846, where 
resolutions were adopted favoring the Central Railroad scheme and 
against the Baltimore and Ohio right of way grant. 

The people of Pennsylvania believed since a railroad must be built 
it would be better for it to be run entirely through Pennsylvania and 
be a Pennsylvania institution. They also felt that if the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad was given the franchise, it would be next to impossible 
to raise money to build the Pennsylvania Railroad. 

Pittsburgh business interests were fearful if the Baltimore and Ohio 
Railroad was refused admission to Pennsylvania that road would extend 
its rails farther down the Ohio to Wheeling, perhaps, and thus control 
river trade, which had been long enjoyed at Pittsburgh. Many meet¬ 
ings were held in Pittsburgh urging the support of the Baltimore bill. 
It must also be understood that State prejudice held back railroads from 
entering other States. In 1846 States rights theories were more potential 
than they are today. 

In this connection the position of the Baltimore and Ohio was un¬ 
fortunate and interesting. Either Pennsylvania or Virginia must charter 
the company before a road of great importance could be built. Neither 
State was willing to do so. 

The Baltimore and Ohio bill was defeated in the Seriate February 
23, 1846, by a single vote. Philadelphia rejoiced and Pittsburgh was 
sad. The Senate reversed itself February 26, and Philadelphia was 
maddened beyond reason. 

On April 10 the Baltimore bill passed the House, with an amend¬ 
ment providing that the grant to the Baltimore and Ohio should be 
null and void if the Pennsylvania Railroad obtained subscriptions of 
$3,000,000 in capital stock, of which $900,000 must be paid in cash by 
July 31. The bill passed the Senate and was signed by Governor 
Shunk, April 21. 

Every effort was exerted to procure the subscriptions, a house-to- 
house canvass resulting in 2600 subscriptions. Nearly all of which were 
for five shares or less. 

Philadelphia won the struggle and the conditions were met in time. 


38 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Governor Shunk issued a proclamation announcing the grant to Balti¬ 
more and Ohio Railroad to be null and void. 

In 1837 a group of Pittsburgh men obtained a charter for the 
Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad. This with the design to get 
into Baltimore, as it would build fifty-eight miles of the route to that 
city. 

That scheme fell through, but in 1843 the charter was renewed and 
the interest of the Baltimore crowd was obtained. But they did not 
seem to appreciate the advantage secured for them by the astute Pitts¬ 
burgh business men, and the Pittsburgh and Connellsville relapsed into 
slumberland until 1853. 

The Baltimore and Ohio had completed its line to Wheeling and the 
Pennsylvania was about to finish its line into Pittsburgh. The Pitts¬ 
burgh and Connellsville obtained authority to make connection with the 
Baltimore and Ohio at Cumberland. But new troubles arose. The 
president of the company embezzled the funds and the City of Baltimore 
failed to give as liberally as promised. 

In spite of those obstacles the road was opened from Pittsburgh to 
Connellsville January, 1857. Then came the panic of 1857 and the 
depression by the prospect of the Civil War. 

In 1864 the stretch of ninety miles between Uniontown and Cum¬ 
berland again became a political matter. Thomas A. Scott, president 
of the Pennsylvania Railroad, determined this link should not be built, 
as the last thing he wanted was a competing line in Pittsburgh. 

On April 11, 1864, two bills were introduced into the Legislature. 
One claimed the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad had misused its 
charter; the other incorporated a new railroad from Connellsville. The 
bills passed and became laws without the approval of Governor Curtin. 

Judge Grier in United States Court June 20, 1865, held the repeal 
of the Pittsburgh and Connellsville to be unconstitutional. This case 
now became a legal battle for years and eventually got into Congress 
and back into the Pennsylvania Legislature. On January 29, 1868, 
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania unanimously decided in favor of the 
Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad. The next day the Legislature 
repealed the Act of 1864. 

The happy ending was in spite of all litigation. Pittsburgh and the 
great mineral and lumber wealth along the Monongahela and Youghio- 
gheny Valleys was opened up, and on June 26, 1871, the Pittsburgh, 
Washington and Baltimore Railroad was formally opened and the long 
struggle for Pittsburgh ended. 


GOVERNOR ANDREW G. CURTIN 


39 


Governor Andrew G. Curtin Inaugurated 
War Governor January 15, 1861 

NDREW GREGG CURTIN, of Bellefonte, was inaugu¬ 
rated Governor of Pennsylvania January 15, 1861, and as¬ 
sumed the office at a time when the gravest problems ever 
presented to American statesmanship were to be solved. The 
mutterings of the coming storm were approaching nearer and 
nearer, and the year opened up gloomily. 

In his inaugural he took occasion “to declare that Pennsylvania 
would, under any circumstances, render a full and determined support 
of the free institutions of the Union,” and pledged himself to stand 
between the Constitution and all encroachments instigated by hatred, 
ambition, fanaticism and folly. 

He spoke with words of deliberation, decision and wisdom, and made 
a record of statesmanship that stood the severe test of years of bloody 
and lasting war. The conflict obliterated old and sacred landmarks in 
political teaching. 

On February 17, the House adopted resolutions pledging to Mary¬ 
land the fellowship and support of Pennsylvania. On January 24, the 
House had adopted resolutions taking high ground in favor of sustain¬ 
ing the Constitution of the Union. 

Threatening as was the danger, while the Legislature was in session 
and meetings were being held in Philadelphia and throughout the 
State, no one anticipated that the strife would actually break forth so 
suddenly, nor that it would grow to such fearful proportions at the very 
beginning. 

It is true, that the soldiers of the South, who had long secretly been 
preparing to dissolve the Union unmasked their design when the guns of 
Fort Moultrie were trained on Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor, 
South Carolina, April 12, 1861. No State in the Union was less pre¬ 
pared, so far as munitions of war were concerned, to take its part in the 
conflict than Pennsylvania. Her volunteer soldiery system had fallen 
in decay. 

There were fewer volunteer companies of militia in Pennsylvania at 
that moment than ever before on the rolls of the Adjutant General’s 
office. But when the first overt act was committed, and the news was 
flashed over the Northland, it created no fiercer feeling of resentment 
anywhere than it did throughout the Keystone State. 

On the morning of April 12, 1861, a message was handed to Gov¬ 
ernor Curtin in Harrisburg which read as follows: 

“The war is commenced. The batteries began firing at 4 o’clock 
this morning. Major Anderson replied, and a brisk cannonading com- 








40 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


menced. This is reliable and has just come by Associated Press. The 
vessels were not in sight.” 

Later in the day, in response to the Governor’s suggestion, the Leg¬ 
islature passed an act reorganizing the military department of the State 
and appropriated $500,000 for the purpose. 

President Lincoln issued a proclamation, April 15, calling out 
75,000 militia from the different States to serve for three months. A 
requisition was at once made on Pennsylvania for fourteen regiments. 
The alacrity with which these regiments were furnished demonstrated 
not so much the military ardor as it did the patriotic spirit of the people. 
Sufficient men were rushed to Harrisburg not only to fill up the State 
quota of fourteen regiments, but enough to organize twenty-five. 

There were two distinguished patriotic Pennsylvanians who com¬ 
prehended the seriousness of the situation from the outset. General 
Simon Cameron, who had resigned his seat in the United States Senate 
to become the Secretary of War in President Lincoln’s Cabinet, advised 
the organization of the most powerful army the North could raise, so 
that at one blow armed rebellion might be effectually crushed. Gov¬ 
ernor Curtin took advantage of the excess men offering their services and 
began at once, after the complement of the three months’ men had been 
furnished to the Federal Government, to organize the famous Reserve 
Corps. 

He discovered the approaching tornado in the distance, and thus 
commenced to prepare for its fury, the Reserves being the only troops 
well organized and disciplined in the North ready for the services of the 
Union at the moment of the disaster of the first battle of Bull Run. 

During the second year of the Civil War, Governor Curtin broke 
down his health through overwork and anxiety, and was compelled to 
give himself, for weeks at a time, to the exclusive care of eminent 
physicians. 

President Lincoln, appreciating Curtin’s faithful services, and recog¬ 
nizing the necessity for a change of climate and employment, formally 
tendered him a first-class Foreign Mission, which the Governor signified 
his willingness to accept when his term should expire. But in the mean¬ 
time he was nominated for re-election, and again entered upon the 
canvass, and was elected by more than 15,000 majority. 

As is well known, the early part of the war went against the Union 
forces. All through the North there were many persons, the “peace at 
any price” men, who thought war was wrong, or a failure, and tried 
to have it end. Governor Curtin, in order to check this feeling, issued 
an invitation to the Northern Governors to hold a meeting, for the 
purpose of considering how the Government might be more strongly 
supported and how the loyalty of the people might be increased. 

In September, 1862, just after the battle of Antietam, which 
stopped Lee’s invasion of the north, eleven Governors met at Altoona. 


SIMON GIRTY, OUTLAW 


41 


They adopted an address to President Lincoln, warmly commending 
his Emancipation Proclamation. The Governors then went to Wash¬ 
ington, presented the address, and asked Lincoln to keep on hand in the 
various states a reserve army of 100,000, and pledged “Loyal and cor¬ 
dial support, hereafter as heretofore.” It gave Lincoln renewed courage 
for his heavy task. 

In 1866, his health was such that his life was despaired of and in 
November his physicians ordered him to Cuba to recuperate. President 
Johnson offered him a foreign post but he again declined to leave his 
executive duties in the state and completed his term. 

In 1867 he was a strong candidate for the United States Senate and 
a year later received a large vote for vice president in the Republican 
Convention which nominated General Grant for President. Soon after 
Grant became President, he nominated former Governor Curtin for 
Minister to Russia, and he was promptly confirmed by the Senate. 

Before embarking for his new post of duty Governor Curtin was the 
recipient of a marked evidence of devotion. The Councils of Philadel¬ 
phia unanimously invited him to a public reception in Independence 
Hall and in addition, the leading citizens, without distinction of party, 
united in giving him a banquet at the Academy of Music, that has 
seldom been equalled for elegance and every manifestation of popular 
affection and applause. 

He sailed June, 1869, and in the discharge of his diplomatic duties 
proved himself one of the most popular representatives ever sent abroad 
by our nation. He was again supported for the vice presidential nom¬ 
ination in 1872. 

Governor Curtin died October 7, 1894, in fullness of years, and 
Bellefonte mourned as it had never done before, and there was given 
to the great War Governor the biggest soldier’s funeral that the Bald 
Eagle Valley ever saw. 


Simon Girty, Outlaw and Renegade, 
Born January 16, 1744 


UCH of the ride along the Susquehanna trail on the western 
side of the Susquehanna River is at the base of majestic hills 
along the old Pennsylvania Canal bed, and more beautiful 
scenery it is not possible to find anywhere. Especially is this 
true as the motorist nears the quaint town of Liverpool. A 
few miles before reaching this place there is a gap in the moun¬ 
tains long known as Girty’s Gap, named in memory of one of the most 
despised outlaws in the provincial history of Pennsylvania. 

The rocks on the face of the precipitous hills at this point have 








42 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


formed an almost perfect Indian head; indeed, it seems to be smiling 
down upon the thousands who pause to view this wonderful natural 
likeness of the primitive American race. 

So important is this rock-face that when the new State highway was 
being built at this point summer of 1922, the engineers intended that 
the rocks should be blasted out and the road straightened at this bend, 
but on account of the sentiment connected with this really wonderful 
image the roadway was finally laid around the rocks and so the Indian 
face at Girty’s Notch is still to be seen. 

Simon Girty, Senior, was a licensed Indian trader on the frontiers 
of Pennsylvania as early as 1740, and about that period he located on 
Sherman’s Creek, in what is now Perry County. Here his son, Simon, 
who figures so conspicuously in the annals of border life, was born 
January 16, 1744. There were three other sons, Thomas, George and 
James. 

In 1750, the father and sundry other “squatters” on Sherman’s 
Creek, were dispossessed of their settlements by the Sheriff of Cum¬ 
berland County and his posses, under orders of the Provincial authorities. 

Girty removed his family to the east side of the Susquehanna River, 
near where the town of Halifax is now situated. Afterward he moved 
to the Conococheague settlement, where it is related he was killed in a 
drunken brawl. In 1756, his widow was killed by the savages, and 
Simon, George and James were taken captives by the Indians. Thomas, 
the eldest brother, being absent at his uncle’s at Antietam, was the only 
one who escaped. 

Simon Girty was adopted by the Seneca and given the Indian name 
of Katepacomen. He became an expert hunter, and in dress, language 
and habits became a thorough Indian. The author of “Crawford’s Cam¬ 
paign” says that “it must be passed to his credit that his early training 
as a savage was compulsory, not voluntary as has generally been sup¬ 
posed.” 

George Girty was adopted by the Delaware and became a fierce and 
ferocious savage, while James, who was adopted into the Shawnee nation, 
became no less infamous as a cruel and bloodthirsty raider of the Ken¬ 
tucky border, “sparing not even women and children from horrid tor¬ 
tures.” 

Simon Girty and his tribe roamed the wilderness northwest of the 
Ohio, and when the expedition under Colonel Henry Bouquet, at the 
close of the Pontiac War, in 1764, dictated peace to the Indian tribe on 
the Muskingum, one of the hostages given up by the Ohio Indians was 
Simon Girty. Preferring the wild life of the savage, Girty soon es¬ 
caped and returned to his home among the Seneca. 

One of the conditions of the treaty referred to, was the yielding up 
by the Ohio Indians of all their captives, willing or unwilling. This 
being the case, Girty was again returned to the settlements and took 


SIMON GIRTY, OUTLAW 


43 


up his home near Fort Pitt, on the little run emptying into the Alle¬ 
gheny and since known as Girty’s Run. 

In the unprovoked war of Lord Dunmore, in company with Simon 
Kenton, Girty served as a hunter and scout. He subsequently acted 
as an Indian agent, and became intimately acquainted with Colonel 
William Crawford, at whose cabin on the Youghiogheny he was a fre¬ 
quent and welcome guest, and it is stated by some writers, although 
without any worthwhile evidence to substantiate it, was a suitor for 
the hand of one of his daughters, but was rejected. 

At the outset of the Revolution, Simon Girty was a commissioned 
officer of militia at Fort Pitt, took the test oath as required by the Com¬ 
mittee of Safety, but March 28, 1778, deserted to the enemy, in com¬ 
pany with the notorious Alexander McKee and Matthew Elliott. 

Simon Girty began his wild career by sudden forays against the bor¬ 
derers, and in his fierceness and cruelty outdid the Indians themselves. 
Hence the sobriquet of “Girty the White Savage.” 

Many atrocious crimes were attributed to the notorious renegade, 
but the campaign against the Sandusky Indian towns in 1782, under 
the command of Colonel William Crawford, proved to be the one in 
which Girty displayed the most hardened nature and showed him to be 
a relentless foe of the Colonies. 

Girty’s brutality reached its climax when he refused any request, 
even to discuss terms of easier punishment for his former friend and 
brother officer, but viewed with apparent satisfaction the most horrible 
and excruciating tortures which that ill-fated but brave and gallant 
Crawford was doomed to suffer. This episode in his career has placed 
his name among the most infamous whose long list of crimes causes a 
shudder as the details are told, even after a lapse of a century and a half. 

During the next seven years but little is recorded of this renegade 
and desperado, except that a year after Crawford’s defeat, he married 
Catharine Malott, a captive among the Shawnee. They had several chil¬ 
dren and she survived her husband many years, dying at an advanced age. 

Notwithstanding Girty’s brutality and depravity he never lost the 
confidence of the Indians; the advice of Simon Girty was always con¬ 
clusive. 

Girty acted as interpreter when the United States attempted to 
negotiate with the Confederated Nations, for an adjustment of the dif¬ 
ficulties during which his conduct was insolent, and he was false in his 
duty as interpreter. 

In the defeat of General St. Clair, Girty saw and knew General 
Richard Butler, who was writhing in agony with his wounds. The 
traitor told a savage warrior he was a high officer, whereupon the In¬ 
dian buried his tomahawk in General Butler’s head, scalped him, took 
his heart out and divided it into as many pieces as there were tribes en¬ 
gaged in the battle. 


44 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


When General Anthony Wayne in 1795 forever destroyed the power 
of the Indians of the Northwest, Girty sold his trading post and re¬ 
moved to Canada, where he settled upon a farm near Malden, on the 
Detroit River, the recipient of a British pension. Here he resided until 
the War of 1812 undisturbed, but almost blind. 

After the capture of the British fleet on Lake Erie, Girty followed 
the British in retreat and remained away from his home until the treaty 
of peace was signed, when he returned to his farm, where he died in 
the fall of 1819, aged seventy-four years. 

There have been efforts to make a hero of Girty, but without suc¬ 
cess. He was without one redeeming quality. He reveled in the very 
excess of malignity and above all in his hatred for his own countrymen. 
Such was the life and career of Simon Girty, the outlaw and renegade. 


Benjamin Franklin, Youngest Son of Seven¬ 
teen Children, Born January 17, 1706 

ENJAMIN FRANKLIN, American statesman, philosopher 
and printer, was born in Boston January 17, 1706, youngest 
son of the seventeen children of Josiah and Abiah Folger 
Franklin. 

Born a subject of Queen Anne of England and on the 
same day receiving the baptismal name of Benjamin in the Old 
South Church, he continued for more than seventy of the eighty-four 
years of his life a subject of four successive British monarchs. During 
that period, neither Anne nor the three Georges, who succeeded her, had 
a subject of whom they had more reason to be proud nor one whom at 
his death their people generally supposed they had more reason to detest. 

Franklin learned the art of printing with his brother, but they dis¬ 
agreeing, Benjamin left Boston when seventeen years old, sought em¬ 
ployment in New York, but, not succeeding, went to Philadelphia and 
there found success, and for much more than half a century was the 
greatest man in Pennsylvania. 

Franklin soon attracted the attention of Governor Keith, who, mak¬ 
ing him a promise of the Government printing, induced young Franklin 
to go to England to purchase printing materials. He was deceived and 
remained there eighteen months, working as a journeyman printer in 
London. He returned to Philadelphia late in 1726, an accomplished 
printer and a man of the world. 

In 1730 he had a printing establishment and newspaper, the Pennsyl¬ 
vania Gazette, and stationers’ shop of his own. Was married to De¬ 
borah Read, a young woman whose husband had absconded, and was 
already pressing upon public opinion with a powerful leverage. 









BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 


45 


For many years he published an almanac under the assumed name 
of Richard Saunders. It became widely known as “Poor Richard’s 
Almanac,” and is still one of the marvels of modern literature. 

As a practical printer Franklin was reported to have had no 
superiors. As a journalist he exerted an influence not only unrivaled in 
his day, but more potent, on this continent at least, than either of his 
sovereigns or their parliaments. 

Franklin was the chief founder of the Philadelphia Library in 1731. 
The organization of a police and later of the militia for Philadelphia; 
of companies for extinguishing fires; making the sweeping and paving 
of the streets a municipal function, and establishment of an academy 
which has matured into the now famous University of Pennsylvania, 
were among the conspicuous reforms which he planted and watered in 
the columns of the Gazette. 

In 1736 he became clerk of the Provincial Assembly, and the follow¬ 
ing year was postmaster of Philadelphia. He was the founder of the 
Philosophical Society of Philadelphia in 1744, and six years later was 
elected to the Provincial Assembly. 

In 1753 Franklin was appointed deputy postmaster for the English- 
American colonies. In 1754 he was a delegate to the Colonial Con¬ 
gress at Albany, in which he prepared a plan of union for the colonies, 
which was the basis of the Articles of Confederation adopted by Con¬ 
gress more than twenty years afterward. 

Franklin graduated from journalism into diplomacy as naturally as 
winter glides into spring. 

The question of taxing the Penn Proprietary estates for the defense 
of the Province from the French and Indians had assumed such an acute 
stage in 1757 that the Assembly decided to petition the King upon the 
subject, and selected Franklin to visit London and present their petition. 
The next forty-one years of his life were virtually spent in the diplomatic 
service. 

Franklin was five years absent on this first mission. Every interest 
in London was again him. He finally obtained a compromise, and for 
his success the Penns and their partisans never forgave him, and his 
fellow Colonists never forgot him. 

Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1762, but not to remain. The 
question of taxing the Colonies without representation was soon thrust 
upon them in the shape of a stamp duty, and Franklin was sent out 
again to urge its repeal. He reached London in November, 1764, 
where he remained the next eleven years, until it became apparent that 
there would never be a change during the reign of George III. 

Satisfied that his usefulness was at an end, he sailed for Philadelphia 
March 21, 1775, and on the morning of his arrival was elected by the 
Assembly of Pennsylvania a delegate to Continental Congress. 

Franklin served on ten committees in this Congress. He was one 


46 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


of five who drew up the Declaration of Independence, July, 1776, and 
in September following was chosen unanimously as one of the three 
commissioners to be sent to solicit for the infant Republic the aid of 
France and the sympathies of Continental Europe. 

Franklin had begun his investigations and experiments in electricity, 
by which he demonstrated its identity with lightning, as early as 1746. 
The publication of his account of these experiments procured his election 
as an honorary member of the Royal Society of London and his undis¬ 
puted rank among the most eminent natural philosophers of his time. 

He received the Copley gold medal and the degree of LL.D. from 
Oxford and Edinburgh in 1762. Harvard and Yale had previously 
conferred upon him the degree of master of arts. 

When Franklin arrived in Paris, therefore, he was already a mem¬ 
ber of every important learned society in Europe. 

The history of his mission and how Franklin succeeded in procuring 
financial aid from the French King, and finally a treaty of peace more 
favorable to his country than either England or France wished to con¬ 
cede, has been often told. 

Franklin’s reputation grew with his success. More was published 
about him in the newspapers of the world than of any other man that 
ever lived. 

Franklin landed in Philadelphia on September 13, 1785, on the 
same wharf on which sixty-two years before he had stepped, a friend¬ 
less and virtually penniless runaway apprentice of seventeen. 

Though now in his seventy-ninth year and a victim of infirmities, 
he had hardly unpacked his trunks when he was chosen a member of 
the Municipal Council of Philadelphia and its chairman. Shortly after 
he was elected President of Pennsylvania, his own vote only lacking 
to make the vote unanimous. 

He was unanimously elected for two succeeding years, and while 
holding that office was chosen a member of the convention which met 
in May, 1787, to frame the Constitution under which the people of the 
United States are still living. With the adoption of that instrument, 
to which he contributed as much as any other individual, he retired 
from official life, though not from the service of the public. 

His last public act was the signing of a memorial to Congress on 
the subject of human slavery by the Abolition Society, of which he was 
the founder and president. 

He died in Philadelphia April 17, 1790, and four days later his 
body was interred in Christ Church burying ground. His funeral was 
such as the greatest philosopher and statesman had deserved. 


END OF THE MOLLIE MAGUIRES 


47 


Long Reign of Terror by Mollie Maguires 
Brought to End January 18,1876 

ANUARY 18, 1876, was an eventful day in Mauch Chunk, 
the county seat of Carbon County, and, in fact, for the State 
of Pennsylvania and the entire country. 

On that day Michael J. Doyle, of Mount Laffee, Schuyl¬ 
kill County, and Edward Kelly were arraigned charged with 
the crime of the murder of John P. Jones, of Lansford. 

For years preceding this murder the coal regions of Pennsylvania 
had been infested by a most desperate class of men, banded together for 
the worst purposes—called by some the Buckshots, by others the Mollie 
Maguires. They made such sad havoc of the country that life was no 
longer secure and the regions suffered in many ways. 

The unusual circumstance of this trial was the fact that it was the 
first indictment of a “Mollie Maguire” in this country which had a pos¬ 
sible chance for ultimate conviction. 

John P. Jones was a mine boss who had incurred the illwill of some 
of the Irish connected with the organization of Mollie Maguires, mask¬ 
ing under the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and on the morning of 
September 3, 1875, he left his home in Lansford, in which were his 
wife and seven children, and traveled toward the breaker where he was 
employed. The three assassins, James Kerrigan, Mike Doyle and Ed¬ 
ward Kelly, were lying in wait for him and cruelly shot him down, 
killing him on the spot. 

This crime was no more revolting or cruel than the many others com¬ 
mitted by this murderous organization, but it was the one in which the 
Pinkerton detective, James McParlan, had been able to connect all the 
facts in the case, and with the additional assistance of James Kerrigan 
turning State’s witness the civil authorities were able to conduct such a 
trial that the two other murderers were convicted. 

Michael Doyle was found guilty January 22, 1876, and sentenced 
to death. This was the first conviction of a Mollie Maguire in this 
country. Edward Kelly was subsequently placed on trial for the same 
crime and on March 29 was found guilty. Doyle and Kelly both were 
hanged at Mauch Chunk, June 21, 1876, and the Mollie Maguires 
ceased to be the terror of civilized people. 

To form some idea of the operations of these desperadoes it must 
be known that the Mollie Maguires were more than bloodthirsty and 
active in 1865. On August 25, that year, David Muir, superintendent 
of a colliery, was shot and killed in broad daylight. On January 10, 
1866, Henry H. Dunne, a well known citizen of Pottsville, and super- 







48 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


intendent of a large colliery, was murdered on the highway near the 
city limits, while riding home in his carriage. On Saturday, October 
17, 1868, Alexander Rea, another mining superintendent, was killed on 
the wagon road, near Centralia, Columbia County. Several arrests 
were made but no convictions. 

On March 15, 1869, William H. Littlehales, superintendent of the 
Glen Carbon Company, was killed on the highway enroute to his home 
in Pottsville. F. W. S. Langdon, George K. Smith and Graham Powell, 
all mine officials, met death at the hands of assassins. 

On December 2, 1871, Morgan Powell, assistant superintendent of 
the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal and Iron Company, at Summitt Hill, 
Carbon County, was shot down on the street. 

In October, 1873, F. B. Gowen, president of the Philadelphia and 
Reading Railway Company and the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and 
Iron Company, employed Allan Pinkerton, the noted detective, to take 
charge of a thorough investigation of this organization. 

Pinkerton accepted the commission and selected James McParlan, a 
young Irish street-car conductor of Chicago, to be his chief operative 
in this hazardous enterprise. On the evening of October 27, 1873, 
there arrived at Port Carbon a tramp who gave his name as one James 
McKenna, who was seeking work in the mines. This McKenna was 
none other than Detective McParlan and well did he perform his task. 

McParlan cleverly assumed the role of an old member of the order, 
and as one who had committed such atrocious crimes in other parts of 
this country that he must be careful of undue publicity. He could sing 
and dance, and was an all around good fellow, but only feigned the 
drunken stupor in which he was so constantly being found by his asso¬ 
ciates. 

The crowning event in his three years’ work was his initiation into 
the Ancient Order of Hibernians, at Shenandoah, April 14, 1874. He 
was soon appointed secretary on account of his better education. In 
fact, he was a leader and supposedly the most hardened criminal of the 
coal regions. 

October 31, 1874, George Major, Chief Burgess of Mahanoy City, 
was shot and killed by Mollie Maguires. On April 6, 1875, a despicable 
plot to destroy the great bridge on the Catawissa Railroad only failed 
because the Mollies in charge of the work failed to make the fire burn 
the structure. McParlan was in on this crime, but had much to do 
with its failure. 

Conditions were so serious by June 1, 1875, that Governor Hart- 
ranft sent militia to Shenandoah and in their very faces 700 Mollies 
attempted to capture and destroy a breaker, June 3. August 11 there 
was a great riot in Shenandoah. Edward Cosgrove and Gomer James 
were murdered and a bystander was killed during the riot. 

August 14, 1875, has since been known as “Bloody Saturday” in 


GOVERNOR PACKER’S PROPHETIC LETTER 49 


the coal regions. On that day Thomas Gwyther, a justice of the peace, 
of Girardville, was murdered. Miners rioted in many places. 

September 1, Thomas Sanger, boss at Heaton & Co., colliery, near 
Ashland, and William Uren were murdered. On September 3, John J. 
Jones, already mentioned, was killed. 

At the great trial the Commonwealth was represented by E. R. 
Siewers, the able district attorney; F. W. Hughes, of Pottsville; General 
Charles Albright, of Mauch Chunk, and Allen Craig. For the defense 
appeared Linn Bartholomew, J. B. Reilly and John W. Ryon, of Potts¬ 
ville; Daniel Kalbfus and Edward Mulhearn of Mauch Chunk. James 
Kerrigan gave State’s testimony, which left no doubt of the guilt of the 
prisoner, and this also was the death knell to the Mollies. Arrests 
rapidly followed for the other murders. 

When the Mollies learned of McParlan’s true character, they 
planned his destruction, March 5, 1876, but now it was too late. Their 
nefarious work was at an end. 

What might be said to be the closing climax of this reign of terror 
was the trial in Bloomsburg, February 24, 1877, when Pat Hester, Pat 
Tully and Peter McHugh were arraigned for the murder of Alexander 
Rea. The first trial February 2, 1869, had resulted in acquittal for 
Thomas Donahue, and the other cases were dropped, but this time the 
three prisoners were found “guilty” and were hanged in Columbia 
County jail, March 25, 1878, nine years after the murder of Rea. 

On May 21, 1877, Governor Hartranft signed the death warrants 
for eight other Mollies and on June 21 they were hanged. These, with 
the three hanged at Bloomsburg, brought to a close the business of the 
Mollie Maguires. 


Prophetic Letter to President Buchanan by 
Goveror Packer, Who Was Inaugu¬ 
rated January 19, 1858 

HE campaign of 1857 was unusually active, as there were 
three prominent candidates in the contest. The Democrats 
nominated State Senator William F. Packer, of Williamsport, 
one of the most widely known of the representative men of the 
State; the Republicans named the Hon. David Wilmot, of 
Towanda, author of the “Wilmot Proviso,” who enjoyed a 
wide-spread reputation as a public speaker and a politician; and the Hon. 
Isaac Hazlehurst, was the choice of the Native American Party, stil 
quite a factor in Pennsylvania politics. After a spirited campaign Sen¬ 
ator Packer was elected by a majority of fourteen thousand votes over 
both the other candidates. He was inaugurated January 19, 1858. 







50 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The political question which overshadowed all others at this period 
was, whether Kansas should be admitted into the union with or with¬ 
out a constitutional recognition of slavery. 

Governor Packer was an ardent friend of James Buchanan, and 
labored zealously to secure his nomination for the Presidency. Mr. 
Buchanan was inaugurated about the time of Packer’s nomination for 
Governor. The clouds were rapidly forming in Kansas where a state of 
hostility existed between the inhabitants and the general Government, 
and the agents of the latter, for their safety, had been compelled to flee 
from the territory. The slave-holders were making a desperate effort 
to control the state and thus extend their sway. 

Buchanan had been in Washington only a few days when he re¬ 
ceived a letter from Mr. Packer, which in view of his prophetic utter¬ 
ances, honest advice and the further fact that it was written by a 
Pennsylvanian, so soon to become Governor, to a Pennsylvania Presi¬ 
dent of the United States, that the following paragraphs should prove 
of interest. 

The letter was dated Harrisburg, March 24, 1857. 

“Our people confidently expect that your administration will see 
that equal and exact justice shall be done to all parties—the free-state 
as well as the pro-slavery men—and they will be satisfied with nothing 
short of that. We approve of the Kansas bill; but in God’s name let 
its provisions be honestly carried out; let the law be faithfully executed. 
Let the conduct of the public agents in Kansas not only be right, but 
let it appear to be right. If slavery should be instituted by, or under 
a slave-holding executive; and Kansas should claim admission as a slave 
state, it does not require a prophet to foretell the consequences north 
of Mason and Dixon’s line. 

“The Democratic party, which has stood by the Constitution and 
the rights of the South with such unflinching fidelity, would be stricken 
down in the few remaining States where it is yet in the ascendancy; 
the balance of power would be lost; and Black Republicans would rule 
this nation, or civil war, and disunion would inevitably follow. 

“What, then, is to be done? Will you permit me to make a sug¬ 
gestion? The post of honor and renown, if successfully and satis¬ 
factorily filled, at this moment in the gift of the President, is the Gov¬ 
ernorship of Kansas. Send one of the first men of the nation there— 
some gentleman who enjoys the confidence of the North and the South 
—and let him cover himself with glory by a fearless and a faithful dis¬ 
charge of the duties of his station. Sustain him, then, with the whole 
power of the Government, and follow with swift vengeance any party 
that dares to raise a hand against the law or its prompt and faithful 
execution. 

“The time for trifling is past. Bold, efficient action is required. To 
waver or to vacillate, is to fail. Who, then, should be appointed? If 


ALBERT GALLATIN 


51 


General Scott would accept of the position, and if the duties are com¬ 
patible with those of the military station he now holds, I answer, 
appoint General Winfield Scott. He has the confidence of the nation. 
He is acceptable to the South, having been born and reared in Virginia; 
and he is not unacceptable to the North, inasmuch as he now resides 
there. If requested by the President, in view of the importance of the 
Mission, I do not think that he would decline. However, let some such 
man be appointed—some man well known to the American people, and 
in whom they confide, and the result will be the same. All will be 
well. Otherwise I tremble for the result.” 

It was during Governor Packer’s administration in 1858, that the 
office of superintendent of public schools was separated from that of 
secretary of the Commonwealth. The first state normal school was 
located at Millersville, Lancaster County. 

In 1859 the celebrated raid into Virginia by John Brown occurred, 
by which the public property of the United States at Harper’s Ferry 
was seized, and the lives of citizens of that State sacrificed by that band 
of fanatics, who, in their mad zeal, attempted to excite the slave popu¬ 
lation to insurrection. The plans for this raid were perfected in Cham- 
bersburg, where John Brown and his associates lived for a time, under 
assumed names. 

The subsequent trial and conviction of John Brown, and his fol¬ 
lowers, by no means quenched the fire of disunion which was then 
kindling. 

Governor Packer, in his last message to the Legislature, expressed 
in plain terms the fearful position in which South Carolina, and the 
other states preparing for similar rebellious action, had placed themselves. 

Mutterings of the coming storm were approaching nearer and 
nearer and the year 1861 opened up with a gloomy aspect. In the 
midst of this portentous overshadowing, Andrew G. Curtin took charge 
of the helm of State. 


Albert Gallatin, Soldier, Statesman and 
Financier, Born January 20,1761 

LBERT GALLATIN was born in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan¬ 
uary 20, 1761. Both of his parents were of distinguished 
families and died while he was an infant. He graduated from 
the University of Geneva in 1779. 

Feeling a great sympathy for the American colonists in 
their struggle for liberty, he came to IMassachusetts in 1780, 
entered the military service, and for a few months commanded the post 
at Passamaquoddy. 

At the close of the war he taught French at Harvard University, 











52 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


where he remained until 1784, when he received his patrimonial estate. 
He invested it in land in West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania, and, 
in 1786, he settled on land on the banks of the Monongahela River, in 
Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Here he lived and became natu¬ 
ralized. 

The town was named New Geneva from his native place in Switzer¬ 
land. Here he built a log house, which subsequently gave place to a 
stone structure yet standing. He was a partner in establishing the first 
glass house in that section of the State. He became one of the foremost 
citizens of America. 

He served in the General Assembly of Pennsylvania for several 
terms and in 1793 was chosen a United States Senator for Pennsylvania, 
but was declared ineligible on the ground that he had not been a citizen 
of the United States the required nine years. 

During the Whisky Insurrection in Western Pennsylvania, 1794, 
Albert Gallatin played a conspicuous role. 

In the meeting of the malcontents, August 14, 1794, at Parkinson’s 
Ferry, where 260 delegates, elected by the several counties, organized 
and adopted some intemperate resolutions, Colonel Edward Cook was 
appointed chairman, and Albert Gallatin, secretary. The organic force 
of the insurrection was condensed into a committee of sixty and that 
committee was again represented by a Standing Committee of twelve. 

Gallatin was energetic in working with his friends to gain time and 
restore quietness. He presented with great force the folly of resistance 
and the ruinous consequences to the country of the continuance of the 
insurrection. He urged that the Government was bound to vindicate 
the laws and that it would surely send an overwhelming force against 
them. He placed the subject in a new light and showed the insurrection 
to be a much more serious affair than it had before appeared. 

After the Pennsylvania commissioners had reached Pittsburgh and 
met with those of the National Government and the committee ap¬ 
pointed at the meeting at Parkinson’s Ferry, a conference of the com¬ 
mittee of sixty was held at Redstone Old Fort, now Brownsville. 

This meeting was opened by a long, sensible and eloquent speech by 
Albert Gallatin in favor of law and order. Backed by Judge Hugh H. 
Brackenridge, Gallatin won the day, and the insurrection was happily 
ended before the army was called into action. 

Gallatin was censured for the part he had taken, but no man stood 
higher in the opinion, not only of President Washington, but of the 
Pennsylvania authorities. In the General Assembly December, 1794, 
in an able speech Gallatin admitted his “political sin” in the course he 
had taken in the insurrectionary movement. 

He was elected to Congress in 1795, and in a debate on Jay’s Treaty 
in 1796 he charged Washington and Jay with having pusillanimously 
surrendered the honor of their country. This, from the lips of a young 


ALBERT GALLATIN 


53 

foreigner, exasperated the Federalists. He was a leader of the Demo¬ 
crats and directed his attention particularly to financial matters. 

Gallatin remained in Congress until 1801, when President Thomas 
Jefferson appointed him Secretary of the Treasury, which office he held 
until 1813, and obtained the credit of being one of the best financiers 
of the age. 

The opponents of Jefferson’s Administration complained vehemently 
in 1808 that the country was threatened with direct taxation at a time 
when the sources of its wealth, by the orders and decrees of Great 
Britain and France, were drying up. Gallatin replied to these complaints, 
as Secretary of the Treasury, by reproducing a flattering but delusive 
suggestion contained in his annual report the preceding year. 

He suggested that as the United States was not likely to be involved 
in frequent wars, a revenue derived solely from duties on imports, even 
though liable to diminution during war, would yet amply suffice to pay 
off, during long intervals of peace, the expenses of such wars as might 
be undertaken. 

Should the United States become involved in war with both France 
and Great Britain, no internal taxes would be necessary to carry it on, 
nor any other financial expedient, beyond borrowing money and 
doubling the duties on import. The scheme, afterwards tried, bore bit¬ 
ter fruit. 

His influence was felt in other departments of Government and in 
the politics of the country. Opposed to going to war against Great 
Britain in 1812, he exerted all his influence to avert it. . 

In March, 1813, he was appointed one of the envoys to Russia to 
negotiate for the mediation of the Czar between the United States and 
Great Britain. He sailed for St. Petersburg, but the Senate in special 
sessions, refused to ratify his appointment because he was Secretary of 
the Treasury. The attempt at mediation was unsuccessful. 

When, in January, 1814, Great Britain proposed a direct negotia¬ 
tion for peace, Gallatin, who was still abroad, was appointed one of the 
United States Commissioners. He resigned his secretaryship. He was 
one of the signers of the Treaty of Ghent. 

In 1815 he was appointed Minister to France, where he remained 
until 1823. He refused a seat in the Cabinet of President Monroe on 
his return and also declined to be a candidate for Vice President to 
which the dominant Democratic Party nominated him. 

President Adams appointed him Minister to Great Britain, where 
he negotiated several important commercial conventions. 

Returning to America in 1827, he took up his residence in New York 
City. There he was engaged in public service in various ways until 
1839, when he withdrew from public duties and directed the remainder 
of his life to literary pursuits. 

Although strictly in private life, Gallatin took special interest in the 


54 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


progress of the country, and wrote much on the subject. His published 
works include such subjects as finance, politics and ethnology. 

Mr. Gallatin was chief founder, in 1842, and the first president of 
the American Ethnological Society, and was president of the New York 
Historical Society from 1843 until his death, August 12, 1849, at 
Astoria, L. I. 


General Thomas Mifflin, Soldier, Statesman 
and Several Times Governor, Died 
January 21, 1800 

HEN the venerable Franklin was about to step aside as the 
President of the Council and withdraw from public employ¬ 
ment, the people of Pennsylvania became concerned in the suc¬ 
cessor to so brilliant a man. The choice fell upon Thomas 
Mifflin, and he occupied the enviable position of Chief Execu¬ 
tive of the Commonwealth longer than any other Pennsyl¬ 
vanian, two years as President of the Council and three times Governor, 
an aggregate of eleven years. 

Thomas Mifflin was the son of Quaker parents, and was born in 
Philadelphia in 1744. He was educated in the Philadelphia College, and 
his parents intended that Thomas should follow a mercantile profession. 
Upon the completion of his college course he entered the counting house 
of William Coleman. At the age of twenty-one he made a tour of 
Europe and then entered into a business partnership with his brother in 
Philadelphia. 

In 1772 he was elected one of the two members of the Legislature 
from the City of Philadelphia, and was re-elected the following year, 
when he was the colleague of Franklin, then just returned from his 
mission to England. 

So conspicuous were his services in the Assembly, that when the ap¬ 
pointment of delegates to the first Continental Congress came to be 
made, Mifflin was selected as one, and he occupied a position of com¬ 
manding influence. 

“When the news,” says Dr. Rawle, his biographer, “of the battle 
of Lexington reached Philadelphia, a town meeting was called and the 
fellow citizens of Mifflin were delighted by his animated oratory.” 
None did more than he to arouse the populace to a sense of the danger 
which threatened. He did not only exhort, but he put in practice his 
pleading. When the troops were to be enlisted and drilled, Mifflin was 
among the foremost to train them, and was selected as a major in one of 
the earliest formed regiments. 

The patriot blood spilled at Lexington and Concord fired a martial 












GENERAL THOMAS MIFFLIN 


55 


spirit throughout America by which the bold leaders in every State were 
nerved to resist and resent those unprovoked assaults, and when Wash¬ 
ington appeared at the camp in Boston as the Commander-in-Chief of the 
American armies, Mifflin was by his side. 

Recognizing his great personal popularity, the ease and dignity of his 
manners, breadth and soundness of his views, Washington placed Mifflin 
at the head of his military family. In the absence of, or at the retire¬ 
ment from the table of the chief it fell upon Mifflin to occupy his 
place and do the honors; and for this duty, by his social position at 
home and his foreign travel he was admirably fitted. Colonel Mifflin 
was the first person in America who officiated as aide-de-camp. 

When Washington, July, 1775, organized the entire army, the dif¬ 
ficult position of quartermaster general was assigned to Mifflin. The 
duties were new and arduous. Everything was in chaos. Order had to 
be established and system inaugurated. 

On May 19, 1776, Congress appointed and commissioned Mifflin 
to be a brigadier general and he was given command of Pennsylvania 
troops. An assignment to the active field was much more to his liking 
than one at headquarters. 

Upon taking the field Mifflin was relieved as quartermaster general 
by General Stephen Moylan, who was ill suited to the difficult task of 
providing for an army where the authority for calling in supplies was 
little respected and the means of paying for them was rarely in hand; 
and not long after accepting the position he abandoned it. 

Congress called upon Mifflin to again assume the duties of quarter¬ 
master general and he reluctantly responded to the call of his country, 
deeming it a matter of duty. 

The reverses of the American Army during the summer and fall of 
1776 culminated in its withdrawal into New Jersey, hotly pursued by 
the British troops. Pennsylvania was threatened and especially Phila¬ 
delphia, where Congress was sitting. At this dark hour Mifflin was sent 
with dispatches from Washington to Congress, calling on that body 
loudly for help. 

Mifflin, at the request of Congress, made a stirring address, setting 
forth the perilous situation, and appealing for the means to oppose the 
further advance of the defiant enemy. That body was greatly exercised 
and ordered that General Mifflin should remain near Congress for con¬ 
sultation and advice. 

As the enemy pressed toward Philadelphia, General Putnam was 
sent to take command in the city and General Mifflin was placed in 
charge of the war material and stores. 

The victory at Trenton produced a gleam of hope and Congress 
dispatched Mifflin throughout the State of Pennsylvania in order that, 
by his personal appeals, volunteers might be drawn to the support of 
Washington’s decimated ranks. He caused large numbers to enlist. 


56 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Mifflin was mixed up in the “Conway Cabal,” but in after years 
he explained his position, and it would seem to prove the intensity of 
his devotion to the struggle in which he had staked fortune and life 
itself. 

In 1783 General Mifflin was elected a member of Congress, and had 
the satisfaction of being President of that body, when General Washing¬ 
ton, December 23, 1783, resigned his commission into its hands. Mifflin 
made an eloquent reply. 

General Mifflin was a member of the Assembly of Pennsylvania 
which met in 1785; also of the convention which sat in 1787 and 
framed the Constitution of the United States. 

In 1788 he was chosen a member of the Supreme Executive Council, 
and upon the retirement of Franklin, he was elected President. 

General Mifflin was the president of the convention that framed 
the State Constitution of 1790, and he and General Arthur St. Clair 
were the two candidates for Governor. Mifflin triumphed and was 
continued in office for that and the two succeeding terms. 

Governor Mifflin was very efficient in quelling the Whisky Insur¬ 
rection of 1794, and personally commanded the troops from Pennsyl¬ 
vania. 

His last official communication as Governor was made December 7, 
1799. It contained his farewell sentiments on taking leave of office 
and was received with every manifestation of respect by the Assembly. 

He was elected to the Assembly and took his seat, but did not long 
survive. He died during a session of the House, then sitting in Lan¬ 
caster, on January 21, 1800. His decease was noticed with becoming 
ceremonies, resolutions being adopted expressive of the high sense en¬ 
tertained for him as a soldier and statesman, authorizing his interment 
at the public expense and providing for the erection of a monument to 
his memory. 

“Thus ended,” says Dr. Rawle, “the checkered life of Thomas 
Mifflin—brilliant in its outset—troubled and perplexed at a period 
more advanced—again distinguished, prosperous and happy—finally 
clouded by poverty and oppressed by creditors. In patriotic principle 
never changing—in public action never faltering—in personal friendship 
sincerely warm—in relieving the distressed always active and humane— 
in his own affairs improvident—in the business of others scrupulously 
just.” 


OLD LOG COLLEGE 


57 


Story of the Old Log College and the 
Reverend Charles Beatty, Born 
January 22, 1715 

HE pioneer seminary for aspirants to the Presbyterian ministry 
nearly two hundred years ago, was long known as “The Old 
Log College.” It stood at Neshaminy in Warwick Township, 
Bucks County. 

When the celebrated evangelist George Whitefield came to 
America in 1739, he preached here to three thousand persons. 

The deed for the land upon, which this early educational institution 
was built, was dated 1728, and was given by Hon. James Logan, the 
secretary of the Province and one of the most illustrious of the early 
officials of Pennsylvania, to his cousin, Reverend William Tennent, an 
Irish emigrant, who shortly after his arrival in America renounced his 
allegiance to the Church of England and united with the Philadelphia 
Presbytery. 

The gift consisted of fifty acres of land and the part of it on which 
the college stood is believed to have been an ancient Indian burying 
ground. The log college, twenty feet by thirty feet in size, was for 
many years the only institute south of New England where young men 
could be prepared for the ministry. 

The Log College flourished under Mr. Tennent for twenty years, 
when its place was eminently supplied by kindred institutions there¬ 
abouts. From its walls came many noted preachers of Scotch-Irish 
descent, among them four of his own sons. One of the latter, Gilbert 
Tennent, preached most eloquently to stir up patriotism during the 
French and Indian War. 

It is said that a carload of these sermons were very opportunely dis¬ 
covered in an old lumber room of Dr. Benjamin Franklin’s when the 
American patriots were hunting for paper to make cartridges, after the 
British evacuated Philadelphia, June 17, 1778. The sermons were 
utilized as cases for cartridges, and told effectively afterwards on the 
retreating British in the battle of Monmouth. Thus these eloquent ser¬ 
mons served the country in two great wars, more than is usually the case. 

The Reverend Charles Beatty, an Irish Presbyterian, who was 
chaplain with Colonel Benjamin Franklin in his army on the Lehigh 
and later with Colonel William Clapham in his regiment which 
marched to Fort Augusta at the Forks of the Susquehanna, was a stu¬ 
dent here. 

The Rev. Mr. Beatty was the son of an officer in the British Army, 
and was born in Ireland, January 22, 1715. He obtained a fairly ac- 





58 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


curate classical education in his own country and when he emigrated to 
America in 1740, his circumstances being meager, he employed several 
of the first years of his residence as a peddler. 

He halted one day at the Log College, where he addressed the 
Reverend William Tennent familiarly in correct and classical Latin. 
After some conversation in which the peddler manifested much piety 
and considerable religious zeal, Tennent said, “Go and sell the contents 
of your pack, and return immediately and study with me. It will be a 
sin for you to continue a peddler, when you can be so much more 
useful in another profession.” 

Beatty accepted Tennent’s offer, became an eminent preacher, and 
succeeded his preceptor, as head of the Log College. He was ordained 
in the Presbyterian Ministry, December 1, 1743, and passed most of 
his life in charge of “ye congregation of Warwick, in ye forks of the 
Neshaminy.” 

An interesting incident is related of his military service. The 
soldiers were issued a gill of rum each day in addition to their regular 
stipulation, one-half being dealt out in the morning and the balance in 
the evening. 

Chaplain Beatty complained to Colonel Franklin that the soldiers 
were not punctual in attending divine service, when Franklin suggested, 
“It is, perhaps, below the dignity of your profession to act as a steward 
of the rum, but if you were to distribute it out only just after prayers, 
you would have them all about you.” 

Mr. Beatty profited by the advice and in the future had no reason 
to complain of non-attendance. A few hands regularly measured out 
the liquor after prayers. 

When Colonel William Clapham was detached from Franklin’s 
command and ordered to recruit a regiment to build Fort Augusta, he 
selected Beatty as the chaplain of the regiment. He kept an interesting 
journal of this tour of duty, of which the following is the first para¬ 
graph : 

“Having received his honor, the Governor’s commission to be chap¬ 
lain to the regiment of foot in the provincial service under the com¬ 
mand of Colonel William Clapham, and having the advice and con¬ 
currence of the Commission of the Synod, who appointed supplies for 
the congregation in my absence—set out from home in order to join 
the regiment at Harris’ Ferry, Monday, May 3, 1756. I was ac¬ 
companied as far as Schuylkill by my elders and some other friends, 
and having stopped at a friend’s house, not far from the road to refresh 
myself, reached as far as the Sign of the Ship on the Lancaster road, at 
which I lodged. Felt my need of the Divine Presence to be with me 
in my dangerous or at least difficult undertaking.” 

He reached Lancaster the following afternoon, where he was met 
by Colonel Clapham and Captain Thomas Lloyd, who advised him that 


MILITIA ORGANIZED 


59 


Governor Morris was in town. They called on His Excellency, who 
received them very kindly. 

They all set out the following morning for Harris’ Ferry, arrived 
at Barney Hughes’ hotel in time for dinner and reached Harris’ Ferry 
in the evening, when the soldiers were ordered to assemble for prayer 
and to meet their distinguished guests. 

Just as the assembly call sounded, a fire broke out in John Harris’ 
house and there were no prayers. 

He frequently lamented in his well-kept journal, that some trifling 
incident prevented officers or men, or both, from attending prayer. 
“Just as service began in the afternoon, had an alarm, but few, alas, 
seemed to regret the disappointment. Wickedness seems to increase in 
the camp, which gives me a great deal of uneasiness.” 

The following Sunday, “One of the bateaux which had on it a can¬ 
non was upset, which occasioned a great deal of labor, and what pro¬ 
fane swearing there was. If I stay in the camp my ears are greeted 
with profane oaths, and if I go out to shun it, I am in danger of the 
enemy—what a dilemma is this? But my eyes would be toward the 
Lord.” 

In 1766 he was appointed, with the Rev. George Duffield, mis¬ 
sionary to the frontier - settlements in the new purchase and to the 
Indians of the Ohio River. He died August 12, 1772, at Barbados 
whither he had gone to collect money for the New Jersey College, which 
is now Princeton University. 

The Rev. Philip Fithian, who traveled through Central Pennsyl¬ 
vania in 1775, and who kept such an interesting journal of his expe¬ 
riences, was a son-in-law of the Rev. Charles Beatty.* 


Militia Organized at Provincial Council 
Meeting January 23, 1775 


PROVINCIAL CONVENTION was held in Philadelphia, 
January 23, 1775, which lasted six days. At the organization 
of the convention, General Joseph Reed was chosen chairman. 

Strong resolutions were adopted, heartily approving the 
conduct and proceedings of the Continental Congress; oppos¬ 
ing future importation of slaves into this Province; protecting 
members of committees of Congress from embarrassment on account of 
this service, and one, “That in case the trade of the city and liberties 
of Philadelphia shall be suspended in consequence of the present strug- 



*Reverend Charles Beatty had four sons, all officers in the Continental Army; John, 
who rose to the rank of colonel, and after the Revolution became a brigadier-general 
in the militia; Charles Clinton, a lieutenant, who was accidentally tailed when another 
soldier of his command shot him while carelessly handling a pistol, *vi?eof 

and Eukuries, a lieutenant and paymaster, who continued long in the service 

his country after the Revolution, and was a major during the Indian campaign of 
1788-1792. 






60 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


gle, it is the opinion of this convention that the several counties should, 
and that the members of this convention will exert themselves to afford 
the necessary relief and assistance to the inhabitants of the said city and 
liberties; who will be more immediately affected by such an event.” 

This convention also adopted a lengthy resolution which tended 
toward the regulation of the supply and consumption of foodstuffs, and 
the necessities of life, especially such as had been regulated by laws of 
England. 

The crisis to which the convention looked forward when framing 
these resolutions had arrived. The battle of Lexington had been fought 
and submission to the arbitrary acts of Parliament was attempted to be 
enforced by the bayonet. Soon as the news of this battle spread multi¬ 
tudes of men, at the suggestion of the county committees of observation, 
entered into an association for defense. 

The officers of these organizations were generally men of unusual 
military skill, men who were veterans of several campaigns and some 
of innumerable Indian incursions. This was not as generally true of the 
older portion of the Province. This had been peaceable, and remote 
from the frontiers, so the chief officers in these countries were frequently 
without military experience, who owed their preferment to political 
activity, or social prominence. 

Dickinson accepted the colonelcy of the first battalion, while the 
others raised in the City of Philadelphia were commanded by Daniel 
Roderdeau, merchant and politician; John Cadwallader, a shopkeeper, 
son of one of the Governor’s Council; Thomas McKean, lawyer and 
lately Speaker of the Delaware Assembly, and Timothy Matlack, 
politician. 

The colonels of the six battalions raised in Philadelphia County, 
which then included what is now Montgomery County were: William 
Hamilton, Robert Lewis, Thomas Potts, Samuel Miles, a veteran of 
French and Indian War, and Hill Tench Francis, brother of Colonel 
Turbutt Francis, also a hero of the French and Indian War, sons of 
the deceased Attorney General Tench Francis. The colonels from the 
other counties were: 

Bucks County—Joseph Kirkbride, Joseph Hart, Andrew Kachlein 
and Arthur Erwin. 

Chester County—James Moore, Thomas Hockley, Hugh Lloyd, 
William Montgomery and Richard Thomas. 

Lancaster—George Ross, Matthias Slough, Curtis Grubb, Thomas 
Porter, John Ferree, James Burd, hero of the French and Indian War 
and of many other campaigns; Peter Grubb and Bartram Galbraith. 

York County—Robert Callender, William Thompson, John Mont¬ 
gomery and James Wilson. 

Berks County—Edward Biddle, Mark Bird, Daniel Brodhead, vet¬ 
eran of the French and Indian War; Balzer Geehr and Christian Louer. 


MILITIA ORGANIZED 


61 


Northampton County—George Taylor, Henry Geiger, Yost Dreis- 
bach and Jacob Stroud. 

Bedford County—Bernard Dougherty and Samuel Davidson. 

Northumberland County—Samuel Hunter, James Potter and Wil¬ 
liam Plunket, each a hero of the French and Indian W^ar and thoroughly 
trained as officers. 

Westmoreland County—John Proctor and John Cornahan. 

To assist in carrying into effect the many measures passed for the 
defense of the province, the Assembly on June 30, appointed a Com¬ 
mittee of Safety, consisting of ten from City of Philadelphia, four from 
the county and one from each of the other counties excepting Chester, 
which had two members. 

Benjamin Franklin was chosen president of the committee at its 
first meeting, July 3, 1775; William Garrett was named clerk and 
Michael Hillegas treasurer. 

The several County Commissioners were asked to purchase a specified 
number of guns with bayonets, cartridge boxes with twenty-three 
rounds of cartridges and knapsacks. 

The Assembly offered £20 for every hundredweight of saltpeter 
manufactured in the province within the next three months. 

Among the first labors of the Committee of Safety was that of pre¬ 
paring articles for the government of the military organizations known 
as Associators. A set of resolutions to that effect were adopted August 
19, which included every possible phase of a soldier’s life, including his 
personal appearance, conduct, sobriety, loyalty, demeanor as an officer, 
noncommissioned officer or private, etc. 

Many of the citizens refused to subscribe to the regulations, alleging 
that numerous persons, rich and able to perform military duty claimed 
exemption under pretense of conscientious scruples and asserting that 
where liberty of all was at stake, all should aid in its defense, and that 
where the cause was common to all, it was inconsistent with justice 
and equity that the burden should be partial. 

The Friends addressed the Legislature, setting forth their religious 
faith and practice with respect to bearing arms, and claiming exemption 
from military service by virtue of laws agreed upon in England and the 
Charter of William Penn. The Mennonites and German Baptists also 
remonstrated, praying exemption, but willing to contribute pecuniary 
aid. 

Assembly resolved that “all persons between the ages of sixteen and 
fifty capable of bearing arms, who do not associate for the defense of the 
Province, ought to contribute an equivalent for the time spent by the 
associators in acquiring military discipline; ministers of the gospel of 
all denominations and servants purchased bona fide for valuable con¬ 
sideration only excepted.” 

Returns were required from the assessors of all persons within mili- 


62 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

tary age, and the captains of the companies of the Associators were di¬ 
rected to furnish to their colonels and the colonels to the County Com¬ 
missioners lists of such persons as had joined the Associators. The com¬ 
missioners were empowered to assess those not associated £2 10s an¬ 
nually, in addition to the ordinary tax. 

The Assembly also adopted rules and regulations for the better 
government of the military association, the thirty-fifth article of which 
provided “that if any associator called into actual service should leave 
a family not of ability to maintain themselves in his absence, the jus¬ 
tices of the peace of the proper city or county, with the overseer of the 
poor, should make provisions for their maintenance.” 


Captain Thomas McKee, Indian Trader, 
Makes Deposition Before Governor 
January 24, 1743 

HOMAS McKEE was the most noted of the later Shamokin 
Traders, and we have records of his trading expeditions as 
far west as the Ohio. 

His career was highly romantic, and a consideration of the 
same will enable us to understand his son, Captain Alexander 
McKee, who afterwards became well-known at Fort Pitt, and 
rendered himself notorious in border history by deserting to the British 
during the time of the Revolutionary War, carrying over to that interest 
a great many Indians whom he had befriended during his service as 
Deputy Indian Agent under the Crown. We will then know better 
why he should seek more congenial company among the Ohio Indians 
and in the service of the King, than he had found among the American 
forces at Fort Pitt, who were enemies of both. 

Dr. W. H. Egle has stated that Thomas McKee was a son of 
Patrick, but it is quite possible that he was the son of one Alexander 
McKee who died in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, in May, 
1740, leaving a son, Thomas, who was the executor of his will. 

A contributor to Dr. Egle’s “Notes and Queries” relates a tradi¬ 
tionary account of Thomas McKee’s marriage, which had been told to 
him in his boyhood days by his father, a native of the Susquehanna Val¬ 
ley. This story was to the effect that Thomas McKee, in his early 
manhood began trading with the Indians, and after learning the lan¬ 
guage of the Delaware, established a trading post among them, in the 
vicinity of Shamokin (now Sunbury), at or near the Forks of the Sus¬ 
quehanna. 

In the performance of this enterprise while he was on a trading 








CAPTAIN THOMAS McKEE 


63 


expedition farther up the West Branch, he ventured into the camp of 
strange Indians, who stole his goods, drank his rum, and then becoming 
incensed at the resistance he made to their proceedings, bound him as a 
captive, and decided to burn him at the stake the following day. 

During the night, an Indian maiden came to the wigwam where he 
lay bound to a log. She released him, and they fled together, making 
their escape. McKee from gratitude, made the girl his squaw and 
they lived together during the remainder of their liv.es as husband and 
wife. 

Edward Shippen, of Lancaster, wrote to Governor Morris April 
19, 1756, after a visit to Captain McKee’s fort, where he found ten 
Indians, among them John Shikellamy. He adds; “Shikellamy let me 
know that he wished the Indians would be moved down to Barney 
Hughes, where Captain McKee’s woman and children live.” 

In a conference between Sir William Johnson and Canaghquiesa, an 
Oneida chief, the latter reported on his mission to the hostile Shawnee 
of Northern Pennsylvania. He advised Sir William that one who lived 
near those Indians had applied to the Delaware to accompany them to 
the proposed meeting at Onondaga, which they refused to do, saying 
that “One Thomas McGee, who lives on the Susquehanna and is mar¬ 
ried to a Shawnese squaw, had told them that in ten days’ time an army 
of the English would come and destroy them.” 

The Moravian Bishop, Cammerhoff, visited Captain Thomas Mc¬ 
Kee’s trading post in 1748. In his journal he writes under date of 
January 13: 

“We have before us twenty long miles to Shamokin, also two bad 
creeks and the narrowest passes along the river to pass. At 9 o’clock 
we reached Thomas McKee’s, the last white settlement on the river, 
below Shamokin.” 

This trading post was at the site of the present village of Dalmatia, 
Northumberland County. His other post at this time was below the 
mouth of the Juniata, not far distant from Big (now Haldeman’s) 
Island. Both these trading posts are shown on Scull’s map of 1759. 

The bishop further wrote in his journal: “McKee holds a cap¬ 
tain’s commission under the Government, is an extensive Indian trader, 
bears a good name among them and drives a brisk trade with the Alle¬ 
gheny country. His wife, who was brought up among the Indians, 
speaks but little English. They received us with much kindness and 
hospitality.” 

Thomas McKee’s “woman,” “squaw” or “wife” as referred to by 
Edward Shippen, Chief Canaghquiesa and Bishop Cammerhoff, re¬ 
spectively, may have been the same who assisted him to escape from the 
unfriendly party of Indians in the early winter of 1743. The details 
of that adventure are set forth in an affidavit which McKee made be¬ 
fore Governor Thomas in Philadelphia, January 24, 1743. 


64 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


In this deposition McKee states he had a store near the Big Island, 
and that “on the 12th or 13th of this instant, January, about 7 o’clock 
in the morning, the Indians of the town came to the deponent’s store 
and told him they had heard the Dead Halloa and were much surprised 
at it. Whereupon he, with a servant of his, took a canoe and went over 
to the island, and in his passage heard the Indians belonging to the town 
call over to those on the island. To which they answered that the white 
men had killed some of their men. A council was called, and this de¬ 
ponent attended at the Council House and was admitted.” 

At the council the leader of the Iroquois war band informed the 
Shawnee of an attack made upon their war expedition in Virginia, in 
which four Indians were killed. 

McKee addressed the council, reminding them that these disorders 
had not happened in Pennsylvania, and urged them to press in their coun¬ 
cil a treaty of peace with Pennsylvania. The Shawnee did not receive 
the suggestion kindly. A short time after McKee was informed by a 
white woman, who had been taken prisoner, that it was left with the 
Shawnee to deal with him as they pleased and that they were going to 
hold a council concerning him at some distance from the town, and that 
if he did not escape he would certainly be cut off. 

McKee realized the advice was timely and, with his servant, they 
departed, leaving all his goods behind. The two traveled three days and 
three nights before they believed themselves out of danger. 

Captain Thomas McKee was in command at Fort Hunter in 1756. 
He died near McKee’s Half Falls, on the eastern side of the Susque¬ 
hanna, in 1772, leaving two sons, Alexander and James. The former 
was then at Fort Pitt as an assistant to George Croghan, the deputy 
Indian agent for the Crown, and where he owned a large tract of land 
at the mouth of the Chartiers Creek, including McKee’s Rock, still a 
noted landmark on the Ohio River, just below Pittsburgh. When he 
deserted from the garrison at Fort Pitt and joined the British in 1777 his 
possessions in Pennsylvania passed to his brother, whose descendants are 
still living in Allegheny County. 

If the woman Captain Thomas McKee had made his wife was the 
white captive of the Shawnee, who had been adopted into their tribe, it 
is not hard to understand why her son, Alexander the renegade, should 
have inherited a half-savage nature. This would be even more true if 
his mother was a Shawnee squaw. His adherence to the British Gov¬ 
ernment when the Revolution came, a government which had so long 
been his paymaster, is less to be wondered at than his temporary defection 
therefrom during the first two years of the struggle. 


ERECTION OF FORT HENRY 


65 


Work Commenced on Erection of Fort 
Henry January 25, 1756 

HE Provincial authorities in 1755 sent Colonel Benjamin 
Franklin and others to erect a chain of forts, about ten or 
twelve miles apart, stretching in a line from the Delaware 
to the Susquehanna River. 

The principal fort on the Lehigh River was Fort Allen, 
where the town of Weissport, Carbon County, now stands. 
Fort Swatara was the principal fort on the end of the chain as it ap¬ 
proached the Susquehanna, although Fort Hunter was situated on the 
east bank of that river, about six miles above the present City of Harris¬ 
burg. 

Fourteen miles east of Fort Swatara was erected Fort Henry, and 
it soon became the most important place of defense between the two 
great rivers in this chain of forts. 

It is sometimes referred to as Busse’s Fort, in honor of Captain 
Christian Busse, who commanded the garrison there during its most 
active period. It was frequently referred to as the “Fort at Deitrick 
Six’s,” because of the Indian atrocities which occurred there and which 
had much to do with the decision to erect the fort on part of 'Six’s farm. 

Fort Henry was situated on the main road to Shamokin (now Sun- 
bury), where Fort Augusta commanded the forks of the Susquehanna, 
and protected the settlers resident on both the north and west branches 
of that river. 

There was no town in the vicinity of Fort Henry, nor did it guard 
any mountain pass or prominent stream, but it did command the con¬ 
necting highways between the Swatara Creek and the settlements near 
that stream. The Indians were obliged to pass through Talihaio Gap 
to reach any of the white settlements in that region. 

The history of Fort Henry really begins with the attack from am¬ 
bush made on a company of six settlers traveling to Deitrick Six’s, 
Saturday afternoon, November 15, 1755. 

None was killed in the first attack, but as the terrified settlers has¬ 
tened toward a watch-house, a half mile distant, they were overtaken 
by the savages and three of them killed and scalped, and one Indian was 
killed. During the late afternoon three other settlers were killed and 
three wounded. 

The Indians remained in the neighborhood and the following night 
killed a servant of Thomas Bower and set fire to his house and barn. 

Conrad Weiser informed Governor Morris of this tragic affair in a 
long letter and related this and many other incursions made by the 



3 








66 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Indians in the region now embraced by Berks, Lebanon, Dauphin, and 
part of Northumberland Counties. Weiser concluded his letter as fol¬ 
lows: 

“The Fire alarmed a neighbor, who came with two or three more 
Men; they fired by the way and made a great noise, scared the Indians 
away from Bower’s House, after they had set fire to it, but by Thomas 
Bower’s Diligence and Conduct was timely put out again. So, Thos. 
Bower, with his Family, went off that night to his Neighbor Daniel 
Schneider, who came to his assistance. By 8 of ye Clock Parties came 
up from Tulpenhacon & Heidleberg. 

The first Party saw four Indians running off. They had some pris¬ 
oners, whom they scalped immediately; three children lay scalped, yet 
alive, one died since, the other two are like to do well. Another Party 
found a woman just expired, with a Male Child by her side, both killed 
and Scalped. The Woman lay upon her Face, my son Frederick turned 
her about to see who she might have been and to his and his compan¬ 
ions Surprize they found a Babe of about 14 Days old under her, and 
life was yet in it, and recovered again. 

“Upon the whole, there is about 15 killed of our People, Including 
Men, Women and Children, and the Enemy not beat but scared off. 
Several Houses and Barns are Burned; I have no true account how 
many. We are in a dismal Situation, some of this Murder has been 
committed in Tulpenhacon Township. The People left their Planta¬ 
tion to within 6 or 7 miles of my house (which was located at the present 
town of Womelsdorf) against another attack. 

“Guns and Ammunition is very much wanted here. My Sons have 
been obliged to part with most of what was sent for the use of the 
Indians. I pray your Honour will be pleased, if it lies in your Power, 
to send us up a Quantity upon any Condition. I must stand my Ground 
or my Neighbours will all go away, and leave their Habitations to be 
destroyed by the Enemy or our own People. This enough of such mel¬ 
ancholy Account for this.” 

Conrad Weiser had been on a mission to the seat of government, to 
which place he had escorted a band of friendly Indians, and it was on 
his return that he learned of the terrible murders. In fact, the trusted 
chief Scarouady, also known as the Half-King, and a company of Dela¬ 
ware were still with him at his home when his sons recited the melan¬ 
choly news. 

It is not to be wondered that many of the settlers did not fully 
understand the exact position which Colonel Weiser held, both toward 
the Provincial Government and towards the Indians. Both had im¬ 
plicit faith and confidence in him. The angry settlers were so incensed 
at Weiser that had not the smoke of fire along the mountain scared 
them off he might have paid the price of his friendship toward the In¬ 
dians with his own life. 


ERECTION OF FORT HENRY 


67 


These atrocities decided the position of Fort Henry, and January 25, 
1756, Captain Christian Busse, with a company of fifty provincial sol¬ 
diers, reported there and began the erection of a fort. Governor Morris 
advised Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, and Colonel George Wash¬ 
ington that he had ordered Fort Henry built at this important place. 

It was at Fort Henry where Colonel Weiser held his councils with 
the officers of the other forts and planned the protection of the farmers 
during harvest, etc. 

During June, 1756, Fort Henry was honored by a visit from Gov¬ 
ernor Morris, which was occasioned by a threatened attack by the French 
on Fort Augusta, and at a time when the terms of enlistment of many 
men had expired. 

The Governor directed the movement of troops to the larger fort¬ 
resses. More than fifty of the inhabitants called at Fort Henry and 
laid their grievances before the Governor in person. 

Soon after this visit the Indians committed many murders. Five 
children were carried off in one day and a sick man was slain in his bed. 
His daughter, hidden under a bed in the adjoining room, saw her father 
killed. Two other families were destroyed. 

A French deserter was captured and held at Fort Henry. He was 
taken to Weiser’s home, and put through the third degree. He proved 
to be quite clever and nothing of value was learned. He was a lad of 
seventeen and had been sent from Fort Machault, on the Allegheny 
River, on a marauding expedition in command of thirty-three Indians, 
when he accidentally got lost in the mountains and he approached the 
sentry at Fort Henry, as he had been seven days without food. 

June 19, 1757, the Indians carried away the wife of John Frantz 
and three of their children, who lived only six miles from Fort Henry. 

The actual history of Fort Henry, except for the incidents recorded 
here, was one of routine military work, but it remained a garrisoned 
fortification for some years, surely until the summer of 1763, for at 
that time Governor Hamilton wrote to Colonel John Armstrong about 
disposition of troops for Lancaster, Berks and Northampton Counties, 
and mentioned Fort Henry as one of the chain of forts then occupied by 
provincial troops. 


68 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


James Trimble, First Deputy Secretary of the 
Commonwealth, Public Servant Sixty- 
seven Years, Died January 26, 1837 

HEN James Trimble died at his home in Harrisburg, January 
26, 1837, he closed a record of sixty-seven years service as an 
official of Pennsylvania, a record which none other has ever 
approached. 

Another unusual feature of this record is the fact that Mr. 
Trimble was the first Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth, 
beginning his service as such March 6, 1777, and being the only occu¬ 
pant of that important office until his death, nearly sixty years after¬ 
wards. 

James Trimble was born in Philadelphia, July 19, 1755. His father, 
Alexander Trimble, emigrated from the North of Ireland; was a Prot¬ 
estant, and soon became a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of 
Philadelphia, then under the care of Reverend Gilbert Tennent, of 
whom it is believed he was a relative. 

Alexander Trimble was married to Eleanor Rogers, of Abington, 
June 20, 1754. Alexander died about 1769. 

James was the eldest of several children, and though only a lad at 
the time of his father’s death, he manifested all those qualities of mind 
and heart for which he was so justly noted throughout a long life de¬ 
voted to the service of his country. 

When his mother was left a widow with a store, James assisted her 
in the conduct of the business. 

One day James Tilghman, Secretary of the Land Office under the 
Proprietaries, called at the Trimble store and made some purchases. 
Young Trimble, who waited upon him, also made out his bill, and the 
great gentleman was so much pleased with his writing and business 
style that he at once took measures to secure his services in his depart¬ 
ment. Thus James Trimble at the age of fifteen years became an ap¬ 
prenticed clerk in the Land Office. 

The endorsement upon the archives of the Board of War and the 
Council of Safety indicates that*J arnes Trimble was subordinate clerk 
in the State Council as early as 1775, and when Colonel Timothy 
Matlack became the first Secretary of the Commonwealth, March 6, 
1777, James Trimble became Deputy Secretary, and so continued down 
to Thursday, January 14, 1837. 

Pending some difficulties with the Supreme Executive Council in 
regard to his accounts of his money trust, Colonel Matlack resigned his 




JAMES TRIMBLE 


69 


position as Secretary, and March 25, 1783, General John Armstrong, 
Jr., was commissioned in his stead. 

General Armstrong was elected a member of Congress in 1787, and 
November 7 of that year Charles Biddle became Secretary. He served 
in that office until January 19, 1791, when Alexander James Dallas, 
Esq., was commissioned by Governor Thomas Mifflin the first secretary 
of the Commonwealth, under the Constitution of 1790. 

On March 12, 1791, the very day the Governor approved the Act 
of Assembly providing for a Deputy Secretary, Mr. Dallas' appointed 
James Trimble, who had served continuously under his several predeces¬ 
sors, to be Deputy Secretary, and the appointment was approved by the 
Governor. 

Secretary Dallas resigned his commission December 2, 1801, when 
Thomas McKean Thompson succeeded him. Nathaniel B. Boileau be¬ 
came Secretary of the Commonwealth, December 20, 1808, and re¬ 
mained through the three terms of Governor Simon Snyder, when he 
was succeeded by Thomas Sergeant, December 16, 1817; he resigned 
July 6, 1819, when Samuel B. Ingham was commissioned; Andrew 
Gregg took up the reins of office December 19, 1820, serving three 
years, when Molton C. Rogers became Secretary; he resigned January 
2, 1826, to be succeeded by Isaac G. Barnhard, who served less than two 
years, when Calvin Blythe was commissioned November 28, 1827; Sam¬ 
uel McKean was commissioned December 16, 1829, and was succeeded 
by James Findley who served until December 15, 1835, when Thomas 
H. Burrowes became Secretary of the Commonwealth, and in all this 
time, and with these fifteen changes in the office of Secretary, a com¬ 
mission and dedimus issued regularly every three years to James Trimble 
as Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth. 

His records are models of neatness, his papers elaborately endorsed, 
and filed with great care, so that in those days of tallow candles, when 
he was wont to enter his office at night, he could, without striking a 
light, lay his hands on any paper he wished. 

James Trimble was of slight stature, dignified, brisk in his move¬ 
ments and carefully dressed in solemn black knee pants, queue, long 
hose, and buckle shoes. 

When he died, Harrisburg lost its last gentleman of the old school 
for Alexander Graydon, his peer in dress and address, had gone before. 

In the judgment of his contemporaries James Trimble was a faithful 
public servant, a map of unimpeachable integrity, and obliging man¬ 
ners, and respected by the community at large. 

On April 22, 1782, he married Clarissa, widow of John Hastings; 
her maiden name was Claypoole. She was a descendant of James Clay- 
poole, an intimate of William Penn, and brother to John Claypoole 
who married Elizabeth, daughter of Oliver Cromwell. Mrs. Trimble 
died at Lancaster, February 6, 1810. Of their eleven children two only 


70 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

survived them—Dr. James Trimble, who died in Huntingdon County, 
in 1838, and Thomas R., who died in Chester County in 1868. 

James Trimble helped pack and remove the State papers at the time 
the British occupied Philadelphia, and again when the seat of govern¬ 
ment was removed to Lancaster in 1799, and from Lancaster to Har¬ 
risburg in 1812. 

After he removed to Harrisburg he was chosen trustee and treasurer 
of the Presbyterian Church there, in which capacity he served until his 
death. 

That he survived his removal from office only eleven days many 
believed he died of a broken heart. Truly if such be the case, party 
spirit must have been at fever heat to cause the removal of such a public 
servant, without some other position for him. 


Great Indian Conference Began in Easton 
on January 27, 1777 

HE year 1777 opened for the colonists with much brighter 
prospects, as General Washington had defeated the Hessians 
at Trenton, and close upon this victory followed the action at 
Princeton, in which many Pennsylvania organizations displayed 
such valor, but in which General Hugh Mercer and a number 
of other officers and men fell. 

On Monday, January 20, Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 
with about 400 militia, composed of the two Westmoreland independent 
companies, of Wyoming, Pa., and New Jersey militia, defeated a for¬ 
aging party of the enemy of an equal number, near a bridge at Millstone 
River, two miles from Somerset Court House, New Jersey, and took 
forty wagons and one hundred horses, a large number of sheep and 
cattle, and some prisoners. General Dickinson lost but five men. 

To return to internal affairs: early in January, 1777, Continental 
Congress received information “that certain tribes of Indians living in 
the back parts of the country, near the waters of the Susquehanna within 
the Confederacy and under the protection of the Six Nations, the friends 
and allies of the United States,” were on their way to Easton for the 
purpose of holding a conference or treaty with the General Government. 

Congress thereupon appointed a commission, consisting of George 
Taylor, of Easton; George Walton and others to purchase suitable pres¬ 
ents for the Indians and conduct a treaty with them. The Assembly of 
Pennsylvania named Colonels Lowrey and Cunningham, while the 
Council of Safety sent Colonels Dean and Bull. Thomas Paine was 
appointed secretary to the commission. 

On January 7, a company of Indians arrived at Wilkes-Barre to 







INDIAN CONFERENCE IN EASTON 


71 


announce the coming of the larger body en route to Easton. About 
January 15 the main delegation reached Wilkes-Barre. There were 
seventy men and one hundred women and children in the party. 

Among the chiefs were the following: Taasquah, or “King Charles,” 
of the Cayuga; Tawanah, or “The Big Tree,” of the Seneca; Mytaka- 
wha, or “Walking on Foot,” and Kaknah, or “Standing by a Tree,” of 
the Munsee; Amatincka, or “Raising Anything Up” of the Nanticoke; 
Wilakinko, or “King Last Night” of the Conoy, and Thomas Green, 
whose wife was a Mohawk, as interpreter. 

The Indians held an informal conference there and received food 
from the Wyoming authorities. 

The conference was formally opened at Easton, January 27, in the 
new First (German) Reformed Church, on North Third street. It is 
said that while the organ played the members of the commission and 
the Indians shook hands with each other and drank rum to the health 
of the Congress and the Six Nations and their allies before proceeding 
to business. 

It was soon learned that the English, through the influence of Colo¬ 
nel John Butler, in the King’s service at Niagara, were making a great 
effort to turn the Indians against the Americans. 

In an official report of the treaty, subsequently made to the Supreme 
Executive Council of Pennsylvania, it was stated: “The Indians seem 
to be inclined to act the wise part with respect to the present dispute. 
If they are to be relied upon, they mean to be neuter. We have al¬ 
ready learnt their good intentions.” 

The members of the Supreme Executive Council, chosen under the 
Constitution of the State, met for the first time March 4, 1777, and 
proceeded to form an organization and the Council of Safety was dis¬ 
solved. In joint convention with the Assembly, Thomas Wharton, Jr., 
was elected president, and George Bryan, vice president. To give new 
dignity to the executive of the new Government, the inauguration took 
place on the following day, March 5. 

Thomas Wharton, Jr., was born in Philadelphia in 1735. He was 
descended from an ancient English family and was the grandson of 
Richard Wharton, who emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1683. His father, 
Joseph Wharton, of Walnut Grove, was an aristocrat of the day. 
Thomas Wharton was twice married, first to Susan, daughter of Thomas 
Lloyd, and subsequently to Elizabeth, daughter of William Fishbourne. 
He was a warm supporter of the principles *of the Revolution, and on 
the change of government was elected to the highest office in the State. 

President Wharton died suddenly May 25 of the following year of 
an attack of quinsy, at Lancaster. His funeral on the day following 
was conducted by the State authorities, and as commander-in-chief of the 
forces of the State he was buried with military honors, and at the re¬ 
quest of the vestry was interred within the walls of Trinity, Church in 


72 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Lancaster. By his decease, the Vice President, George Bryan, assumed 
the executive functions. 

On March 13 the Supreme Executive Council appointed a navy 
board, consisting of Andrew Caldwell, Joseph Blewer, Joseph Marsh, 
Emmanuel Eyre, Robert Ritchie, Paul Cox, Samuel Massey, William 
Bradford, Thomas Fitzsimmons, Samuel Morris, Jr., and J. Thomas 
Barclay, to which board was committed all powers necessary for that 
service. The board entered very promptly upon its duties, meeting 
with many difficulties, boats out of repair and inefficiently manned, 
difficulties about rank in the fleet, all of which it succeeded in over¬ 
coming. 

The same day a Board of War was appointed consisting of David 
Rittenhouse, Owen Biddle, William Moore, Joseph Dean, Samuel Mor¬ 
ris, Sr., Samuel Cadwallader Morris, John Bayard, George Gray and 
Colonel John Bull. This board served most capably in assisting to carry 
out the provisions of the new militia law. 

The Speaker of the House being seriously ill, John Bayard was 
chosen Speaker March 17. On the 20th Joseph Reed was appointed 
Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, but he declined on account of military 
engagements and on July 28 Thomas McKean was named for that 
office. 

On June 13, the Assembly required all white male inhabitants over 
eighteen years of age, except in Bedford, Northumberland, and West¬ 
moreland Counties to take an oath of allegiance before July 1, and those 
in said counties before August 1, excepting, however, delegates in Con¬ 
gress, prisoners of war, officers and soldiers in the Continental army and 
merchants and marines in port trading from foreign powers and not 
becoming subjects. Any person refusing should be incapable of holding 
office, serving on juries, electing or being elected or even bringing law¬ 
suits, or buying or selling lands and as was perfectly reasonable, should 
be disarmed. 

Early in June, General Howe, commander of the British forces at 
New York, showed a disposition to advance by land across New Jersey, 
and to take possession of Philadelphia. On the 14th of that month he 
actually made an advance by two columns, which led General Wash¬ 
ington to believe that this was his real intention. General Mifflin 
again came to Philadelphia with messages to Congress and the Assem¬ 
bly, and there was intrusted to him and De Coudray the arrangements 
of the defense of the Delaware River. 

The same day General Morris appeared before Congress to say that 
Philadelphia was in danger. 


JUNIATA VALLEY MASSACRES 


73 


Massacre of Settlers Along the Juniata River 
Began January 28, 1756 

HE Delaware Indians, especially those who lived west of the 
Susquehanna River, were exceedingly angry because of the 
sale of the lands along the Susquehanna and Juniata to the 
whites, and declared that those coveted hunting grounds had 
been given to them (the Delaware) by the Six Nations, and 
that therefore the latter had no right to sell them. 

The Six Nations admitted that they had given the region to their 
cousins, the Delaware, as a hunting ground, yet they did not hesitate 
to make the sale to the English in 1754, and to confirm it in 1758. 

The Delaware received none of the 400 pounds which had been 
paid to the Six Nations, and it is little wonder that they sought an op¬ 
portunity and pretext for that revenge against the English which they 
dared not show against their ancient conquerors, the Six Nations. 

Such an opportunity was presented by General Braddock’s disaster 
on the Monongahela, July 9, 1755, immediately after which they, with 
the Shawnee, became the active allies of the French. 

Within three months their war parties had crossed the Alleghanies 
eastward, and had committed atrocities among the frontier settlements. 

On October 16 occurred the massacre on Penn’s Creek, in what 
is now Snyder County, and on the 25th, John Harris’ party was am¬ 
bushed at Mahanoy Creek. 

On January 27, 1756, a party of Indians from Shamokin (now 
Sunbury) made a foray in the Juniata Valley, first attacking the house 
of Hugh Mitcheltree, who was absent at Carlisle, having left his house 
in the jqare of his wife and a young man named Edward Nicholas. Both 
of these were killed by the Indians, who then went up the river to the 
house of Edward Nicholas, Sr., whom they killed, also his wife, and took 
seven prisoners, namely, Joseph, Thomas and Catherine Nicholas, John 
Wilcox and the wife and two children of James Armstrong. 

The scene of the first of these incursions was on the farm of James 
Mitcheltree, who was a warrantee in Delaware Township in 1755, 
and where he died in the early part of 1803. This farm then passed 
into the hands of John Thompson, and it is still in the hands of his 
descendants. Hugh Mitcheltree, who escaped death or capture in this 
foray, was carried off by the Indians two months later, March 29, 1756. 
The Mitcheltree family lived near the present Thompsontown, Juniata 
County. 

While the Indians were committing the murders at the Mitcheltree 
and Nicholas homes, an Indian named James Cotties, who wished to be 










74 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

captain of the party, but could not be so chosen, took with him a young 
brave and went to Sherman’s Creek, where they killed William Sheri¬ 
dan and his family, thirteen in number. They then went down the creek 
to the home of two old men and an elderly woman, named French, whom 
they killed. Cotties often boasted afterward that he and the boy took 
more scalps than all the others of the party. 

James Cotties, in 1757, went to Fort Hunter and killed a young 
man named William Martin, while he was busy picking chestnuts. 
After the war was over, the same Cotties being again at the same fort 
was reproached by another Indian, named Hambus, for the death of 
young Martin, and a quarrel ensued in which Hambus killed Cotties. 

There are letters extant which give an account of the massacre by 
the Indians, on the river between Thompsontown and Mexico. They 
reveal the fact that this was the largest butchery of the whites that ever 
took place in the east end of Juniata County. 

A letter of January 28 proves that Captain James Pattersoji was 
with his company at his fort, on the Juniata, the day of the massacres. 

Extract from a letter dated Carlisle January 29, 1756, says: 

“This afternoon came to town a man that lived on Juniata, who in 
his journey this way called at the house where the woolcombers lived, 
about ten miles from this place, and saw at his door a bed-tick, and going 
into the house found a child lying dead and scalped. This alarmed us 
much and while we were consulting what to do, we received the en¬ 
closed, which puts it past all doubt that the enemy intend to attack Sher¬ 
man’s Valley or this place. We thought it necessary to acquaint you 
as soon as possible, not only to hurry you home, but, if thought needful, 
that the people of York might send over some aid.” 

The “enclosed” referred to in the above, was a long letter written 
by a soldier in the garrison at “Patterson’s Fort, of Juniata,” dated Jan¬ 
uary 28, 1756, in which the fifteen murders of the Wilcox, Nicholas and 
Armstrong families were explained in all their horrible details, the 
writer having visited the several places and witnessed for himself the 
bodies of the victims. 

The letter continues: 

“The party that went to bury the dead, found one Sheridan and his 
wife, three children and a man-servant, all murdered; also two others 
in another house; these within a few miles of Carlisle. 

“I am heartily sorry that I must grieve you with an account of a 
most inhuman murder committed by the Indians at Juniata and Sher¬ 
man’s Creek on the 27th of last month. Within three miles of Patter¬ 
son’s Fort was found Adam Nicholson and his wife dead and scalped 
and his two sons and a daughter carried off; William Wilcock and his 
wife dead and scalped; Mrs. Hugh Micheltree and son of said Nichol¬ 
son dead and scalped, with many children, in all about seventeen. The 
same day one Sheridan, a Quaker, his wife and three children, and a 


SLATE-ROOF HOUSE 


75 


servant were killed and scalped, together with one William Hamilton 
and his wife and daughter and one French, within ten miles of Carlisle, 
a little beyond Stephen’s Gap.” 

On March 24, Captain James Patterson with his scouting party of 
borderers fell in with a party of Indians on Middle Creek, now Snyder 
County, attacked them, killed and scalped one and put the rest to flight. 
On their return, Patterson reported that the country from the forks of 
the Susquehanna to the Juniata was “swarming with Indians, looking 
for scalps and plunder, and burning all the houses and destroying all 
the grain which the fugitive settlers had left in the region.” 

The Indians who committed these depredations were of the Dela¬ 
ware Nation; there were no Shawnee among them. They had their 
headquarters on the North Branch at Nescopeck and Wyoming, and 
were so incited by the craftiness of the French that they threatened “to 
break the heads of any of their own race who advised peace with the 
English.” 


John Penn, “The American,” Born in Slate- 
Roof House January 29, 1700 

HEN William Penn crossed the ocean in the Canterbury to visit 
his province in 1699, he came up to Chester, December 1. 
Two days later Penn reached Philadelphia, and made a for¬ 
mal call upon his deputy, Governor William Markham, and 
other dignitaries of the town and province. 

From Markham’s house Penn proceeded to the Friends’ 
meeting house at Second and High Streets, and took part in the after¬ 
noon meeting, offering a prayer and delivering one of those short in¬ 
cisive addresses in which he was so happy. 

Penn was very well received by all classes, says James Logan, who 
had come out with the Governor and was in constant attendance upon 
him. 

After the meeting was over and the Friends had dispersed to their 
homes, Penn and his suite went to the house of Edward Shippen, and 
lived there for a month. About January 14 he took up his residence in 
the “Slate-Roof House,” which was his home during his sojourn in his 
province. 

On January 29, his son John, known as “The American, was born. 
John was the only one of William Penn’s children born in his province. 

This old mansion when first built was the largest house in Phila¬ 
delphia, and better known than any other, not excepting the “Letitia 
House,” of any place of historic interest connected with William Penn 
and the city he founded. 






76 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The Slate-Roof House was built on the southeast corner of Second 
Street and Norris Alley, the site for many years of the Chamber of 
Commerce. The house was built by Samuel Carpenter, and it stood 
until 1867. 

Besides being the residence of Penn in 1699, James Logan enter¬ 
tained Lord Cornbury there in 1702 and Governor James Hamilton, 
Mrs. Howell and Mrs. Graydon were successively its occupants, the 
ladies using it for a boarding house. 

Alexander Graydon, who lived there and whose mother was the 
Desdemona of the pert British officers of the day and kept the place as 
a boarding house just before the Revolution, describes the old house, “as 
a singular old-fashioned structure, laid out in the style of a fortification, 
with abundance of angles, both salient and re-entering. Its two wings 
projected to the street in the manner of bastions, to which the main 
building, retreating from sixteen to eighteen feet, served for a curtain. 
Within it was cut up into a number of apartments and on that account 
was exceedingly well adapted to the purpose of a lodging house, to which 
it had long been appropriated.” 

The yard or garden was graced with a row of venerable pine trees, 
and the association of the place gave it a substantial historic interest. 
It bore much less the look of a fortress than Captain Graydon’s mili¬ 
tary eye conceived. 

The back building was as peaceful looking as the culinary offices 
should be and the neat little chambers in the so-called bastions were 
cozy nooks, with chimney places in the corners. The kitchen had a giant 
pile of chimney, with a great fireplace and the garrets were high and 
roomy. 

This house was built for Samuel Carpenter by James Portens. It 
was erected about 1698, and William Penn was probably its first occu¬ 
pant. 

Samuel Carpenter had built in 1684-85 a house on Front Street, 
near his wharf and warehouses, and it is likely he lived there after the 
Slate-Roof House was completed. 

Carpenter was a man of great ability and enterprise, accumulating 
wealth rapidly and doing much to build up the city of his adoption. He 
married Hannah Hardiman, a Welsh Quakeress and preacher, in 1684, 
and held many important positions, member of the Assembly, treasurer 
of the province, etc. He bought large tracts of land, owned numerous 
vessels, mines, quarries and mill seats, so much property, in fact, that it 
impoverished him and threw him into serious pecuniary embarrassment, 
though he was ranked as the richest man in the province. 

Samuel Carpenter died in his house on King Street (now Water 
Street) between Chestnut and Walnut Streets, April 10, 1714, and 
the Friends Meeting, after his death, said of him that “he was a pattern 
of humility, patience and self-denial; a man fearing God and 


SLATE-ROOF HOUSE 


77 


hating covetousness; much given to hospitality and good works. He was 
a loving, affectionate husband, tender father, and a faithful friend and 
brother.” 

When Carpenter leased his Slate-Roof House to Penn it was fur¬ 
nished and so occupied until his departure for England, when James 
Logan moved into it. 

The Slate-Roof House was sold in the latter part of 1703 to Wil¬ 
liam Trent, the Iverness miller, who founded and gave his name to 
Trenton, N. J. 

Trent paid £850 for the property. In 1709 he sold it for £900 
Pennsylvania currency to Isaac Norris, who occupied it until his re¬ 
moval to Fairhill in 1717. 

Logan was very desirous that Penn should buy the house when 
Trent offered it for sale, and said that it was hard that the Governor 
did not have the money to spare. “I would give twenty to thirty pounds 
out of my own pocket, that it were thine, nobody’s but thine,” said 
honest James. 

The Slate-Roof House remained in possession of the Norris family 
until 1807, when it was bought by the Chamber of Commerce and 
torn down. 

From 1717 onward it seems to have been used as a boarding and 
lodging house, being in the hands of Mrs. Howell and then of Mrs. 
Graydon. 

General John Forbes, successor to General Edward Braddock, died 
in the Slate-Roof House in 1759, at which time the’house was kept by 
Mrs. Howell. Baron de Kalb lodged there in 1768-69, when he was 
the secret agent of France. Sir William Draper, the target of Junius’ 
sarcasm, lodged there during his visit to the colonies. James Riving- 
ton, the Tory printer and publisher, ate and slept there. 

It is also reported that John Hancock and George Washington 
lodged there during the first sessions of the Continental Congress. 
Baron Steuben, Peter S. Duponceau and others lodged there after the 
British evacuated Philadelphia. 

The Slate-Roof House then became the seat of a boarding school, 
kept by Madame Berdeau, reputed to be the widow of Dr. Dodd, 
hanged in London for forgery in 1777. 

Then this historic old mansion became a workshop, a general place 
of business, a tenement house, with shops on the ground floor, which 
were occupied by tailors, engravers, watch-makers, silversmiths, etc. 
Under one of the “bastions,” a notable oyster cellar was opened, the 
resort of the merchants and bankers doing business in that vicinity. 


78 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Betsy Ross, Who Made First American Flag, 
Died January 30, 1836 

HEN Elizabeth Claypoole died at her home in Arch Street, 
Philadelphia, January 30, 1836, aged eighty-four years, her 
body was borne to Mount Moriah Cemetery and interred by 
the side of her husband, who had preceded her in death nearly 
twenty years. A simple monument records the above facts, 
but does not tell those of the present generation that this hero¬ 
ine was none other than Betsy Ross. 

The school children of today are learning more of the history of 
our country and its flag, but the story of the woman who made the first 
American flag is always interesting. 

The fact that the flag of our country had its birth in the City of 
Philadelphia; that it was a patriotic woman of Philadelphia who made 
the first flag; that it first waved over the United States Congress then 
in session in Independence Hall, is sufficient incentive for every boy 
and girl in Pennsylvania to be justly proud. 

The story of the flag is told on another day, but the story of how 
Betsy Ross became associated with it is to be today’s story. 

Ever since the Revolution began there was real necessity for an 
American flag, but there was, however, no national flag authorized by 
an act of the Continental Congress until June 14, 1777. 

The committee appointed by Congress to prepare a design for the 
new flag consisted of General George Washington, Robert Morris and 
Colonel George Ross. 

Colonel Ross had a relative, Betsy Ross, who lived at 239 Arch 
Street, and who had previously made flags for the American Army and 
Navy. 

The committee called upon Mrs. Ross, stated their mission, and 
asked her if she would make a flag such as was ordered by Congress. 

“I do not know whether I can, but I’ll try,” was her reply. 

The act of Congress did not specify the number of points of the 
stars, or their arrangement, simply stating: “That the flag of the thir¬ 
teen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the 
union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new con¬ 
stellation.” 

Mrs. Ross suggested that a star of five points would be more dis¬ 
tinct, pleasing and appropriate than the six-pointed star which the 
committee had designed. Folding a piece of white paper, she cut, with 
a single clip of her scissors, a five-pointed star, and placing it on a blue 
field, delighted the committee with her taste, ingenuity and judgment. 




BETSY ROSS 


79 


The committee decided that the stars, thirteen in number, should 
be arranged in a circle in a blue field, as the circle is typical of 
eternity. 

So well pleased were the committee with the flag which Betsy Ross 
made that they authorized her, in the name of Congress, to make the 
United States flags. Betsy Ross employed many hands to aid her, and 
made flags for the army, navy and public buildings. 

The maiden name of Betsy Ross was Elizabeth Griscom. She was 
born in Philadelphia in 1752, of Quaker parents. At an early age she 
married John Ross, son of an English clergyman, an upholsterer. He 
was a nephew of Colonel George Ross, of Lancaster, one of the signers 
of the Declaration and one of the leaders of the young republic. Betsy 
never went back to “Friends’ Meeting,” and was “read out” of meeting 
for this marriage. 

John Ross died soon after his marriage and Mrs. Ross continued the 
upholstering business at 239 Arch Street, which had once been number 
89. This house is still standing, and is one of the most valued of the 
many historic places in old Philadelphia. It was in this little house, 
where Betsy Ross, a widow at twenty-five years of age, made the first 
United States flag. 

Betsy Ross was not only noted for her skill with the needle, but 
quite as well for her piety and patriotism. So widely was her extraor¬ 
dinary skill recognized that she adorned the parlors, of the wealthy with 
draperies, the theatres with curtains, hotels with quilts and even state¬ 
rooms of the finest packet boats were fitted up by her. It is also said 
that she made the handsome ruffled shirt bosoms worn by General Wash¬ 
ington, and not a few for other patriots who held high office in the young 
nation. 

At an early date, and before she made United States flags, she 
made Colonial flags for the army and navy and there is a minute dated 
May 29, 1777, “an order on William-Webb to Elizabeth Ross for four¬ 
teen pounds twelve shillings and two pence, for making ships colors, 

etc. 

In time Mrs. Ross married Joseph Ashburn, who was captured on 
the privateer Luzerene and died a prisoner of war in Mill Prison, Eng¬ 
land. By this marriage she had two children, Zillah, who died in 
infancy, and Eliza, who married a Mr. Sullivan. Ashburn sent a fare¬ 
well message to his wife by a fellow-prisoner, John Claypoole, who 
later was exchanged for a British prisoner. On reaching Philadelphia he 
delivered his message and personal effects, and about a year later mar¬ 
ried Mrs. Elizabeth Ashburn. 

In April, 1783, the Stars and Stripes were put to their first national 
use in the demonstration for peace throughout the new nation. The 
Flag of Peace was the name given to it in this widespread employment 
of the ensign. 


80 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Two weeks after this occasion Betsy Ross (Ashburn) and John Clay- 
poole were married. 

By this marriage five children were born. One, Clarissa by name, 
the first child of this marriage, married a Mr. Wilson and succeeded to 
the business of upholstering and making American flags. Subsequently 
Mrs. Wilson became a member of the Society of Friends, and relin¬ 
quished the business of making flags .for the United States Army and 
Navy, and thus after many years, the making of the American flags 
passed from the house and family of Betsy Ross. 

Clarissa was thirty-one years old when her father died from war-in¬ 
flicted diseases. 

After about eighty years of making American flags for the United 
States Government, the contracts passed from the Ross family, when 
Clarissa Claypoole Wilson made the following public declarations: 
“From conscientious motives ceased to furnish flags for military and 
naval purposes,” and “retired from the business on account of conscien¬ 
tious scruples. 

Thus the Ross family discontinued to fill Government contracts a 
quarter of a century after the death of Betsy Ross. 

During all the eighty years women and girls were exclusively em¬ 
ployed in making flags, mostly daughters and granddaughters of Betsy 
Ross and her neighbors, as the work grew in volume. 

So the tradition of Betsy Ross, as the maker of the first American 
flag, known as the Stars and Stripes, has quite as interesting a sequel in 
the action of her daughter. 


Robert Morris, Financier of the Revolution, 
Born January 31, 1734 

OBERT MORRIS was born in Liverpool, England, January 
31, 1734, son of Robert Morris, a nail maker, and grandson 
of Andrew Morris, who was a seafearing man of the British 
Isles. 

Robert Morris, Sr., was the Maryland agent of a London 
tobacco firm. When Robert, Jr., was thirteen years old, his 
mother having died, he came to America, rejoined his father and was 
for a time under the tuition of a clergyman and then entered the mer¬ 
cantile firm of Charles and Thomas Willing. 

In 1750, Morris, the father, died leaving a small estate. When 
Robert, the son, reached the age of twenty-one, Charles Willing made 
him a partner in the business and turned over his own share to his son, 
Thomas. The firm of Willing & Morris became famous, and soon 
their trade was extended to Europe and the West Indies. Long before 






ROBERT MORRIS 


81 


the battle* drums of the Revolution were heard the two partners be¬ 
came wealthy men and were regarded as among the foremost people of 

the city. 

Willing and Morris were among the merchants who protested 
against the Stamp Act, and in 1766 Robert Morris was one of the Board 
of Port Wardens. 

As soon as the news of Lexington reached Philadelphia, the As¬ 
sembly appointed a Committee of Safety. Robert Morris was a member 
and helped greatly to get powder and firearms, to organize troops and 
to fortify the Delaware. 

The Assembly elected him a member of the Continental Congress 
and his practical knowledge of ships made him a member of the Naval 
Committee and the first American Navy was soon launched. 

April, 1776, he was specially commissioned to suggest methods and 
provide plans for procuring money to prosecute the war. No other man 
in Congress, probably, could have succeeded so well, and he was not 
relieved from this task while the war lasted. 

However reluctantly he subscribed to the Declaration of Indepen¬ 
dence, when the crucial moment came he risked his fortune and faced 
beggary for his family and he looked at the gallows for himself as 
bravely as any of his contemporaries. Other Pennsylvanians who voted 
against it lost their places, but neither Pennsylvania nor the Colonies 
could spare Robert Morris. 

When Congress in a fright fled from Philadelphia to Baltimore, 
Morris, with two other men, was left in charge of its affairs and the 
defense of the capital of the infant republic. The two men who were 
to assist Morris failed to appear, but Morris stuck faithfully to his post, 
and he became really the ruler of the city. 

When Washington defeated the British at Trenton, the English 
were surprised but not troubled. They expected Washington’s unpaid 
army to disband and Morris thought so too. He promised $10 extra 
pay to each soldier if he would remain six weeks longer, then went to 
his Quaker friends and on his personal credit borrowed the money and 
turned the cash over to Washington on New Year’s Day. Hope sprang 
up again in patriotic hearts. 

After the battle of Brandywine there remained no hope of saving 
Philadelphia. Congress fled once more, this time to Lancaster, then to 
York. The Liberty Bell was hauled away to Allentown, where it was 
hidden under the floor of the Zion Reformed Church. The State of¬ 
ficials went to Lancaster, and Morris traveled there also. 

Morris was not eligible for re-election in 1778, but he worked to 
supply the army. He turned over a cargo of ninety tons of lead for 
cartridges at a time when the troops sorely needed them. In 1780 he 
was again chosen to the Assembly, and a year later was chosen by Con¬ 
gress to be Superintendent of Finance. 


82 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Some persons had wished Alexander Hamilton to take this post, 
but Hamilton himself proposed Morris. Until the end of the war 
Morris had power to appoint and dismiss all employes in his own depart¬ 
ment and could even fix their salaries. No one else connected with the 
Government possessed such extensive powers. 

Morris counseled with Washington the project of transferring his 
army southward to block Cornwallis. When the troops appeared in 
Philadelphia, Washington, Count De Rochambeau and other generals 
dined with Morris and used his house on Market Street as their head¬ 
quarters. 

During this visit Morris borrowed money which the Count de 
Rochambeau had brought to pay his own soldiers and gave it to the 
Americans. He advanced every shilling of his own money and bor¬ 
rowed all he could obtain from his friends. 

Robert Morris realized that a national bank was necessary, but few 
had sufficient confidence to invest in the shares, but just at this time 
France sent over some hard money, which was landed at Boston. 
Morris sent two trustworthy men to bring the coins to Philadelphia. 

The treasure amounted to half a million dollars. The coins were 
packed in great oak boxes, which when filled weighed a ton. These 
chests were set on the axle of a cart and driven by oven, through country 
which contained many English troops. After a drive of two months, 
the coins were safely dragged into Philadelphia. Half the money was 
used to start the bank, which was chartered December 31, 1781, as the 
“Bank of North America.” 

At the same time the bank opened its doors, Morris reported to Con¬ 
gress that a mint should be established, in which money could be coined 
of one kind and one standard. The mint was established and has been 
making coins to this day. 

Robert Morris was a member of the convention which framed the 
Federal Constitution, and he had the pleasure of nominating his friend, 
General Washington, for presiding officer. 

After this Constitution was ratified by the States, Pennsylvania chose 
Robert Morris and William Maclay as her first two Senators. 

Morris owned several magnificent homes, and much desirable real 
estate, and was regarded as the richest man in America. But he had 
been too hopeful. Land values did not rise quickly and he and his 
partners could not sell their properties, nor were they able to pay their 
debts. 

At last the crash came and Morris was sent to prison for debt, 
February 15, 1798. Close to the prison sat the Congress which, on 
April 4, 1800, passed the Bankrupt Act, though it was not until 
August 26, 1801, that Morris regained his liberty. He came out with 
three millions of debt to be a pensioner on his family. 

On May 7, 1806, Robert Morris died and was buried in Christ 


ROBERT MORRIS 


83 


Churchyard. His widow, who survived him twenty-one years, in 1824 
received the first private call made by Lafayette in Philadelphia. 

It is sad to think that a man who did so much for his country 
should at last have done so badly for himself. If we had had no Robert 
Morris there would probably have been no United States. All he had 
was at the service of America. There was no truer patriot. It was his 
confidence in the quick growth of the young nation that ruined him. 
Our country owes a great debt to Robert Morris, the Financier of the 
Revolution. 


First Division of Province Into Counties 
Begun February 1, 1685 

FTER William Penn had spent nearly two years in his new 
province and had made a trip of investigation as far interior 
as the Susquehanna River, held many interviews with Lord 
Baltimore over the vexed question of boundary, made several 
treaties with the Indians and placed the government of his 
province in competent hands, he returned to England, where 
he arrived during August, 1684. 

Charles II died December 12 following, and was succeeded by 
James, Duke of York, whose accession was greatly dreaded by the 
Protestants, who apprehended a revival of the persecutions during the 
reign of Mary. Penn might have taken advantage of these apprehen¬ 
sions to induce more emigrants to settle in Pennsylvania, but he was 
disinterested and used his influence with the King to grant liberty of 
conscience to all religionists, and more especially to the Quakers. 

Penn stood in high favor with King James long before he ascended 
the throne, on account of friendship which James had for his father, 
who had bravely fought under his flag, and this was increased by the 
son, who by that means succeeded in obtaining from the King’s Council 
a favorable decree in his dispute with Lord Baltimore over the bound¬ 
aries of his province. 

The lines of separation between the County of Philadelphia and 
those of Bucks and Chester were confirmed by the Provincial Assembly 
February 1, 1685. 

This was a peculiar situation. Bucks and Chester were laid out with 
specified boundaries adjoining Philadelphia, and, as a consequence, the 
County of Philadelphia embraced the whole province between Chester 
and Bucks and north-northwest and northeast to an indefinite extent. 
This, of course, meant as far as Penn had purchased the land from the 
Indians. 

During his absence from the province all was not well with William 
Penn in England or with his followers in the beloved Pennsylvania. 
Dissensions sprang up between the Legislature and the Executive, and 
between the members from the territories and those from the province 
proper, which threatened the loss of all his possessions. Troubles of 
Penn in America were not all confined to civil affairs, for his religious 
society was torn with dissension. 

In 1685, the Proprietary appointed Nicholas More, a London law¬ 
yer, president of the “Free Traders” and a member of the Assembly, 
to the office of Chief Justice. 1 he Assembly was jealous of its preroga¬ 
tives and disregarded the fundamental laws of the province in enacting 

84 









PROVINCE DIVIDED INTO COUNTIES 


85 


statutes without previously publishing them as required to do by the 
constitution. 

Chief Justice More opposed some of the laws of the Assembly, and 
particularly those which attempted to alter the organization of the 
courts, and he incurred the enmity of the House, which proceeded to 
impeach him. He was charged with violence, partiality and negligence, 
in a cause in which the society of Free Traders was interested. Ten 
articles were preferred against him, which he refused to answer, though 
frequently summoned by the Council. 

More was saved from conviction by a technicality, but was not pro¬ 
tected from punishment. He was expelled from the Assembly, and was 
interdicted all places of trust by the Council until he should be tried 
upon the articles of impeachment or give satisfaction to the board. His 
punishment was not severe because he retained the confidence of the 
Proprietary. 

The anger of the House was extended to Patrick Robinson, clerk of 
the Provincial Court, who refused to produce the minutes of that court. 
They voted him to be a public enemy and ordered him into the custody 
of the Sheriff. 

When brought before the House Robinson refused to answer ques¬ 
tions and threw himself at full length upon the floor. He was dis¬ 
qualified from holding any office in the province or territories, but this 
sentence does not seem to have been enforced, for he afterward held the 
clerkship in the Council and other offices. 

Neither More nor Robinson were Quakers. They were charged 
with enmity to that sect, or, in the language of Penn, “were esteemed 
the most unquiet and cross to Friends.” 

There were other disturbances at this time in the province. John 
Curtis was charged with “uttering troublesome and dangerous words 
against the King.” 

Charges were made against several officers of the Government for 
extortion, and gross immoralities were practiced among the lower class 
of people inhabiting the caves on the banks of the Delaware. These and 
other things were reported with great exaggeration in England by the 
enemies of Penn and the Quakers. They prevented emigration and 
greatly affected the reputation of the Society of Friends and the Pro¬ 
prietary. 

In 1686 Penn changed the form of executive government to a board 
of five commissioners, any three of whom were empowered to act. The 
board consisted of Thomas Lloyd, Nicholas More, James Claypoole, 
Robert Turner and John Eckley. 

In 1688 the actions of the Assembly were marked by the usual want 
of unanimity and the objectionable act of laying on its members a solemn 
injunction of secrecy. This measure was not without an exhibition of 
undignified violence. Lloyd requested to be relieved from his office, and 
his request was reluctantly granted, and on his recommendation the 


86 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Proprietary changed the plural executive into a single deputy, and named 
Captain John Blackwell, formerly an officer of Cromwell, under whom 
he had earned a distinguished reputation in England and Ireland. He 
was in New England when he received his commission, dated July 25, 
1688. 

Governor Blackwell met the Assembly in March, 1689, but through 
some misunderstanding between him and some of the Council the public 
affairs were not managed with harmony, and but little was done during 
his administration, which terminated in December when he returned to 
England, and the government of the province, according to charter, 
again devolved upon the Council, with Thomas Lloyd as president. 

The revolution in England during 1688, which drove James from 
the throne, also lost for the Proprietary all his influence at the English 
court. He was now an object of suspicion. His religious and political 
principles were misrepresented. He was denounced as a Catholic, a 
Jesuit of St. Omers, and a self-devoted slave of despotism, and was even 
charged with conspiracy to restore James. He was freed of all these 
charges and arranged to again visit his Province of Pennsylvania, and 
was about to set sail when he was detained by another persecution. 

He was charged with being engaged in a conspiracy of the Papists 
to raise a rebellion, and restore James to the throne. He narrowly 
escaped arrest on his return from the funeral of George Fox, the cele¬ 
brated founder of the Society of Friends. Rather than suffer the ordeal 
of another trial he retired to privacy and his contemplated colony failed 
and the expense of the outfit was lost. 


Governor Pattison’s Administration to Burn¬ 
ing of Capitol, February 2, 1897 

N THE campaign of 1890 the political conditions in Pennsyl¬ 
vania were somewhat similar to those of the preceding guber¬ 
natorial campaign. 

Four candidates were again in the field. The Republicans 
named as their standard bearer George W. Delamater, who 
defeated Daniel H. Hastings in the convention by eleven votes; 
former Governor Robert E. Pattison was now eligible to again become a 
candidate and was promptly nominated by the Democrats, and the Pro¬ 
hibition and Labor parties named John D. Gill and T. P. Rynder as 
their candidates. 

The campaign again revealed great dissatisfaction in the majority 
party and Pattison was elected for a second time. He was inaugurated 
on January 20, 1891. 

During the month of May, 1891, there occurred great excitement 






ADMINISTRATION, 1890-1897 


87 


by failure of the Keystone and Spring Garden National Banks of Phila¬ 
delphia. John Bardsley, familiarly known as “Honest John,” was City 
Treasurer, and a depositor not only of moneys belonging to that city, 
but also of taxes collected for the Commonwealth. 

A few days after the failure of these banks it was found that Bards- 
Jey’s losses would make him a defaulter to the city and the State to a 
large amount. He at once resigned his office, and was as promptly prose¬ 
cuted for embezzling public funds. On trial, he pleaded guilty and was 
sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment and to pay a fine of $237,000. 

Ballot reform became one of the leading questions before the Legis¬ 
lature and on June 19, 1891, a reform act was passed, which was known 
as the “Australian” ballot system, which provided for secrecy in voting. 

There were several serious labor disputes during Governor Patti- 
son’s Administration, in the suppression of which it was necessary to use 
the strong arm of State authority. April 2, 1891, a riot occurred in 
Westmoreland County in which seven persons were killed and twenty- 
one wounded. Two regiments of the National Guard were sent to assist 
the sheriff in restoring peace. 

The great labor riots at Homestead occurred early in July, 1892, 
and on the sixth the sheriff of Allegheny County asked the Governor 
for militia assistance. 

The cause of the trouble here was a reduction of wages in the 
Carnegie Steel Company, and the officials of the corporation employed 
armed men to patrol the property and protect the men who accepted the 
cut in wages and remained at their jobs. A large force of Pinkerton 
detectives was also employed to assist in this protection. The striking 
miners attacked those detectives and in the riots a dozen lives were lost. 

The militia was not sent on first call for aid, but on July 10, after 
other riots, Governor Pattison ordered two brigades of the National 
Guard to Homestead. They arrived there on the morning of July 12. 
The presence of the troopers overawed the malcontents and peace was 
immediately restored. 

Another riot occurred January 27, 1893, at Mansfield, Allegheny 
County, which resulted in loss of life and property. In June, 1894, it 
was necessary to send two regiments of militia into Jefferson County to 
preserve life and property on account of rioting among foreign miners. 
There were fifty-three strikes in 1893, and twenty-seven in 1894, all 
failing in their purpose save three. 

The interest in forestry had increased to such an extent that in 1893 
a commission on forestry was created by Act of Legislature. William 
F. Shunk was appointed engineer and Dr. J. F. Rothrock, botanist of the 
commission. 

In 1893, the Legislature appropriated half a million dollars for the 
erection of a fireproof building on the east side of the Capitol grounds, 
to be occupied by the State Library and various executive offices. 


88 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


In the campaign of 1894, five candidates contested the election for 
Governor. General Daniel H. Hastings, of Bellefonte, was nominated 
by the Republicans, William M. Singerly, of Philadelphia, was the 
Democratic standard bearer, while Charles I. Hawley, Jerome T. All- 
man and Thomas H. Grundy, represented the Prohibition, People’s and # 
Socialist-Labor parties respectively. The Republicans presented a united 
front and easily elected General Hastings, who assumed office on Jan¬ 
uary 15, 1895. 

The first important change in the Government was the creation of 
the Superior Court, which was done by an act passed June 24, 1895. 

Governor Hastings, June 28, appointed Ex-Governor James A. 
Beaver, Edward N. Willard, John J. Wickham, Charles E. Rice, 
Howard J. Reeder, George B. Orlady and Henry J. McCarthy as the 
original members of the Court, with Charles E. Rice as President 
Judge. At the ensuing election the six first named and Peter P. Smith 
were elected for the full term of ten years. 

The first vacancy was occasioned by the resignation of Justice Wil¬ 
lard, September 1, 1897, and William W. Porter was commissioned Sep¬ 
tember 14; next was the death of Justice John J. Wickham, June 18, 
1898, and he was succeeded by William D. Porter, July 6; then 
Justice Reeder died December 28, 1898, to be succeeded by Dimner 
Beeber, January 2, 1899, who served only until his successor was 
elected. 

James I. Mitchell was commissioned December 6, 1899, and re¬ 
signed November 28, 1902, his place being filled by Thomas A. Morri¬ 
son, December 30, 1902; Justice William W. Porter resigned January 
27, 1903, his place being filled by John J. Henderson. John B. Head 
was elected 1905, and resigned April 12, 1922. John W. Kephart was 
elected 1913, and resigned January 6, 1919, to become a member of the 
Supreme Court, his place being filled by the commission of William H. 
Keller. 

Former Governor James A. Beaver died January 31, 1914, and 
Frank M. Trexler was commissioned February 6. J. Henry Williams 
succeeded Justice Morrison December 9, 1915; he died October 24, 
1919, and was succeeded by William B. Linn, November 5. President 
Charles E. Rice retired at the end of his term, December, 1915. Justice 
Head resigned April 12, 1922, and Robert S. Gawthrop was com¬ 
missioned. 

The present court is composed of President Judge George B. Orlady, 
the only survivor of the original court; William D. Porter, who has 
served since July 6, 1898; John J. Henderson, who was commissioned 
March 11, 1903; Frank M. Trexler, William H. Keller, William B. 
Linn and Robert S. Gawthrop. 

The Department of Agriculture was created by act of March 13, 
1895, and Thomas J. Edge was commissioned the first Secretary. His 


BENEDICT ARNOLD 


89 


successors have been John Hamilton, N. B. Critchfield, Charles E. 
Patton, Frederic Rasmussen and Frank P. Willits, the incumbent, 

July 3, 1895, the Legislature authorized the erection of a monu¬ 
ment to each Pennsylvania regiment engaged in battles of Chickamauga 
and Chattanooga. These were all placed in the proper positions by 
1898, and reflect much credit to the State and those who had this 
patriotic work in charge. 

The old Capitol Building was destroyed by fire February 2, 1897. 
The Governor took immediate steps for the erection of a new Capitol 
Building and the Legislature promptly authorized a commission to super¬ 
vise the erection of the same. 


Benedict Arnold Arrested for Conduct in 
Philadelphia February 3, 1779 

HEN our troops took possession of Philadelphia the day follow¬ 
ing the evacuation of the British, June 18, 1778, General Bene¬ 
dict Arnold, then flushed with the recent capture of Burgoyne, 
was sent by General Washington to assume command of the 
city, and his headquarters were established at Henry Gurney’s. 
The autocratic demeanor of Arnold would make it appear 
as if Philadelphia, appalled at the circumstances, deemed it provident 
to make no resistance. Arnold, however, to their agreeable surprise, 
was polite and clever, as were his able aides, Major Franks and Captain 
Clarkson. 

It was here that Arnold entered upon a style of living but ill ac¬ 
cording with republican simplicity. He issued a proclamation, among 
other things, to prevent the removal, transfer, or sale of goods or mer¬ 
chandise in possession of the inhabitants belonging to the King of Great 

Britain. 

Arnold prevented even army officers from purchasing while he made 
purchases on his own account, and then through agents sold them at 
exorbitant prices. 

The first incident in Arnold’s administration which attracted atten¬ 
tion to his conduct was his questionable handling of the award of prize 
money obtained in the capture of the British sloop “Active.” 

Having succeeded in ingratiating himself into the good will of the 
Shippen family, Arnold won the affections of Margaret (“Peggy”) 
Shippen, the young and accomplished daughter of Edward Shippen, 
afterward Chief Justice of the State, who became his second wife. 

Owing to a recent wound received under circumstances which would 
alone hav established a claim to grateful remembrances, had not his sub¬ 
sequent extraordinary defection obliterated his name from the roll of his 










90 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


country’s heroes, Arnold during his marriage ceremony was supported 
by a soldier and when seated his disabled limb was propped upon a camp 
stool. These wounds may perhaps have made him more interesting to 
the lovely but unfortunate bride. 

At all events, her “hero,” except for his character for extravagance, 
was at that moment regarded with a share of public favor, if not with 
any feeling of popular affection. He had rendered “some service to the 
State,” and was distinguished for gallantry among the bravest of the 
land. 

It is as unjust as vain to urge, as some have done, in palliation of 
his stupendous crime, the fashionable and expensive propensities of his 
beautiful and accomplished wife. That she was addicted to displays of 
wealth inconsistent with the spirit of her time and the condition of 
public affairs may not with propriety be questioned; but no external in¬ 
fluence can move a truly great and honorable mind and heart from a 
fixed purpose of patriotic or social duty. 

When a mob was formed which gave out an intention to assault 
the house of Hon. James Wilson, which became known as “Fort Wil¬ 
son,” and assault his person, it was a day of great excitement in Phila¬ 
delphia. Wilson’s friends gathered around him and prepared to defend 
him as best they could. 

In the meantime, the mob and militia assembled on the commons, 
while a meeting of the principal citizens took place at the Coffee 
House. The mob began its march from Arch above Fifth Street. Gen¬ 
eral Arnold came to repress the mob, but he was so unpopular they 
stoned him. 

Arnold’s conduct had given great offense to many of the active sup¬ 
porters of the American cause, which involved him in a quarrel with the 
authorities of Pennsylvania, and February 3, 1779, the Supreme Execu¬ 
tive Council ordered the Attorney General of the State to prosecute 
General Arnold for illegal and oppressive conduct while in command 
of the military in Philadelphia. Active among those who urged an in¬ 
vestigation of the charges was General Joseph Reed, President of the 
Council. 

A copy of the charges was presented to General Arnold, but he did 
not care to meet them, and under pretense of attending to his duty, 
“fled from the inquiry.” 

From the camp on the Raritan, whence he had gone, he addressed a 
letter “To the Publick,” expressing his willingness that Congress should 
direct a court-martial to inquire into his conduct. The accusations of 
the Supreme Executive Council were laid before that body, but the trial 
was delayed and not until January, 1780, was the court-martial held. 

Arnold was “convicted of using the public wagons for his own 
benefit,” but he was acquitted of any corrupt intent and sentenced to be 
reprimanded by General Washington. 


BENEDICT ARNOLD 


91 


The verdict exasperated Arnold, who was still further humiliated by 
the action of Congress on claims preferred by him growing out of the 
Canadian expedition. His estimate was materially reduced by the Treas¬ 
ury officers, and when Arnold appealed to Congress a committee reported 
that a larger sum had been allowed him than was really due. Having 
failed to secure a loan from the French Ambassador, he determined to 
betray his country for British gold. 

The extravagance of Arnold produced the want of money and prob¬ 
ably the predilections of the wife for what was splendid in the British 
army influenced them both to forfeit home and country for a splendid 
but elusive hope. 

It must be remarked of “Peggy” Shippen that she had been the 
belle of Philadelphia and the standing toast of the British officers while 
their army was in Philadelphia. She had been brought up in British 
affections. Her father, Chief Justice Edward Shippen, was biased on 
that side. Major Andre was intimate in the family, which led to a 
friendly correspondence between Miss Shippen and him. 

After Arnold married her he, of course, became acquainted with that 
fact, and encouraged its continuance. It was continued, until at last 
Arnold and Andre opened it more directly between themselves, under 
the names of Gustavus for the former and John Anderson for the latter. 

The failure of Arnold’s scheme to surrender West Point, his flight, 
the execution of Andre, and the unhappy life of “Peggy” Shippen Arnold 
are familiar facts of history. 

In September, 1780, the populace of the city of Philadelphia were 
drawn together in great excitement to witness the degradation and burn¬ 
ing of Arnold, the traitor, in effigy. His figure, in regimental uniform, 
was placed on a cart and drawn through the city, to be burned on High 
Street Hill. 

The effigy had two faces and a mask in his left hand. Near him was 
the devil, in black robes, holding out to him a purse of money. Near 
them were transparencies of pictures and letters describing his treachery 
and treason. 

• The procession began from the rear of St. George’s Methodist 
Church, in Fourth Street, and was in the following order: Gentlemen 
on horseback, a line of Continental officers, sundry gentlemen in a line, 
a guard of the City Infantry. Just before the cart, drums and fifes 
playing all the way the “Rogues’ March.” Guards on each side of the 
cart. 

The procession was attended with a numerous concourse of people 
who after expressing their abhorrence of the treason and traitor, com¬ 
mitted him to the flames, and left both the effigy and the original to 
sink into ashes and oblivion. 


92 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


John Penn, Last Proprietory Governor, Suc¬ 
ceeds Richard Penn, Who Died 
February 4, 1771 

ICHARD PENN, one of the Proprietors, died February 4, 
1771, and under the terms of the family settlement, and his 
own will, Lieutenant Governor John Penn succeeded to 
Richard Penn’s one-fourth interest in Pennsylvania, and to the 
legal title of Governor. 

On May 4, Governor John Penn embarked for England, 
when Mr. James Hamilton administered the executive powers of the 
government as president of council. 

Richard Penn, second son of the deceased Proprietary, and previous¬ 
ly a member of the Governor’s Council, was appointed by his uncle 
^nd brother to be Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania and the Lower 
Counties. 

He arrived a second time in Pennsylvania on October 6, 1771. 

The following May he married Miss Mary Masters, of Philadel¬ 
phia. She was a lady possessed of sufficient property to make her dis¬ 
tinguished husband somewhat independent. 

Richard Penn was blessed with a pleasing personality and most 
charming manners, which, with his genuine desire to keep on intimate 
and friendly terms with the people, contributed much toward making 
him the most popular member of the founder’s family. 

He had a dispute with his brother, John, concerning his father’s 
will. He claimed that the manors were not appurtenant to the Pro¬ 
prietorship, but were included in the private real estate directed to be 
sold for the benefit of the residuary legatees. 

Thomas Penn took the side of John, and the two found fault with 
Richard’s conduct in the government, but the latter defended himself, 
and spoke of his father’s promise to try to have the family agreement of 
1732 dissolved as unfair to his younger children in its stipulation that 
the Proprietaryship should go to the eldest son, charged only with pay¬ 
ments to the widows and younger children of certain sums which had 
since become entirely disproportionate to the estates. 

Governor Richard Penn was superseded in office by his brother, 
John, who arrived back in the Province in August, 1773. 

For a long time Richard did not go near him, and maintained that 
he had been greatly injured. John offered, as long as he should be 
governor, to allow him £500 a year, but Richard declared he would 
not be his brother’s pensioner. 

There is a story told that the brothers attended a banquet, sitting 







JOHN PENN 


93 


opposite to each other, on the right and left hand of the head of the 
feast, but they did not speak to each other during the whole enter¬ 
tainment. 

Richard was, in May, 1774, induced to execute a release of his claim, 
and a reconciliation took place, when John appointed him naval officer, 
and Richard, accepting the position, called to thank him. 

During the administration of John Penn the counties of Northum¬ 
berland, March 21, 1772, and Westmoreland, February 26, 1773, were 
erected. 

The Connecticut claimants were unusually active at this time and 
extended their settlements, not only in the Wyoming Valley, but built 
forts and houses as far east as Shoholy and Lackawaxen, on the Dela¬ 
ware, where the Proprietary had manors, and on the west they seated 
themselves on the West Branch of the Susquehanna. 

He made strenuous efforts to eject the Pennsylvania claimants, 
but the Provincial authorities succeeded in holding the Yankees in 
check. 

The colony of Connecticut endeavored to have Governor John 
Penn define a boundary, who would not accede to their demands, but 
advised the claimants that they should take their dispute before the King 
and Council, where the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania would appear, 
and use their best offices toward a final decision. 

But this was not the only trouble Governor Penn had to contend 
with usurpers, for at this very moment the boundary dispute with Vir¬ 
ginia claimed his best effort. 

This contest was over the western limit of the province, where many 
settlers, west of the Allegheny Mountains, believed they were the sub¬ 
jects of the government of Virginia. Even George Croghan maintained 
that the limits of Pennsylvania ended at the Laurel Hill Range. He 
understood that a degree of longitude meant forty-eight miles only. 

But other and darker clouds were appearing above the horizon than 
those of boundary strips. 

The importation of tea had been forbidden by the determined col¬ 
onists, and but a small quantity had been brought into the country. 

Large accumulations had to be disposed of and the owners were 
determined to unload it on the American market. 

On the approach of tea ships pilots refused to conduct them into the 
harbor. A large cargo landed in Charleston, S. C., was stored in damp 
cellars, and rotted. 

Ships designed for Boston entered that port, but before the tea 
could be landed, a number of colonists boarded the vessels and emptied 
the cargo into the sea. 

The King and Parliament closed the port of Boston, and the colo¬ 
nists believed that their civil rights were destroyed. 

The terms “Whigs” and “Tories” were introduced at this time— 


94 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the former to describe those in sympathy with the cause of Boston, and 
arrayed on the side of the colonies against Parliament \ the latter to 
designate those whose sympathies were with Great Britain against the 
colonies. 

Throughout the Province of Pennsylvania the warmest interest and 
most cordial sympathy were manifested for the people of Boston. 

Governor Penn declined to convene the Assembly. The Committee 
of Correspondence for Philadelphia sought the sentiments of the in¬ 
habitants, and in a meeting held in the State House, resolutions were 
adopted which resulted in the great meeting of Provincial deputies in 
Philadelphia, July 15, 1774, which called upon the colonies to organize 
a Continental Congress. 

Such was the determined stand taken by the people of Pennsylvania, 
says Sherman Day, who, with loyalty upon their lips, but the spirit of 
resistance in their hearts, pushed forward the Revolution. 


Ole Bull, Founder of Colony in Potter 
County, Born February 5, 1810 

EVERAL years ago more than one thousand persons from 
every section of Pennsylvania, and not a few from Southern 
New York State, journeyed to a most out-of-the-way place up 
in the wilds of Potter County to do homage to the memory 
of a great man, and to view the scene of one of the saddest 
failures in the history of the settlement of our great Com¬ 
monwealth. 

This pilgrimage was to the land of Ole Bull, the great Norwegian 
violinist, who during his lifetime played before the royal families of 
Europe and distinguished personages all over the world. 

Ole Bornemann Bull was in Bergen, Norway, February 5, 1810, 
and in his earliest childhood developed a fondness for music, especially 
that of a violin. 

Ole was destined for the church but failed to pass the necessary ex¬ 
amination, and at once decided that he would make music his vocation 
in life. He became a pupil of Paulsen for a short time, about the only 
instruction he ever received from a master. 

It was upon a visit to Paris that Paganini heard of the youthful 
genius and saw in him the latent possibility of a great musician. He 
encouraged him to become a violin virtuoso. His first appearance on the 
concert stage was with Ernst and Chopin, and he was received with 
such approval that it was not long before his fame had spread over the 
entire continent of Europe. 

At a time before his talent was appreciated he had become so despon- 







OLE BULL 


95 


dent that he attempted suicide by drowning in the river Seine, but was 
rescued by a young French woman, Alexandriene Felice Villeminot, 
whom he married in 1836, and with whom he lived happily until her 
death in 1863. 

He married a second time in 1870, taking as his bride Sara C. 
Thorpe, of Wisconsin. Ole Bull died on the island of Lyso, near his 
native Bergen, in Norway, August 17, 1880. 

Ole Bull first visited the United States in the winter of 1843-44. 
He had grave doubts of the success of an American tour but was per¬ 
suaded by friends to come here. His success was instantaneous. He 
was received with wild acclaim and the financial returns were far be¬ 
yond his fondest dreams. 

He again returned to America in 1852, and it was during this con¬ 
cert tour that he went to Williamsport and played before a vast audience, 
when the newspapers of that time wrote of him as “an attractive figure 
with gold snuff box, diamond-studded buttons in his shirt and his fin¬ 
gers almost covered with rings.” 

Certainly a fastidious personage and one with such talent could not 
fail his audiences. The bow with which he produced such perfect 
melody contained a large diamond setting which sparkled as he drew it 
across the strings. 

During his trip to Williamsport Ole Bull was entertained in the 
home of John F. Cowan, and the attention of the great violinist was 
called to certain tracts of land owned by Cowan situated in Abbott and 
Stewardson Townships, Potter County, and the great advantages of this 
location for colonization purposes, which so impressed Bull that he 
visited the site and noting a striking resemblance to his native Norway, 
decided at once to found a colony of his countrymen at this spot on the 
headwaters of Kettle Creek. 

The following year about thirty of his countrymen, forming the ad¬ 
vance guard, arrived in this country and proceeded to their new home 
in the wilderness. These adventurers were not of the ordinary immi¬ 
grant class, but persons of culture and refinement, many being musi¬ 
cians of repute. 

Ten days following the arrival of the first settlers, 105 other colon¬ 
ists joined them and settled in one of the four villages. These brought 
a minister and religious services were begun the first Sunday following. 

The first difficulty encountered by these new arrivals was the trans¬ 
portation of their personal effects, which could only be hauled by wagon 
and then under the worst conditions imaginable. 

Ole Bull’s colonization scheme attracted much attention, and friends 
and admirers of his contributed stock, machinery and farming imple¬ 
ments. Among those who thus offered encouragement was Henry Clay, 
of Kentucky, who gave blooded horses and cattle, descendants of which 
are still among those in use in Potter County. 


96 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Four villages were laid out: Oleona, named in honor of Ole Bull ; 
New Norway, New Bergen and Walhalla. Sixteen houses were soon 
under construction at Oleona, all finished within a year. 

Ole Bull soon after his arrival selected a site for his castle and gar¬ 
den. Soon as the spot was determined upon, a flag pole of beautiful 
straight pine was cut, trimmed and placed. By arrangement the name 
by which the town was to be known was to be pronounced as the flag 
was unfurled to the mountain breeze; “Oleona was the name of the 
home of the Norwegians. Thirty-one cheers, one for each State, were 
given and three long ones for Ole Bull. 

The evening was one of rejoicing and celebration. Bonfires were 
burning everywhere. Ole Bull made an address and then, taking his 
violin, played an anthem suitable to the occasion. At the conclusion of 
the hymn of liberty of old Norway, a gentleman representing the State 
of Pennsylvania, stepped forward and welcomed Ole Bull and the 
Norwegians to the United States of America, and to the Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania. 

Old Bull turned his attention to the erection of his castle, which was 
built on a high eminence, about 200 feet above the valley below. From 
this site he could view every part of his colony. A great retaining wall 
was built at its base, extending one hundred and twenty feet in length 
and rising to a height of sixteen feet. This wall gave to the place the 
appearance of a large fortress and resembled some ancient castle of the 
old world. 

A broad road was constructed leading up to the castle, which was 
broad enough to drive three teams abreast. 

Any one familiar with the conditions these colonists had to face, in an 
almost unbroken wilderness, far from any base of supplies with little 
money and less business sagacity, can realize that the colony was doomed 
to failure the very day it started. Bull was compelled to abandon his 
project with the loss of his wealth, and again play in concert to recoup 
his fortune. 

Ole Bull was a musical genius, but building five cities in the wilds 
of Potter County was a different thing than playing Beethoven’s 
Eighth Sonata on a violin. He could move audiences but not mountains. 

The title of the lands he bought was defective, and, while it has 
been charged that he was defrauded by Cowan, there is no evidence to 
substantiate that. Cowan took back the property and refunded Bull 
the purchase money. 

The castle was never fully completed and never occupied by Bull. 
The doors and windows were never put in place, and soon after this 
breaking up of the colony the building began to fall into decay until 
all that now remains are the cellar and retaining wall. 

Ole Bull never again visited the scene of his visionary paradise, but 
his name is still perpetuated in the town of Oleona. 


DR. PRIESTLEY 


97 


Dr. Joseph Priestley, Discoverer of Oxygen, 
Died at Northumberland February 6, 1804 

R. JOSEPH PRIESTLEY was born near Leeds in Yorkshire, 
England, March 13, 1733. He died at Northumberland, 
Pennsylvania, February 6, 1804. 

Joseph was the youngest of nine children. His father and 
grandfather were prosperous cloth makers, employing, for that 
age, a large force of workmen. From his parents, who were 
strict Calvinists, Joseph inherited a deeply religious nature. He at¬ 
tended the school of the neighborhood and at eleven had read most of 
the Latin authors, and in a few years had made considerable progress in 
Greek and Hebrew, with some knowledge of Chaldee, Syrian and Arabic. 

He began to experiment at the age of eleven, when he selected 
spiders and insects and placed them in bottles to ascertain how long they 
could live without fresh air. 

A few years later he made “electrifying machines,” and a kite of 
fine silk, six feet wide, which he could take apart and carry in his pocket. 
The string was composed of thirty-six threads and a wire, similar to that 
used by Dr. Franklin, in Philadelphia, to “bring electric fire from the 
clouds.” 

At nineteen, Priestley was sent to Daventry, where he embraced the 
heterodox side of almost every question, as he afterwards wrote of his 
three years at Daventry: “In my time the academy was in a state 
peculiarly favorable to the serious pursuits of truth, and the students 
were about equally divided upon every question of much importance, 
such as ‘Liberty and Necessity,’ the ‘Sleep of the Soul’ and all the ar¬ 
ticles of theological orthodoxy and heresy.” 

After leaving Daventry, he preached for three years to a dissenting 
congregation at Needham. In 1761 he was a professor at Warrington 
Academy. While here he published several of his books and made such 
experiments in electricity and “fixed air,” that the results began to be 
noised abroad. He married, while at Warrington, a daughter of a 
wealthy iron manufacturer, a Mr. Wilkinson. 

In one of his visits to London he met Benjamin Franklin. He be¬ 
came a member of a famous club which met at the London Coffee 
House, and here he interested Franklin in his experiments, and they be¬ 
came the closest friends. Both became members of the Royal Society 
and both in turn received its highest honor, the Copley medal. Each 
obtained from Edinburgh University the degree LL. D. Oxford con¬ 
ferred a like degree upon Franklin, while for a space of a century it 
ignored his heretical friend. 



4 




98 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


In 1860 a statue of Dr. Priestley was erected at Oxford by Prince 
Albert, afterward King Edward. 

Franklin wrote to Priestley, in 1777: “I rejoice to hear of your con¬ 
tinual progress in those useful discoveries. I find you have set all the 
philosophers of Europe at work upon fixed air (carbonic acid gas) ; and 
it is with great pleasure I observe how high you stand in their opinion, 
for I enjoy my friend’s fame as my own.” 

When Franklin was in France during the closing days of the Revo¬ 
lution, Priestley was there pursuing literary work. He was afterward 
made a citizen and offered a seat in the National Assembly. 

Shortly before the American Revolution, Priestley wrote anony¬ 
mously three pamphlets in defense of the colonies. His influence was 
potent. 

Dr. Priestley announced his discovery of “dephlogisticated air” (oxy¬ 
gen) in 1774, to a large assemblage of philosophers who were dining at 
the house of M. Lavoisier in Paris. This was man’s first introduction 
to the mighty element that makes one-fifth of the atmosphere in volume 
and eight-ninths of the ocean by weight, besides forming one-half of the 
earth’s solid crust and supporting all fire and all life. 

It is unfortunate that Dr. Priestley did not have a biographer 
worthy the name, for his life is full of dramatic incidents, scientific at¬ 
tainment, learning and human interest. 

We find him the central figure in the great gatherings of that day, 
receiving the highest honors of his own and other Governments, and, 
when the tide turned, denounced, persecuted, the victim of the mob, 
home and library burned and pillaged. Through all the changes of this 
eventful life we find him the same able, earnest, fearless and cheerful 
spirit to the end. 

Dr. Priestley, disregarding the warning of David Hume, and against 
the wishes of his philosophic friends, took up the cause of liberty in 
religion. In his letters he makes a strong appeal for Christianity. His 
desire was to revive in France and England the simple spiritual com¬ 
munion of the early church. 

He published many works upon his religious views which made him 
the most hated man in England. He was everywhere detested. The 
streets of London were strewn with scurrilous handbills and caricatures 
of him. Even his fellow associates in the Royal Society turned their 
backs upon him. 

But it must be remembered that the men, at home and abroad, who 
opposed Priestley’s doctrines, were the very men who honored him as 
a man. 

At Birmingham, in 1791, the last great religious riot in England 
occurred. It is often spoken of today as “Priestley’s Riots,” for the 
doctor was the chief object of the mobs. 

It was during a celebration on the anniversary of the fall of the 


HANNASTOWN JAIL STORMED 


99 


Bastille, at which Dr. Priestley was not present, that the cry of the mob 
was “Church and King.” Dr. Priestley had favored the agitation, then 
rife in Birmingham, for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. 
The mob suddenly marched toward his home and Dr. and Mrs. Priest¬ 
ley, who were playing a game of backgammon, barely succeeded in es¬ 
caping. The doctor was pursued for several days and his life threatened. 

The mob vented its rage by pillaging Priestley’s house and tearing 
it to pieces. The rioters made a pyre of his furniture, manuscripts, 
priceless apparatus, a library of 30,000 volumes, his private correspond¬ 
ence, and his diaries, and all were destroyed by fire. 

In 1794 Dr. Priestley came to America and settled at Northumber¬ 
land, Pa. Here he erected a fine house and laboratory, and resumed his 
experiments, which resulted in the discovery of three new gases. Here 
he wrote many books. 

Dr. Priestley made trips to Philadelphia, where he lectured on his¬ 
torical and religious subjects, founding, in 1796, the first Unitarian 
Church in that city. 

The University of Pennsylvania offered him the chair of chemistry, 
and afterward its presidency, but he preferred the quiet of his home 
at the “Forks of the Susquehanna.” 

In 1874 the chemists of America met at Northumberland to cele¬ 
brate at the grave of Dr. Priestley the centennial of his great discovery. 
Messages were flashed across the Atlantic to chemists who met the same 
day at Birmingham to unveil a colossal statute of the man whom that 
city had, eighty years before, driven from the streets, and burned his 
home and possessions. 

Dr. Joseph Priestley was one of the most distinguished adopted cit¬ 
izens of our great State. 


Western Boundary in Dispute—Jail at 
Hannastown Stormed Febru- 
ruary 7, 1775 

IRGINIA, by virtue of her “sea-to-sea” charter, made an in¬ 
definite claim to all lands west and northwest of her coast 
line. She therefore held that the region about the forks of 
the Ohio belonged to her. Accordingly, in 1749, the Ohio 
Land Company obtained from King George II a grant of half 
a million acres on the branches of the Ohio. The object was 
to form a barrier against the French and to establish trade with the 
Indians. 

Christopher Gist was sent to explore the country, and, with eleven 
other families, he settled within the present limits of Fayette County. 








100 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

A fort was begun in 1754 on the present site of Pittsburgh, but the 
French captured the Virginians, finished the fort and named it Fort 
Duquesne. In November, 1758, General John Forbes captured the fort 
from the French. It was rebuilt and named Fort Pitt. 

Before 1758 the western part of Pennsylvania could be approached 
from the east only by the route of the Juniata and the Kiskiminitas. 
In that year Forbes finished as far as Loyalhanna the road previously 
begun from Fort Loudon by way of Bedford. Many Scotch-Irish set¬ 
tlers seated themselves in the Ligonier Valley at Hannastown, and about 
the forks of the Ohio, and, with settlers from Maryland and Virginia, 
they possessed the land in comparative quiet until Pontiac’s War. 

Pittsburgh, begun in 1760, was cut off from communication during 
Pontiac’s conspiracy, and had it not have been for Colonel Bouquet’s 
victory over the savages at Busby Run in 1764 it might have been en¬ 
tirely destroyed. 

The growth of Pittsburgh was slow. England after the French 
and Indian War had forbidden colonists to settle west of the head¬ 
waters of the rivers in the Atlantic basin, and the settlers on Redstone 
Creek and the Cheat River were at one time driven off by the same 
British proclamation. A law was passed by the Assembly of Pennsyl¬ 
vania which imposed a death penalty, without benefit of clergy, for tres¬ 
passing upon lands not purchased from the Indians. 

But the continued accession of emigrants into this region made it 
necessary to erect a new county, and the General Assembly, February 
26, 1773, established Westmoreland County, which included all of the 
southwestern portion of the province west of Laurel Hill. Robert 
Hanna’s settlement, on the old Forbes road near the present site of 
Greensburg, was made the county seat and named Hannastown. 

When Virginia saw that Pennsylvania was extending jurisdiction 
over the forks of the Ohio she renewed her claims to that country. 

The Earl of Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, asserted that Pitts¬ 
burgh was outside the limits of Pennsylvania. In this contention he was 
supported by Colonel George Croghan and many others, who believed 
that the five degrees of longitude which were to be the extent westward 
of Pennsylvania placed the Monongahela beyond the limits of that 
province. Croghan maintained that the limits were at the Alleghenies 
or Laurel Hill Range, “having heard, among other things, that a de¬ 
gree of longitude at the time of the charter of William Penn meant 
forty-eight miles.” 

At the close of 1773 Governor Dunmore appointed Dr. John Con¬ 
nelly, a Pennsylvanian, as commandant of the militia of Pittsburgh. He 
took possession of Fort Pitt and changed its name to Fort Dunmore. 

Connelly defied Pennsylvania authority and commanded all the 
people to appear as a militia under the authority of Lord Dunmore. 

Arthur St. Clair, Prothonotary, Clerk, and Recorder of Westmore- 


HANNASTOWN JAIL STORMED 


101 


land County, had Connelly arrested and bound over to keep the peace. 
St. Clair reported his actions to Governor Penn, who sent to Lord Dun- 
more a draught of the lines of Pennsylvania as surveyed by David Rit- 
tenhouse, William Smith and Surveyor General John Lukens, showing 
that Pittsburgh was east of the westernmost limit of the grant to the 
Proprietaries. 

Dunmore demanded better evidence and that St. Clair should be dis¬ 
missed from office for committing Dr. Connelly to jail. 

A large company paraded in arms through the streets of Pittsburgh, 
and opened a cask of rum. St. Clair issued an order for them to disperse. 

The Sheriff allowed Connelly to go to Pittsburgh under promise to 
return. He traveled about collecting adherents, and on the day he was 
to return he appeared before the Hannastown court house at the head 
of 200 men, all armed and colors flying. He placed sentinels at the 
door and kept the magistrates from entering unless they agreed to act 
under Virginia authority, and he demanded their decision in writing. 

The magistrates declared they would continue to act under author¬ 
ity of Pennsylvania, when Connelly, a few days later, had them arrested 
and brought before him in Pittsburgh. When they refused to give bail, 
he sent them to the court of Augusta County, at Staunton, Va. 

Governor Penn advised the three magistrates to get bail, but sent 
the Attorney General of Pennsylvania and James Tilghman, as com¬ 
missioners to induce Lord Dunmore to join with the Proprietaries in a 
petition to the King to have the boundary line run and marked, and in 
the meantime to agree to a temporary line of jurisdiction, suggesting 
that the Monongahela River would answer for a line. 

The application to the King was consented to, but the boundary was 
not agreed upon. 

The adherents of Virginia increased in strength at Pittsburgh, and 
it became impossible to collect taxes imposed by Pennsylvania. How 
these troubles would have ended is unforeseen, for during the latter part 
of 1774, the attention of all the western frontier was turned to the 
Indian invasion, since known as Dunmore’s War. 

While this war was confined to the western border of Virginia, the 
inhabitants of Westmoreland County organized, under command of St. 
Clair, assisted by Colonels Proctor and Lochrey and Captain James 
Smith, and put the frontier in a state of defense. 

On February 7, 1775, by order of a Virginia magistrate, a man 
named Benjamin Harrison with an armed party broke open the jail at 
Hannastown and set free the prisoners. Robert Hanna, who was a 
magistrate, read to them the riot act, but Harrison said he did not re¬ 
gard that act, or those who read it, or those who made it. Two weeks 
later Hanna and another magistrate, James Cavett, were arrested and 
confined in Fort Dunmore, where they remained for months. 

The controversy got into Congress, but the Revolution brought 


102 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

about a more amicable feeling, and by 1779 the Virginians and Pennsyl- 
vanians agreed to a settlement. 

A commission surveyed the boundary by extending the Mason and 
Dixon’s line to its western limit of five degrees. There a meridian 
was drawn as far north as the Ohio. 

Ceding her western lands, north of the Ohio to Congress in 1784, 
Virginia had no further interest in the boundary and the next year 
Pennsylvania alone extended the meridian to Lake Erie. 

After the Revolution, affairs in Western Pennsylvania were gen¬ 
erally peaceful. 


First Members of Susquehanna Company 
Settle in Wyoming, February 8, 1769 

HE Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, determined to hold posses¬ 
sion of lands in the Wyoming Valley, which were claimed by 
the Connecticut settlers, sent Captain Amos Ogden, John An¬ 
derson, Charles Stewart, Alexander Patterson, John Jen¬ 
nings and several other Pennsylvanians and New Jerseymen 
into that section with the intention of becoming lessees or pur¬ 
chasers of the proprietary lands at Wyoming. 

They established themselves on Mill Creek, December, 1768, where 
they erected a small fort or blockhouse, this settlement being within the 
Manor of Stoke, which had been located and surveyed for the Proprie¬ 
taries December 9 of that year. 

The Susquehanna Company, which had been organized at Wind¬ 
ham, Conn., July 18, 1753, determined to take possession formally of 
the lands located at Wyoming, purchased by them from the Indians at 
Albany. The first forty settlers under this company arrived at Wyom¬ 
ing February 8, 1769. A large body, led by Major John Durkee, with 
authority from the Susquehanna Company, arrived at Wyoming from 
Connecticut and New York May 12, 1769. They immediately began 
the erection of about twenty substantial and commodious one-story log 
cabins. A few days later 150 additional settlers arrived. 

The Connecticut settlers finished the erection of their first twenty- 
five cabins by May 20 and a week later began the erection of the stock¬ 
ade to surround them, which, when completed, they named “Fort 
Durkee,” in honor of their leader, Major John Durkee. 

Governor John Penn was immediately advised of the arrival of the 
Connecticut settlers, and he at once planned to discourage their per¬ 
manent location and directed letters to Colonel Turbutt Francis, then in 
command of the small garrison of provincial troops stationed at Fort 
Augusta, and to John Jennings, of Bethlehem, Sheriff of Northampton 







THE SUSQUEHANNA COMPANY 


103 


County. These letters urged them to discourage unlawful settlements, 
but to use force, if necessary, to drive them off. 

May 24 Sheriff Jennings arrived at Wyoming and read the Gover¬ 
nor’s proclamation to the “intruders.” 

An exciting occurrence took place when “Colonel Turbut Francis, 
commanding a fine company from the city (Philadelphia), in full mili¬ 
tary array, with colors streaming and martial music, descended into the 
plain and sat down before Fort Durkee about the 20th of June, but 
finding the Yankees too strongly fortified, returned to await re-enforce¬ 
ments below the mountains.” 

Another version of the affair is: “June 22 Colonel Francis, with 
sixty men, in a hostile manner demanded a surrender of our houses and 
possessions. He embodied his forces within thirty or forty rods of their 
(the settlers) dwelling, threatened to fire their houses and kill our peo¬ 
ple unless they surrendered and quitted their possessions, which they re¬ 
fused to do; and after many terrible threatenings by him he withdrew.” 

Soon as Major Durkee, who had been in Easton on court business, 
returned to Wyoming and learned of the hostile demonstration of Col¬ 
onel Francis and his small force he set about to strengthen the defenses 
of Fort Durkee. It was at this time, July 1, 1769, that the major com¬ 
pounded and originated the almost unique name “Wilkes-Barre” and 
bestowed it upon the settlement and territory at and immediately ad¬ 
jacent to Fort Durkee. 

Governor Penn was fully aware that the Yankees were determined 
to keep possession of the lands upon which they were settled, and on 
August 24, 1769, wrote to Colonel Francis at Fort Augusta, directing 
him to raise an expedition to assist the Sheriff of Northampton County 
in executing the King’s writ, and concluded as follows: “It is hoped you 
will be able to procure the people to go without pay, as they have al¬ 
ready manifested a very good disposition to bring the intruders to jus¬ 
tice.” 

The attempt to serve these writs in September, 1769, precipitated 
the first of the so-called Pennamite-Yankee Wars. The Sheriff ap¬ 
proached a number of the settlers at work, and they were attacked by 
men of his posse under the command of Amos and Nathan Ogden, and 
“several of the settlers were beat and wounded.” This action and its 
results may be understood from a letter written to Governor Trumbull, 
of Connecticut: 

“In September Amos and Nathan Ogden, with twenty-six others 
armed with pistols and clubs, assaulted and wounded sundry of our 
people, whereby their lives were endangered. The same month thirteen 
of our people in three canoes loaded with wheat and flour, about sixty 
miles below Wyoming, were met and robbed of their canoes and load 1 
ing by thirty armed men who came from Fort Augusta, about one-half 
mile away. 


104 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

“In the same month came the trial of many of our men at Easton; 
the charge against them was riot. * * * In the course of the trial chal¬ 
lenge was made to a juryman for having some time before expressed 
an opinion openly against our people; but neither that nor any other 
exception would prevail. The jury were treated with wine by the 
King’s attorney before verdict, which verdict was brought in against the 
prisoners, and they condemned them to pay a fine of £10 each, with 
large costs, in which was included the cost of the wine the jury were 
treated with.” 

Some paid the fine, others were imprisoned. These later escaped 
from jail at Easton September 24, and a reward of £60 was offered by 
the sheriff for their apprehension. None of the twelve was captured, 
for they all fled to Connecticut. 

Another skirmish took place in November, 1769, between the 
Yankee settlers at Fort Durkee and a small party of Pennsylvanians 
under the command of the Ogdens. 

On the afternoon of November 11 Captain Ogden, apprised of the 
approach of Sheriff Jennings and his “posse comitatus,” gathered to¬ 
gether his whole force of Pennamites, numbering about forty, and 
dashed rapidly and unexpectedly on a small party of Yankees, among 
whom was Major Durkee, and captured them. 

Captain Ogden, also a justice of the peace, prepared legal papers 
for the commitment of Major Durkee in the city jail at Philadelphia, 
shackled him with irons and sent him under heavy escort to Philadel¬ 
phia, where he was imprisoned. Emboldened by their success, Ogden 
and his men that night surrounded Fort Durkee and fired upon the 
men within. 

Sheriff Jennings and his posse arrived upon the scene the next morn¬ 
ing (Sunday) and paraded the whole body of Pennamites, about 200 
in number, before Fort Durkee. While Jennings was carrying on a 
parley with the Yankee garrison, Ogden and a party drove off all the 
horses and cattle belonging to the Yankees. 

The following day the Pennamites assembled in front of Fort Dur¬ 
kee, where they threw up breastworks, upon which they mounted a four- 
pounder brought from Fort Augusta. They demanded the surrender 
of the fort, or its destruction. Deprived of their commander and having 
nothing but rifles, the Yankees agreed to sign articles of capitulation. 

By the terms of this agreement all but fourteen of the settlers were 
to leave the region within three days; the others were allowed to re¬ 
main and live at Fort Durkee until His Majesty’s decree should deter¬ 
mine who had proper title to the lands at Wyoming. 

Ogden and his men, however, starved out the fourteen settlers who 
remained, and in a short time they were compelled to follow their com¬ 
panions in exile. 


JOHN PENN 


105 


John Penn, Last of Proprietary Governors, 
Died February 9, 1795 

OHN PENN, son of Richard, and grandson of William Penn, 
the founder, arrived in Philadelphia October 30, 1763, and 
assumed the duties of Deputy Governor. 

John was the eldest son of Richard, and was born in Eng¬ 
land in 1728. At the age of twenty-five, he first visited the 
Province of Pennsylvania, and ten years later, he came bear¬ 
ing the commission of Deputy Governor. The day he arrived to as¬ 
sume his office was on Sunday, and was marked by the shock of an 
earthquake, which the superstitious interpreted as an evil omen to his 
administration. 

At the time of his appointment as Governor, his father was 
proprietor of one-third of the Province, and his uncle, Thomas, of 
two-thirds, the latter having inherited the share of John, the oldest 
of the three original proprietors, upon the occasion of his death in 
1746. 

When John Penn arrived as Deputy Governor he was received with 
great demonstrations of respect, and many entertainments were given 
in his honor, one of which was a civic feast which cost £203 17s. 

The administration of John Penn began when the Province was in 
the throes of the terrible Pontiac War, and the condition along the 
frontier was deplorable. The “Paxtang Boys” soon thereafter murdered 
the Moravian Indians in the work house at Conestoga, and Governor 
Penn issued several proclamations, offering rewards for the chief actors 
in that affair. 

On July 7, 1765, Governor Penn again declared war against the 
Shawnee and Delaware Indians, and sent Colonel Bouquet to Fort Pitt, 
who subdued the savages. 

On March 22, 1765, the obnoxious Stamp Act was passed by the 
British Parliament, and the real troubles for Governor Penn began in 
earnest. This in addition to the long controversy with the Government 
of Connecticut over the claims of the Susquehanna Company for lands 
in the Susquehanna Valley. 

Early in 1771 Governor Penn was called to England by the death 
of his father, leaving the government of the Province in the hands of 
the Council, of which James Hamilton was President, who thus for 
the third time became in effect Governor. 

On October 17, 1771, Richard Penn, second son of the late Richard, 
arrived in the Province, bearing the commission of Lieutenant Governor. 
His administration was marked by the troubles with the Connecticut 






106 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

settlers, which extended throughout his administration, a little less than 
two years. 

He was well fitted by nature and education to serve as Governor 
and when his commission was unexpectedly revoked August 30, 1773, 
there was much genuine regret among the people of the Province. 

In May, 1772, he married Miss Mary Masters, of Philadelphia, 
and on being superseded as Governor, he became a member of Council. 

A few months later the merchants presented him with an address and 
invited him to dine with them. He had acted with prudence and man¬ 
liness in difficult times, and the people believed in him. 

Governor John Penn was present at the dinner. Robert Morris, 
who presided, placed one on his right and the other on his left, but the 
brothers did not speak. Richard had been deprived of his office with¬ 
out cause and he resented it. However, Richard was induced to exe¬ 
cute in May, 1774, a release of his claim, and a reconciliation took 
place when John appointed him naval officer, and Richard, accepting 
the position, called to thank him. 

Richard was intimate with members of the Continental Congress 
and when, in 1775, he returned to England, he was intrusted with the 
last petition from the Colonies ever presented to the King. He was 
examined respecting American affairs at the bar of the House of Lords 
and gave testimony so favorable to the Colonial cause that he incurred 
the displeasure of the Peers. 

Upon the death of his father, February 4, 1771, Governor John 
Penn inherited the one-third of the Proprietary interest. 

Soon after John Penn again assumed the gubernatorial powers his 
attention was directed to Indian hostilities on the western border of the 
Province. Then soon came the harsh measures adopted by Parliament 
toward the Massachusetts Colony, especially toward the town of Boston. 

A public meeting was held in Philadelphia, but the Governor re¬ 
fused to convene the Assembly, and another meeting was held, at which 
nearly 8000 persons were present and John Dickinson and Thomas Will¬ 
ing presided. 

The outcome of these meetings was a movement to urge the con¬ 
vening of a Continental Congress and committees to that end were ap¬ 
pointed. The first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Septem¬ 
ber 4, 1774. 

Without manifesting partisan zeal, Governor Penn was believed to 
sympathize with the Colonies, though he mildly remonstrated against 
the system of congressional rather than Colonial action. 

During the stirring times of the early days of the Revolution, Gov¬ 
ernor Penn was only a witness to the proceedings in the province he 
claimed as his own. 

On September 28, 1776, the Assembly, which had existed for nearly 
a century under the organic law of William Penn, ceased to exist, 


ARREST OF TWO MOLLIE MAGUIRES 


107 


and John Penn was shorn of his power as Proprietary Governor of 
Pennsylvania. 

After he was superseded in authority by the Supreme Executive 
Council, he seems to have submitted gracefully to the progress of events, 
which he found himself unable to control, and remained during the 
Revolution a quiet spectator of the long struggle without manifesting 
any particular interest in its result. 

He married Anne Allen, daughter of William Allen, Chief Justice 
of the province. 

In person he is described as of middle size, reserved in manners and 
very nearsighted. 

When Howe sailed with his army from New York to make a 
mighty effort to end the Revolution by capturing Philadelphia, the Con¬ 
tinental Congress, July 31, 1777, recommended to the Government of 
Pennsylvania to make prisoners of such of the Crown and proprietary 
officers as were disaffected. 

Accordingly a warrant was made out for the apprehension of the 
former Governor, John Penn, and his Chief Justice, Benjamin Chew. 
Some of the City Troop made the arrest. 

Both Penn and Chew refused to sign any parole, and they were 
taken to Fredericksburg, Va., under care of an officer and six of the 
troopers. They were soon paroled and resided at the Union Iron 
Works until May 15, 1778, when Congress discharged them from their 
parole. 

Penn continued to reside in Bucks County, where he died February 
9, 1795. He was buried in the aisle of Christ Church in front of the 
chancel, nineteen feet from the north wall. He was sixty-seven years 
old. 


Munley and McAllister, Mollie Maguires, 
Arrested for Murder of Thomas Sanger 
and William Uren, February 
10,1876 

HOMAS MUNLEY and Charles McAllister were arrested 
February 10, 1876, charged with the murder of Thomas San¬ 
ger and William Uren, at Raven’s Run, near Ashland, 
Wednesday, September 1, 1875. 

These two Mollie Maguires were brought to trial in June 
1876, at Pottsville. Munley was tried first, before Judge 
D. B. Green, and a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree was 
returned July 12. 











108 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


It was in this case that Hon. Franklin B. Gowen, assisting the 
prosecution, made his memorable address against the Mollie Maguires. 

To return to the crime, which followed in two weeks the murders 
of Gomer James and Squire Gwyther. 

Facts brought to light by James McParlan, the Pinkerton detective, 
who joined the Mollies under the name of James McKenna and lived 
among them until he collected sufficient evidence to send so many to 
the gallows that they ceased to function as an organization, are as 
follows: 

On the eventful morning, Hiram Beninger, a carpenter connected 
with the colliery owned by Heaton & Company, near Ashland, was on 
his way to work, when he noticed two strangers sitting on some lumber 
near the carpenter shop, but such being a common occurrence he passed 
by, but remembered their personal appearance. John Nicolls noticed 
three strangers resting on some idle trucks as he passed by to enter the 
colliery, one of whom addressed him, when he returned the salutation 
and almost immediately noticed the two others, where the carpenter 
found them. He also remembered how they were dressed, and the fact 
that they spoke to him, he could recall many details in their clothing 
and personal appearance. 

About fifteen minutes afterward Thomas Sanger, a boss in Heaton 
& Company’s colliery, accompanied by William Uren, a miner, who 
boarded in his family and who was employed in the same mine, came 
along the road, carrying their dinner pails in their hands. 

Sanger was a man greatly respected by his employes and neighbors, 
about thirty-three years of age, and while he had long been in the em¬ 
ploy of the firm, he had failed to make any enemies, excepting among 
the Mollies. He had been several times threatened, but more recently 
believed the anger of his organized enemies was buried, forgotten, or 
appeased. This proved to be a great mistake. 

Sanger and his companion had not gone far from the Sanger home, 
when they were both fired upon and both mortally wounded, by the 
same strange men noticed by the carpenter and Nicolls. 

Beninger heard the shots, and rushed out of the shop, and saw Mr. 
Robert Heaton, one of the proprietors of the colliery, firing his pistol 
at and running after two of the murderers. 

Two of the five assassins at this moment stopped in the flight, 
turned and fired their revolvers at Heaton, but without hitting him. 
Mr. Heaton boldly stood his ground and continued to empty his re¬ 
volver at the strangers. 

The five men then quickly turned and ran up the mountains. Hea¬ 
ton followed and when opportunity offered he continued to fire at 
them, but apparently none was wounded. 

It was this dogged and determined courage of Mr. Heaton which 
made him a marked man for the nefarious organization of murderers, 


ARREST OF TWO MOLLIE MAGUIRES 109 

and which eventually drove him from the coal regions to reside else¬ 
where. 

Had any of the others who witnessed the exchange of shots be¬ 
tween Mr. Heaton and the Mollies been armed and helped in the un¬ 
even chase, some of them might have been killed or captured. 

The assassins made good their escape in the timber and bushes of 
the mountains. 

Both Sanger and Uren were removed to the home of a neighbor 
named Wheevil, where every attention was given them. Mrs. Sanger 
soon arrived and almost immediately that a physician came into the 
house Sanger expired. Uren, who had been shot in the right groin, 
about same place as Sanger had been hit, lingered until next day, when 
he died. Neither man retained consciousness long enough to give any 
coherent description of the manner in which they had been attacked. 

Mr. Heaton was eating his breakfast when he heard the firing, and 
at once his mind reverted to the men he had seen sitting by the car¬ 
penter shop. He seized his pistol and ran out of the house. He first 
saw Sanger, groaning on the ground, who said: “Don’t stop for me, Bob, 
but give it to them!” 

Heaton then gave the chase, as before related. 

A young Williams, who wanted to join Heaton in pursuit, was 
prevented by his mother, but they both saw the men attack Sanger and 
were able to relate the manner in which the cold-blooded murder was 
committed. 

The careful description of the story of this murder as related in the 
Shenandoah Herald, gave McParlan the clue which he pursued in 
running down the murderers. It was at this time that he was believed 
to be the worst Mollie in the world and was in constant danger of 
being killed by people who did not know his true character. 

On February 10, 1875, Captain R. J. Linden, a fellow Pinkerton 
operative with McParlan, captured Thomas Munley at his home in 
Gilberton. Charles McAllister was apprehended at the same time. 

McAllister demanded a separate trial and George Kaercher, Esq., 
the District Attorney, elected to try Munley first. 

McParlan voluntarily testified in the case, and his evidence was so 
accurate and convincing that no other verdict could be possible. 

The wonderful address of Mr. Gowen, and those of General Charles 
Albright, Hon. F. W. Hughes, and Guy E. Farquhar, Esq., added just 
the argument which the jury required to find a just verdict of “guilty 
of murder in the first degree.’ 

In November McAllister was convicted. 

Munley was hanged in the Pottsville jail August 16, 1876, and 
McAllister was hanged later. 


110 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


First Anthracite Coal Burned in Grate by 
Judge Jesse Fell, February 11, 1808 

HE first knowledge of anthracite in America dates back to 
about 1750 or 1755, when an Indian brought a supply of it 
to a gunsmith at Nazareth for repairing his rifle, the smith s 
supply of charcoal having become exhausted. 

Stone coal was used by the garrison at Fort Augusta, men¬ 
tion of which fact is made by Colonel William Plunket, who 
was one of the original soldiers sent to build this important provincial 
fortress. The records in the British War Office also contain references 
to its use there. 

A certain Ensign Holler, of the fort’s garrison, wrote that in the 
winter of 1758 the house was heated by stone coal brought down the 
river from near Nanticoke and that a wagon load had been brought from 
a place six leagues from Fort Augusta, which point must have been at 
or near either the present Shamokin or Mount Carmel. 

Anthracite had been used in the Wyoming Valley before 1755, and 
during the Revolutionary War it was shipped down the Susquehanna 
for the use of the arsenal at Carlisle. 

On November 25, 1780, the Congress “Resolved, That all the 
artificers in the department of military stores in Pennsylvania be re¬ 
moved to Carlisle and that in the future only an issuing store and an 
elaboratory fixing ammunition be kept in Philadelphia.” 

Immediately thereafter Colonel Blaine was directed to prepare 
stores, etc., for the troops, and during the month of December of 1780 
nearly all the artificers were sent to Carlisle. 

There is no doubt that coal from Wyoming was there used in the 
casting of cannon, as it could have been more readily brought down the 
Susquehanna in bateaux than hauled from the seaports for that purpose. 
It is also well known that provisions were taken up the Susquehanna, 
and as coal was then known and probably mined, the bateaux in return¬ 
ing evidently conveyed the fuel to Kelso’s ferry, opposite Harrisburg. 

The barracks erected by the Hessian soldiers captured by General 
Washington at the battle of Trenton, and sent to Carlisle as prisoners 
of war, later became one of the historic buildings of Pennsylvania. The 
building was one long used by the Carlisle Indian School and is still 
standing on the Government reservation there. 

Pittsburgh, too, had used fuel dug from a high bluff before the town. 
Coal was known to have existed near the present City of Pottsville as 
early as 1790, when Nicho Allen is said to have discovered some of the 
black stones and tested their burning qualities. 





FIRST ANTHRACITE COAL USED 


111 


An act approved by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, March 15, 
1784, was “for the purpose of improving the navigation of the Schuylkill 
so as to make it passable at all times, enabling the inhabitants to 
bring their produce to market, furnishing the county adjoining the same 
and the City of Philadelphia with coal, masts, boards,” etc. 

In 1766 a company of Nanticoke and Mohican Indians visited Phila¬ 
delphia and reported to the Governor that there were mines in Wyom¬ 
ing. A survey of Wyoming in 1768 notes “stone coal” near the mouth 
of Toby’s Creek. One of General Sullivan’s officers in 1779 records the 
presence of “vast mines of coal, pewter, lead and copperas.” 

Obadiah Gore used coal in his blacksmith forge as early as 1769. 
He also used it in nailing in 1788. 

The Conestoga wagons might have transported the products of the 
farm to market for many years more had not Philip Ginter, the hunter, 
in 1791 discovered “stone coals” under the roots of a fallen tree nine 
miles west of Mauch Chunk. 

About the same time that Ginter made his discovery coal was dis¬ 
covered by Isaac Tomlinson at what is now Shamokin. He had re¬ 
cently removed on a farm between there and Mount Carmel and found 
the coals lying in the bed of Quaker Run, a stream running through his 
farm and so called because he was a member of the Society of Friends. 

Thus we see that the three discoverers of anthracite were Allen, 
Ginter and Tomlinson, and what is more remarkable, all these dis¬ 
coveries were made about the same time, and yet it is a fact that coal 
was mined at Wyoming nearly a quarter century before these “dis¬ 
coveries.” 

Philip Ginter did not exactly “discover anthracite.” He knew all 
about the existence of coal at Wyoming and something of its use. But 
his discovery of coal in 1791 while hunting on the mountains where is 
now Summit Hill is the date from which the great business of the 
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company originated, though it was twenty- 
nine years before the coal trade really began. 

The date is usually accepted as 1820, the time that the Lehigh 
schemes got into action. 

Ginter made known his discovery to Colonel Jacob Weiss, residing 
at what is now known as Weissport, who took a sample in his saddle¬ 
bags to Philadelphia. 

But the coal trade was active in Wyoming Valley as early as 1807, 
when the Smiths shipped a boat load to Columbia. George H. Hollen- 
back shipped two loads down the river in 1813, and sent coal by wagon 
to Philadelphia. Lord Butler and Crandall Wilcox both shipped coal 
in 1814. 

The use of anthracite for domestic purposes seems to have been dis¬ 
covered by Judge Jesse Fell, of Wilkes-Barre. The following memo¬ 
randum was made at the time on the fly-leaf of one of his books: 


112 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


“February 11, 1808, made the experiment of burning the common 
stone coal of the valley in a grate, in a common fireplace in my house, 
and found it will answer the purpose of fuel, making a clearer and 
better fire, at less expense, than burning wood in the common way. 
Jesse Fell. ,, 

News of this successful experiment soon spread through the town 
and country, and people flocked to witness the discovery. Similar grates 
were soon constructed by Judge Fell’s neighbors, and in a short time 
were in general use throughout the valley. 

In the spring of that year, John and Abijah Smith loaded two arks 
with coal at Ransoms Creek, in Plymouth, and took it down the river 
to Columbia; but on offering it for sale, no person could be induced to 
purchase. They were compelled to leave the black stones behind them 
unsold, when they returned to their homes. 

The next year the Smiths, not in the least discouraged, took two arks 
of coal and a grate, and again proceeded to Columbia. The grate was 
put up, and the coals were burned in it, thus proving the practicability 
of using coal as a fuel. The result was a sale of the coal, and thus 
began the initiative of the immense coal trade of Pennsylvania. 


Quakers Make Protest Against Slavery to 
Congress February 12, 1790 

HERE is unmistakable evidence of Negro slavery among the 
Dutch on the South (now Delaware) River as early as the 
year 1639. In that year a convict from Manhattan was sen¬ 
tenced to serve with the blacks on that river. 

In September and October, 1664, the English defeated the 
Dutch, and some of the Dutch soldiers were sold in Virginia 
as slaves. The Negro slaves were also confiscated by the victors and 
sold. A cargo of three hundred of those unhappy beings having just 
landed, failed to escape capture. 

In 1688 Pastorius, the Op den Graffs (now Updegraffs), and Ger- 
hardt Hendricks sent to the Friends’ meeting house the first public pro¬ 
test ever made on this continent against the holding of slaves, or as they 
uncompromisingly styled it, “the trafhck of men’s body.” 

These early residents of Germantown compared Negro slavery to 
slavery under 1 urkish pirates, and failed to note that one was better 
than the other. Their protest said: 

There is a saying that we shall doe to all men licke as we will be 
done ourselves; making no difference of what generation, descent, or 
colour they are. And those who steal or robb men, and those who buy 
or purchase them, are they not all alicke? Here is liberty of Conscience, 







QUAKERS PROTEST AGAINST SLAVERY 113 

which is right and reasonable; here ought to be likewise liberty of ye 
body, except of evil doers, which is another case. In Europe there are 
many oppressed for Conscience sake; and here there are those oppressed 
which are of a black colour.” 

This memorial is believed to be in the handwriting of Francis 
Daniel Pastorius, and at the date it was written New England was 
doing a large business in the Guinea trade, the slave depots being lo¬ 
cated chiefly at Newport, where the gangs for the Southern market 
were arranged. 

All honor is due these honest first settlers of Germantown, who 
asked categorically: “Have these Negers not as much right to fight for 
their freedom as you have to keep them slaves ?” 

They asked, further, to be informed what right Christians have to 
maintain slavery, “to the end we shall be satisfied on this point and 
satisfy likewise our good friends and acquaintances in our natif country, 
to whom it is a fairfull thing that men should be handled so in Penn- 
silvania.” 

The Quakers were embarrassed by the memorial and its blunt style 
of interrogatory. It was submitted to the Monthly Meeting at Dublin 
Township, “inspected” and found so “weighty” that it was passed on to 
the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, which “recommended” it to the 
Yearly Meeting at Burlington, where it was adjudged “not to be so 
proper for this meeting to give a positive judgment in the case, it having 
so general a relation to many other parts, and, therefore, at present they 
forebore it.” So the matter slept. 

Very soon thereafter slavery in Philadelphia was not very different 
from what it was in the South at a later period. The white mechanics 
and laborers complained to the authorities that their wages were re¬ 
duced by the competition of Negroes hired out by their owners, and the 
owners objected to the capital punishment of slaves for crime, as thereby 
their property would be destroyed. 

In 1708 two slaves, Tony and Quashy, were sentenced to death 
for burglary, but their owners were allowed to sell them out of the 
province after a severe flogging had been given them upon the streets on 
three successive market days. 

The Assembly of Pennsylvania soon viewed with much concern and 
apprehension the introduction of so many slaves into the province, but 
the House would not consider any proposition to free Negroes, deciding 
that to attempt to do so would be “neither just nor convenient,” but it 
did resolve to discourage the introduction of Negroes from Africa and 
the West Indies. It laid a tax of ,£20 a head upon all such importations. 
The Queen and Royal Council failed to approve the act, for the British 
Government was set like flint against any provincial attempt to arrest 
the African slave trade or tax it out of existence—that trade was a 
royal perquisite. 


114 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The year 1780 is memorable in the annals of Pennsylvania for the 
passage of an act for the gradual abolition of slavery in this State. On 
February 5, 1780, the Supreme Executive Council in its message to the 
Assembly, called the attention of that body to this subject, and although 
it was forcibly presented, the matter was dismissed, “as the Constitution 
would not allow them to receive the law from the Council.” 

On March 1, 1780, by a vote of thirty-four to twenty-one, an 
abolition act passed the Assembly. It provided for the registration of 
every Negro or mulatto slave or servant for life, or till the age of 
thirty-one years, before the first of November following, and also pro¬ 
vided “that no man or woman of any nation or color except the Negroes 
or mulattoes who shall be registered as aforesaid, shall at any time here¬ 
after be deemed, or adjudged, or holden within the territory of this 
Commonwealth, as slaves or servants for life, but as free men and free 
women.” 

The Quakers partly forgot their woes on hearing of an act which 
they so much approved, as in 1774 the Pennsylvania Yearly Meeting 
had taken a definite and decided stand against slavery. 

They proceeded without delay to urge war on the system. 

On February 12, 1790, the Quakers made their first formal protest 
to Congress for the abolition of slavery in every form. 

The movement against slavery had been making quiet progress dur¬ 
ing all these years, and on January 1, 1794, a convention was held in 
Philadelphia by invitation of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, of dele¬ 
gates from all societies throughout the United States. 

At this convention two memorials were adopted, one to the Legisla¬ 
ture of Pennsylvania, and the other to Congress, asking for suitable 
laws to suppress the slave trade. 

The petition to Congress was referred to a committee, which made a 
report recommending the passage of a law against the fitting out of any 
ship or vessel in any port of the United States, or by foreigners, for the 
purpose of procuring from any part of the coast of Africa the inhabitants 
of the said country, to be transshipped into any foreign ports or places 
of the world to be sold or disposed of as slaves. The law was finally 
passed on March 22, 1794, and vessels were thereafter liable to heavy 
fine and forfeiture, and the freedom of the slaves on board. 

Thus after the taunt of the early German settlers, the Quakers 
cleared their own skirts and then led in the movement which abolished 
slaves from Pennsylvania and were the first to lay this great question 
before Congress. 


AMERICA’S FIRST MAGAZINE 


115 


First Magazine in America Published in 
Philadelphia, February 13, 1741 

HERE has been recent controversy, especially among New York 
newspapers, regarding the oldest magazine in America, one 
such newspaper concluding that the oldest such publication was 
Oliver Oldschool’s “Portfolio,” published by Bradford and 
Inskeep, of Philadelphia, and Inskeep and Bradford, in New 
York, 1809-1810. 

That is not the fact and Pennsylvania cannot be denied the honor of 
being the home of the earliest magazine published on this continent. 

On November 6, 1740, Andrew Bradford’s “Mercury,” published 
in Philadelphia, contained a two page editorial which must surely have 
caused some sensation, heralding as it did a genuine innovation. 

“ ’Tis not in mortals to command success,” and if the innovator in 
this case failed, he was at least the first to make the attempt, not alone 
in Philadelphia, but throughout America. 

The editorial plunged headlong into the business at hand as follows: 

“The PLAN of an intended MAGAZINE.” 

“The Success and Approbation which the Magazines, published in 
Great Britain, have met with for many years past among all Ranks and 
Degrees of People, Encouraged us to Attempt a Work of the like Nature 
in America. But the Plan on which we intend to proceed, being in 
many respects different from the British Models, it therefore becomes 
necessary, in the first Place, to lay before the Reader a general Prospect 
of the present Design. 

“It is proposed to publish Monthly, ‘An Account of the Publick 
Affairs transacted in His Majesty’s Colonies, as well on the Continent of 
America, as well as in the West India Islands,’ and at the end of each 
session, ‘an Extract of the Laws therein passed, with the Reasons on 
which they were founded, the Grievances intended to be Remedied by 
them, and the Benefits expected from them.” 

The prospectus then proceeds to apologize beforehand for “the mis¬ 
takes which will probably be committed in handling so great a Variety 
of Matter.” It sketches the general lines of the future magazine in re¬ 
gard to “remarkable Trials as well Civil as Criminal,” also the “Course 
of Exchange, Party-Disputes, Free Inquiry into all sorts of Subjects, 
its views of the Liberty and Licentiousness of the Press, its contempt for 
the rude Clamours of envious Ignorance,’ and the ‘base suggestions of 
the Malevolence’,” and then terminates as follows: 

“To conclude, the Reader is desired to consider the Undertaking as 
an attempt to Erect on Neutral Principles A PUBLIC THEATRE in 












116 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

the Center of the British Empire in America, on which the most re¬ 
markable Transactions of each Government may be impartially repre¬ 
sented, and fairly exhibited to the View of all His Majesty’s Subjects, 
whether at Home or abroad, who are disposed to be Spectators. 

“This is TRUE Liberty, when freeborn Men, 

Having to advise the Publick, may speak free, 

Which he who can, and will, deserves high Praise; 

Who neither can, nor will, may hold his Peace ; 

What can be juster in a State than this? 

“From Euripides, by Milton, for a motto to his Vindication of the 
Subject’s Right to the Liberty of the Press.” 

The first number of this, The American Magazine, was to be pub¬ 
lished “in March next, if by that Time there are a Sufficient Number 
of Subscriptions.” 

But something went wrong with the plans. The very week follow¬ 
ing this announcement, out came Benjamin Franklin with the charge 
that this scheme now put forth by John Webbe and Bradford was 
really his own, “Communicated in Confidence,” ,to the said Webbe, 
who was to be the editor of his magazine. 

Webbe was not slow to indignantly repudiate the charge, and an 
unseemly controversy followed between the two rival printing houses, 
which, no doubt, interfered considerably with the ultimate result of 
their respective ventures. 

Be that as it may, “The American Magazine, or a monthly view of 
the Political State of the British Colonies,” 8vo size, price eight pence 
sterling, made its appearance, not in March as advertised and expected, 
but on February 13, 1741. 

Thus the first magazine in America made its initial bow to the pub¬ 
lic, and only three days later, Franklin’s press brought out “The Gen¬ 
eral Magazine and Historical Chronicle, for All the British Plantations 
in America.” 

Both of these periodicals were advertised as monthly publications, 
and the Mercury carried a small advertisement March 19, which an¬ 
nounced the issuance of “The American Magazine” for February; but 
alas! that is the last we read of Andrew Bradford’s pioneer magazine 
publication. 

Franklin’s “General Magazine” reached its sixth month of existence, 
after which it simply ceased, no explanation of its discontinuance, not a 
semblance of a valedictory appeared in “The Gazette,” where its 
monthly advent had been so well heralded and advertised. 

The name of these original “magazines” naturally suggests to the 
present-day reader a very incorrect idea of their general appearance and 
contents, thanks to the luxurious works of art that American enterprise 
has put into publications now classed as magazines. 


AMERICA’S FIRST MAGAZINE 


117 


Franklin’s magazine, for example, had but one illustration, and a 
poor one at that, a representation of the Prince of Wales’ feathers and 
the motto “Ich dien” on its front page. 

It was only a 12mo; yet under existing conditions the labor of filling 
seventy-six pages with small print month after month and the neat man¬ 
ner in which the work was performed reflect the highest credit upon the 
publisher and was deserving of more favorable circumstances. The con¬ 
tents of each number bear a favorable comparison with the best maga¬ 
zines of today. 

Dr. William Smith, provost of the University of Pennsylvania, soon 
manifested a practical interest in intellectual affairs in the province in 
an effort to found a literary review called “The American Magazine and 
Monthly Chronicle for the British Colonies.” 

The first number appeared October, 1757, and was printed by Wil¬ 
liam Bradford, presumably for “a society of gentlemen,” which in truth 
consisted of Dr. Smith and several of his pupils in the college. This 
periodical was principally devoted to political matters, literary discus¬ 
sions and poetry. It was discontinued November 14, 1758, and Penn¬ 
sylvania had not yet had a successful magazine. 

Between 1741 and the close of the century nearly fifty magazines 
were born in America, only deservedly to die. Philadelphia and Boston 
struggled for literary supremacy, yet the four magazines of today which 
may be called the veterans of the field are the North American Re¬ 
view, Harper’s, and Scribner’s, each published in New York, and the 
Atlantic, published in Boston. 

But Philadelphia was long the home of three widely circulated mag¬ 
azines—Graham’s, Peterson’s and Godey’s Lady’s Book. The last 
named was perhaps the most famous, established in July, 1830, by Louis 
A. Godey, and it reached the enormous circulation of 150,000 a month 
in the heyday of its prosperity. 

If the Saturday Evening Post is regarded as a magazine, Philadel¬ 
phia is today the home of the oldest and largest in the world. 


118 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Christopher L. Sholes, Inventor of Type¬ 
writer, Born in Mooresburg, Feb¬ 
ruary 14,1819 

ORE than a score of attempts, both in this country and abroad, 
were made to perfect a typewriter after the birth of the idea 
in the mind of Henry Mill, an English engineer, who ob¬ 
tained a patent from Queen Ann of England, January 1, 1714, 
but none was successful. 

It remained for an humble country boy, a printer, by the 
name of Christopher Latham Sholes, who was born in the little village 
of Mooresburg, Montour County, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1819, to 
perfect a model in the winter of 1866-67, which, after later improve¬ 
ments, was the basis for the typewriting machines which are now so 
much a part of commercial life throughout the world. 

The patent granted to Henry Mill by Queen Ann never availed the 
imaginative engineer anything, because he lacked the essential ability to 
perfect a model which might be manufactured on a commercial basis. It 
is true, nevertheless, that he had the idea for a “writing machine for the 
impressing or transcribing of letters singly or progressively one after the 
other,” but this was not sufficient to be practical in any sense of the term. 

The same difficulty that beset Mill prevented others from attaining 
success, and it was a century and a half before the actual birth of a 
commercial typewriter. 

This interesting event was enacted in a small machine shop in the 
outskirts of Milwaukee. An interesting history was published recently 
by the Herkimer County (New York) Historical Society in commem¬ 
oration of the fiftieth anniversary of the manufacture of the first type¬ 
writer for commercial use. According to this story the principals were 
Carlos Gliden, the son of a successful iron monger of Ohio, who was 
engaged in developing a mechanical plow; Samuel W. Soule and Chris¬ 
topher Latham Sholes, both printers, who were engaged in developing a 
machine for numbering serially the pages of blank books, etc. 

Sholes was the central figure in the association subsequently formed 
among the three. Sholes began his active life as an apprentice in the 
office of the Danville, Pa., Intelligencer. 

The Intelligencer was then the oldest paper in Montour County, 
founded in 1828 by Valentine Best. At the time of Sholes’ apprentice¬ 
ship the newspaper was a leading Democratic organ. The Intelligencer 
office was^an excellent school for a boy when Christopher Sholes be¬ 
came the “devil” and began the career which was to stamp him as one 
of the great inventors of the country. 






CHRISTOPHER L. SHOLES 


119 


Thomas Chalfant purchased the property July 15, 1861. He was a 
prominent Democratic politician, serving as member of the Legislature 
and as State Senator. He was a Civil War veteran and many years 
postmaster at Danville. Through all his various offices Chalfant de¬ 
voted much time to his newspaper. 

Sholes was diligent and progressed in his chosen profession, becoming 
in turn, editor of several newspapers and ultimately an owner. In 1866 
he was collector of the port of Milwaukee and had held other public 
offices, including State Senator and Assemblyman. 

Sholes’ subsequent invention of the typewriter is ascribed to in¬ 
spiration he and Glidden obtained from a description of a machine in¬ 
vented by John Pratt, of Alabama, which, however, was very crude 
and impracticable. 

The three friends engaged the services of skilled mechanics to help 
them in the construction of their typewriter, the first working model of 
which was completed in that small Milwaukee shop in the fall of 1866, 
but it was not until the following June that a patent was obtained for 
the invention. 

This original machine had innumerable defects and was a crude and 
cumbersome affair, but it wrote accurately and rapidly, and after all 
that was their objective. 

Sholes was the one of the trio who did most to produce this machine, 
and while he was not satisfied, he soon scored a notable triumph and 
made the machine its own best advertiser. A number of letters were 
written with it, among them one to James Densmore, then a resident of 
Meadville, Pa. Densmore was immediately interested. Like Sholes and 
Soule, he had been both printer and editor, and could realize the im¬ 
portance of such a machine. 

The relationship between Sholes and Densmore was a strange meet¬ 
ing of opposites, the former was a dreamer and an idealist, the latter was 
bold, aggressive and arrogant and by some considered a plain “crank.” 

Densmore was not impressed with the machine more than to regard 
the idea as feasible, but he determined to make an attempt at selling it 
to some firm with the facility and financial resources to manufacture it. 

Densmore paid all the debts incurred by Sholes whereby he obtained 
an interest in the invention. He then engaged the services of a Mr. Yost, 
with whom he had been associated in a Pennsylvania oil business, and 
together they presented the proposition to the old firm of gun makers, 
E. Remington & Son, of Ilion, N. Y. 

A tentative agreement was effected between the Remingtons and 
Sholes and his new partners, and the first contract signed for the manu¬ 
facture of a typewriter for commercial use, the one built by Sholes was 
made in March, 1873. 

The original contract was for the manufacture only, but in time the 
Remingtons acquired complete ownership. 


120 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Sholes, soon thereafter, sold out his royalty right to Densmore for 
$12,000, which was a goodly sum in those days, but was the only reward 
that he ever received for his priceless invention and the years of earnest 
labor and expense he had bestowed upon it. 

Densmore did not part with his royalty rights and was subsequently 
enriched. 

Further improvements were made on Sholes’ invention when the 
skilled mechanics of the Remington factory were brought into service, 
but the fact remains that the Montour County printer was the inventor 
of the almost universally used typewriter and Densmore, another Penn¬ 
sylvanian, was the medium by which the invention was saved from the 
scrap heap and commercially developed to the almost perfect machine 
of today. Thus Pennsylvania has given to the world the typewriter. 


German Christians Organized Harmony 
Society in Butler, February 15, 1805 

HE Harmony Society, as it was organized by George Rapp in 
Wurtemberg and established in America, was an outgrowth of 
a Separatists movement in Germany and an attempt to put 
into practice, under favorable circumstances, Separatists prin¬ 
ciples. 

The members of the society had constituted a congregation 
of Separatists, where they listened to the teachings of their pastor, 
George Rapp. According to his instructions, they left their homes in 
Wurtemberg and followed him to America. They settled at Harmony, 
Butler County, Pennsylvania. 

Without election, by common consent George Rapp had maintained 
himself as their leader. 

In order to put their society on a firm basis, and to prevent misun¬ 
derstanding, articles of association were drawn up and signed by the 
members February 15, 1805. This was the date recognized as the birth¬ 
day of the society, and in after years its anniversary was celebrated as 
the “Harmoniefest.” 

The agreement contains five articles to which the subscribers pledged 
themselves: 

(1) To give absolutely all their property to George Rapp and his 
associates. 

(2) To obey the rules and regulations of the community and to 
work for its welfare. 

(3) If they desired to withdraw from the society, not to demand 
any reward for labor or services. 

In return, George Rapp and his associates pledged themselves: 






HARMONY SOCIETY ORGANIZED 


121 


(1) To supply the subscribers with all the necessities of life, both 
in health and sickness, and after death, to provide for their families. 

(2) In case of withdrawal to return them the value of property 
contributed without interest and to give a donation in moneys to such 
as contributed nothing. 

The original of this agreement was in German, which was the lan¬ 
guage used by the society. 

George Rapp was born November 1, 1757, in Iptingen, Wurtem- 
berg, the son of Adam Rapp, a peasant. He learned the trade of weav¬ 
ing. Like many of his neighbors he also engaged in wine growing. 

Early in life he became deeply interested in religion. He identified 
himself with the Separatists of Wurtemberg, who believed that the true 
Christian must live a life of self-denial and that he must suffer ridicule 
and persecution on account of the purity of his life. They regarded the 
established clergy as hypocrites. 

The Government interferred with their plans for living in the man¬ 
ner of the early Christians with community of goods, and their religious 
meetings were prohibited at the instigation of the clergy. George Rapp 
decided to lead his congregation to America. 

In this great undertaking, as in others of a similar nature in later 
years, he displayed rare judgment in making his plans and great ability 
in executing them. He did not underestimate the difficulties of such 
an enterprise. 

He advised his people of the hardships to be expected. He directed 
those who were determined to follow him to sell their property and pre¬ 
pare themselves for the journey. 

He came to America in 1803, with money of his own amounting to 
2000 gulden, to choose a site for the proposed settlement. He left be¬ 
hind him in charge of his congregation a young man of high character, 
Frederick Reickert, who in Pennsylvania was adopted by him as his son 
and is known in the history of the society as Frederick Rapp. 

Gecqrge Rapp landed at Baltimore and early in September, 1803, was 
in Lancaster, Pa., considering offers of land for his settlement. 

After inspecting several tracts of land, Rapp purchased 5000 acres in 
Butler County, on the Connoquenessing Creek, about twelve miles from 
the Ohio River at Beaver. He then sent for his people. 

They came in several companies. The ship “Aurora’’ brought about 
300 persons to Baltimore, July 4, 1804. 

Another party of 260 persons, headed by Frederick Rapp, arrived 
on the ship “Atlantic” at Philadelphia in August. 

The remainder of the people came in a third ship, the “Margaretta,” 
but these settled in Lycoming County, under the direction of Mr. Hal¬ 
ler, who had assisted George Rapp in exploration for a site. 

The settlers who went to the new settlement worked hard to build 
their town, Harmony. They were sustained in their labors by religious 


122 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


enthusiasm. After a few months they were joined by their friends and 
on February 15, 1805, the Harmony Society was formally organized. 

During the first year fifty log houses were erected, nearly 200 acres 
cleared and a house of worship, grist mill, barn and shops were built. 
The following year 400 acres more were cleared, a saw mill, tannery, 
distillery and brick store house were erected and a vineyard planted. 

They raised 600 bushels of wheat more than their requirements and 
had 3000 gallons of whisky to sell. 

They soon made woolen cloth, spinning the yarn by hand. In 1809 
they erected a woolen factory for manufacturing of broadcloth from the 
wool of merino sheep, which they were among the first to introduce 
in this country. They had their own mechanics and tradesmen. 

The society was always a religious community and George Rapp, in 
temporal affairs was extremely practical, but he was an enthusiast only 
in religion. He would not allow his authority to be questioned. 

While the settlers were prosperous, they were disappointed in their 
settlement in some respects. In Germany they had raised grapes and 
made wine, and had hoped to engage in that industry here, but the land 
was poorly adapted to the culture of the vine. As their manufactures 
increased their transportation troubles also increased, as they were twelve 
miles distant from the Ohio River. 

They accordingly decided to move, and in 1814 George Rapp, John 
L. Baker and Lewis Shriver explored the Western country in search of 
a new site for settlement. They found a suitable place on the Wabash, 
in Posey County, Indiana, and in 1815 the whole society moved there. 

They had lived in Harmony ten years, during which time 100 mem¬ 
bers had died. They were buried in a small plot, and, as was their 
custom, the graves were not marked, but only numbered. 

This little graveyard, together with the substantial brick buildings 
of the village, is all the memorial the Harmonists have left of their 
first home in America. 

The society again removed, in 1825, to Economy, Beaver County, 
Pennsylvania, where they arrived May 17, 1825, making the trip by 
boat, their new home being located on the Ohio River twenty miles 
from the first home of the society, at Harmony, and eighteen miles 
from Pittsburgh. 

George Rapp died August 7, 1847, aged ninety years. The society 
remained intact, although reduced in membership, until May 12, 1903, 
when there were but four members. 


JOHAN PRINTZ 


123 


Johan Printz Arrives as Governor of New 
Sweden, February 16, 1643 

HE Swedes followed the Dutch in settling along the Delaware 
River, which they called the Zuydt or South River. The 
Swedes formed several companies for the purpose of trade with 
the New World, as America was then called. 

The first expedition came under Peter Minuit, a Hol¬ 
lander, in March, 1638, and settled on Christiana Creek, near 
the present Wilmington, Del. Here they built Fort Christiana and gave 
the country the name New Sweden. Two other expeditions came from 
Sweden and with them came colonists whose names are still borne by 
families in Pennsylvania. 

In 1642, Johan Printz, who had been kept busy capturing delinquent 
Finns, who were committing all sorts of depredations in Sweden, and 
refusing to either desist or return to their own Finland, was knighted 
by the Swedish Government and appointed Governor of New Sweden. 

He had been a lieutenant colonel of a regiment of cavalry in the 
Thirty Years’ War, and had been dismissed from the service because 
of what was held to be a too feeble defense of a city in which he had 
command. 

Accompanied by his wife, daughter Armegot, and a minister, the 
Rev. John Campanius, and two vessels, the Fawn and the Swan, loaded 
with wine, malt, grain, peas, nets, muskets, shoes, stockings, wearing ap¬ 
parel, writing paper, sealing wax, oranges, lemons and hay, and having 
on board a number of poachers, deserters and culprit Finns, he arrived 
at Fort Christiana, February 16, 1643, after a stormy voyage of five 
months. 

This" was an unusual expedition in that it was the most important 
of all those sent out by Sweden and in the further fact that Printz was, 
next to Minuit, the most conspicuous figure connected with New 
Sweden. 

In the instructions he received with his commission, he was to deal 
with the English at Varkens Kill, near the present Salem, New Jersey, 
and the Dutch at Fort Nassau; to treat with the Indians with humanity, 
protect them, and “civilize” them—especially to sell them goods at 
lower prices than the English or Dutch. 

He was allowed to choose his residence at Cape Henlopen, Chris¬ 
tiana, or Jacques Island; but he was ordered to see that his fort com¬ 
manded the river, and that a good winter harbor for vessels was close 
at hand. 

Printz lost no time in carrying out his instructions. Proceeding 







124 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


up the river from Christiana, he decided to make the seat of govern¬ 
ment at Jacques Island, the place called by the Indians Tenacong and 
since Tinicum. Here he built a fort of green logs, mounted on it four 
brass cannon, and called it Nye (New) Gottenburg. 

Thus Printz made the first settlement by white men in what is 
now Pennsylvania which was destined to survive. Kling was sent to 
make a settlement on the Schuylkill, and he built a fort near its mouth, 
called New Korsholm. 

Printz, however, was not content with the forts already erected, but 
a third was built, in 1643, on the east side of the river below Mill 
Creek, called Fort Elfborg, which was mounted with eight cannon and 
a mortar, and garrisoned with thirteen soldiers, under Swen Skute. 
The story is that later the men were driven out by mosquitoes. This 
fort was intended to shut up the river, a matter which greatly exas¬ 
perated the Dutch, whose ships, when passing, had to lower their colors 
and were boarded by the Swedes. 

In 1645 these Swedes started what was undoubtedly the first in¬ 
dustrial plant in Pennsylvania. That was a small grist mill, which they 
built on the waters of Cobbs Creek, and when its wheels began to turn 
the industry of the greatest industrial State in the world began its 
production. 

At Tinicum the Swedish settlements now centered. In three or 
four years following Printz’s arrival, Tinicum gradually assumed the 
character of a hamlet. 

In 1645, he built a mansion on Tinicum Island, and it long bore 
the name of Printzhof. 

A church was also built at this time, which the Reverend Mr. Cam- 
panius dedicated September 4, 1646. This was the first house of 
Christian worship within the present limits of Pennsylvania. 

Indian troubles threatened during 1644. The shocking and un¬ 
pardonable cruelties of Kieft, the Governor of Manhattan, in which 
hundreds of Indians, along the Hudson, were slain, caused the belief 
among the natives that the newcomers were cruel. 

In the spring of 1644, two white soldiers and a laborer were killed 
on the Delaware, below Christiana, and later a Swedish woman and 
her English husband were killed between Tinicum and Upland. This 
event was the first tragedy in which white blood was shed in Pennsyl¬ 
vania by the Indians. 

Printz assembled his people for defense at Upland, but the Indian 
chiefs of the region, came in, disowned the act, and effected a treaty. 

There was a long period during which no ships from Sweden came, 
and the colonists were destitute for necessities which they depended on 
receiving from the homeland. There was no vessel from March, 1644, 
until the “Golden Shark” arrived October 1, 1646. 

The settlement of the country, however, proceeded very slowly 
under Swedish enterprise, while trade was pushed to an extent never 


CAPTAIN WILLIAM TRENT 


125 


before known upon the river. This greatly annoyed the Dutch, and in 
consequence of having lost this trade to the Swedes, the Dutch Gover¬ 
nor, Kieft, sent Hudde to keep watch on the proceedings of Governor 
Printz and to resist his supposed innovation. These two soon got into 
angry controversy, but through the negotiaiton of the Reverend Mr. 
Campanius, an amicable arrangement was entered into regarding the 
trade of the Schuylkill. 

But the real object of the Dutch was to plant a settlement on the 
western shore of the Delaware, and to this Governor Printz entered a 
sharp protest. 

Governor Kieft was recalled about this time, and he was succeeded 
by Peter Stuyvesant, whose Administration commenced May 27, 1647, 
and continued until 1664, when the American interests of the Dutch 
passed into the hands of the English. 

The disagreement between the Dutch and Swedes continued, giv¬ 
ing rise to mutual hatred and jealousy. The Dutch “arms” were set 
up on the west bank and as promptly taken down by the Swedes. 

Printz had requested to be relieved, but he was ordered to remain 
when new grants of land were made to him, and he remained at his 
post until October, 1653, when he transferred the charge of the Gov¬ 
ernment to his son-in-law, John Papegoja, and sailed for Sweden. 


Captain William Trent Leads First English 
Armed Force to Forks of Ohio, 
February 17, 1754 

REVIOUS to the French and Indian War, and in fact until 
the Revolution, Virginia held that the upper Ohio Valley, in 
what is now Pennsylvania, was a part of their Dominion. 

Governor Dinwiddie feared the aggressions of the French 
in that region and commenced preparations for raising a force 
to be sent to the “Forks of the Ohio” (Pittsburgh), to occupy 
that strategic point, and build a defensive work that would enable him 
to resist the French. 

This force, a company of Colonial Militiamen under command of 
Captain William Trent, marched from Virginia, in January, 1754, and 
reached the Forks February 17, following. 

Work was begun, but proceeded slowly on account of the severity 
of the weather, and Captain Trent returning to Will’s Creek, left in 
charge a young commissioned officer, an ensign, named Edward Ward. 

This was not, however, the first aggressive action on the part of 
Virginia. 

Pennsylvania authorities believed that the limits of the State were 







126 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


about what they are today, but they had so many internal jealousies and 
quarrels on their hands at the time the French became active intruders 
along the French Creek, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, that they delayed 
making any action against them. 

While Virginia was experiencing almost similar difficulties as Penn¬ 
sylvania, she did, in 1753, take steps to put a stop to the farther ad¬ 
vance of the French. 

Governor Dinwiddie dispatched Captain William Trent to ascer¬ 
tain the activities of the French, but he neglected his duty, and went 
no farther than Logstown. In a letter to the Lords of Trade, Din¬ 
widdie said of them: “He reports the French were then one hundred 
and fifty miles up the river, and, I believe, was afraid to go to them.” 

The home government advised Dinwiddie to obtain information 
and for this purpose to dispatch a messenger. Acting under these in¬ 
structions, Dinwiddie sent a young man who was destined to became 
finally the most illustrious figure in American history. This was George 
Washington. 

Following out his instructions, young Washington proceeded to Logs¬ 
town, and thence with Tanacharison or the Half-King, Jeskakake, 
White Thunder, and Guyasutha or the Hunter, he set out November 
30, and on December 11, reached Fort Le Boeuf, which was on the 
site of the present Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania. 

Having accomplished the purpose of his mission, and obtained full 
information of the strength and plans of the French, and an answer to 
the letter which he had carried from Governor Dinwiddie to the French 
commandant, he returned with much hardship to Virginia, reaching 
Williamsburg, January 16, 1754, where he made his report to the 
Governor. 

This information led at once to military measures for the defense 
of the Ohio, and the command of Captain Trent pushed forward. 

The French were promptly warned of the arrival of Trent’s troops, 
and were not long idle. 

On April 17, when the fort was still uncompleted, Ensign Ward 
suddenly found himself surrounded by a force of one thousand men, 
French and Indians, under the command of Captain Contrecoeur, with 
eighteen pieces of artillery. 

By Chevalier Le Mercier, captain of the artillery of Canada, Contre¬ 
coeur sent a summons to the commanding officer of the English to sur¬ 
render, informing him that he, Contrecoeur, “was come out into this 
place, charged with orders from his General to request him (the Eng¬ 
lish commander) to retreat peaceably, with his troops from off the lands 
of the French king, and not to return, or else he would find himself 
obliged to fulfill his duty, and compel him to it.” “I hope,” continued 
Contrecoeur, in his summons, “that you will not defer one instant, and 
that you will not force me to the last extremity. In that case, sir, you 


CAPTAIN WILLIAM TRENT 


127 


may be persuaded that I will give orders that there shall be no damage 
done by my detachment.” 

The friendly Half King, who was present, advised Ward to reply 
that he was not an officer of rank with power to answer the demand, 
and to request delay until he could send for his superior officer. 

Contrecoeur refused to parley, and demanded immediate surrender. 

Having less than forty men in a half finished stockade, Ward was 
unable to resist the force opposed to him, and therefore prudently 
yielded to the demand without further hesitation. 

He was allowed to withdraw his men and take his tools with him, 
and on the morning of April 18, he left the position and started on his 
return to Virginia. 

This affair was one of the initial events of the French and Indian 
War, an epoch-making struggle. 

The French took possession of the half-finished fort and completed it, 
naming it Fort Duquesne, in honor of Marquis Du Quesne, then Gover¬ 
nor General of Canada. 

Captain William Trent who led the first English armed force into 
the Ohio Valley, February 17, 1754, was a native of Chester County, 
Pennsylvania. His name is given to Trenton, N. J. 

In 1746, Governor Thomas appointed him captain of one of the 
four companies raised in Pennsylvania, for an intended expedition 
against Canada. In 1749, Governor Hamilton appointed him a jus¬ 
tice for Cumberland County, where in the following year he formed a 
partnership with George Croghan to engage in the Indian trade, and he 
went to Logstown. 

In 1753, the Governor of Virginia directed him to build a fort at the 
“Forks of the Ohio,” which seems to be the first time he recognized 
the authority of Virginia. 

Captain Trent again entered the service of Pennsylvania, in 1755, 
as a member of the Council, but two years later he again entered the 
employ of Virginia. 

In 1763, his large trading house near Fort Pitt was destroyed by 
the Indians. 

During the Revolution Congress gave him a commission as major. 


128 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


William Rittenhouse, Who Built First Paper 
Mill in America, Died February 18,1708 

HE first paper mill on the American continent was established 
in 1690 by the Reverend William Rittenhouse, upon a branch 
of Wissahickon Creek, and from that date until 1710 there 
was no other paper mill in the American Colonies. 

This mill was situated on a meadow along the bank of a 
stream known as Paper-Mill Run, which empties into the Wis¬ 
sahickon Creek, about two miles above its confluence with the Schuylkill. 

The founder emigrated from Holland, where he was born in the 
Principality of Broich, in the year 1644. He spelled his name then 
Ryttinhuisen, which is anglicized into Rittenhouse. 

His ancestors had been engaged for generations in paper-making, and 
he had learned the same business. It has been stated that he had a 
brother who originally came to New York while it was a Dutch Colony; 
that the brother settled in New Jersey, but William, with his two sons, 
Claus or Nicholas, and Garrett or Gerhard, came to Pennsylvania 
prior to or during the year 1690. The Rittenhouses were among 
“sixty-four of the first Germantown inhabitants,” as they were styled, 
who were granted naturalization by Thomas Lloyd, Deputy Governor, 
on May 7, 1691. 

At the time Rittenhouse arrived in Germantown there was a 
printer, William Bradford, already established in an office in Philadel¬ 
phia, and it may be that he induced the paper-makers to locate there. 
Anyway they no sooner settled at Germantown than they began the 
erection of a paper mill, on property purchased from Samuel Car¬ 
penter, of Philadelphia. 

It appears from the original deed that William Bradford, Robert 
Turner and Thomas Treese were interested with William Rittenhouse 
in the enterprise. They were deeded twenty acres. 

The mill was built, but soon thereafter Robert Turner died, and 
Bradford and Tresse assigned their rights to William Rittenhouse, who 
became the sole owner. Their deed for this property was acknowledged 
December 6, 1693. The term of the lease was for 975 years from the 
29th of September, 1705, and the rent reserved was five shillings sterl¬ 
ing per annum. 

It thus appears that there was at first a company regularly organized 
to establish a paper mill. Samuel Carpenter and Robert Turner were 
extensive land owners and were advisers and coadjutors of William 
Penn. Thomas Tresse was a rich iron monger and William Bradford 
was the famous printer who established the first printing press in the 
middle colonies of America, in 1685. 








WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE 


129 


The chief and most important member of this company was William 
Rittenhouse, who became the sole proprietor prior to 1705, unless the 
interest of Tresse was purchased by Claus Rittenhouse, about 1701. It 
also seems that the son bought Bradford’s interest in 1704. Father and 
son were practical papermakers and the owners. 

Bradford got himself into trouble when he printed the charter with¬ 
out leave of the ruling powers, and then for printing a pamphlet of 
George Keith, a seceding Scotch Quaker. He was arraigned in court, 
and in 1693 left Philadelphia and established himself in New York, 
where he introduced the first printing plant in that province. 

When Bradford left Philadelphia he was to receive for his share of 
the mill paper of the value of six pounds, two shillings, and the assur¬ 
ance that he had a monopoly of the entire printing paper that was made 
in America from September 1, 1697, until September 1, 1707. The 
quantity is not stated, neither is there anything by which we can deter¬ 
mine, at this late day, the capacity of the mill. 

All paper was then manufactured by hand, each sheet being made 
separately. At that early day and long afterward the rags were pounded 
into pulp in stone and iron mortars by the aid of trip-hammers, and sev¬ 
eral days were required to furnish a sample sheet of dry-finished paper. 
At that time a day’s production per man was one and a half reams of 
newspaper of the size of 20 by 30 inches. Small as was this mill, its 
importance can hardly be understood, for the greatest commercial 
metropolis of America drew its supply of printing paper from this mill. 

There, in this secluded spot, away from any except the hermits who 
lived in the caves along the Wissahickon, and with no access to Phila¬ 
delphia except by Germantown, William Rittenhouse, and his son de¬ 
voted themselves with untiring industry to their useful and honorable 
art. They soon acquired a wide reputation as producers of “good 
paper,” and to this they usually affixed a water-mark. 

In 1701 a great misfortune overtook the honest craftsmen. The 
little stream on which they depended for their water-power experienced 
a freshet of such fury that the mill was swept away and entirely de¬ 
stroyed, and all machinery, stock, tools and much personal property 
carried away in the flood. 

Nothing daunted they resolved to begin anew. They chose another 
site a short distance below the first mill and in 1702 a mill, better than 
the original, was erected. 

In the new mill Bradford still retained an interest but Claus Rit¬ 
tenhouse would not renew his monopoly on the mill’s supply. On June 
30, 1704, Bradford sold his share in the mill, and from that day the 
paper mill became a Rittenhouse concern and so continued for genera¬ 
tions, until the mill had been rebuilt a fourth time, when it was con¬ 
verted into a cotton factory. 

William Rittenhouse died February 18, 1708, and was succeeded in 


5 


130 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the business by his son, Claus. Both father and son were also Mennonite 
prc 2 chcrs< 

Claus continued to supply not only Bradford in New York, but the 
home market in Germantown and Philadelphia. Bradford paid partly 
in fine rags for his paper. 

A second paper mill was erected in 1710, in Germantown, by Wil¬ 
liam De Wees, a brother-in-law of Claus Rittenhouse, under whom he 
learned the trade of papermaking. Claus Rittenhouse obtained pos¬ 
session of this mill in 1713, and it was operated for many years. 

When Andrew Bradford established The American Mercury, in 
Philadelphia, December 22, 1719, the first newspaper ever printed in 
the British Middle Colonies, the paper for his Mercury was made at the 
Rittenhouse mill. 

Claus Rittenhouse, the second papermaker in America, died in May, 
1734, aged sixty-eight. He was born in Holland, June 15, 1666. He 
was the grandfather of David Rittenhouse, the American astronomer, 
who was also treasurer of Pennsylvania during the Revolution. 


Canal System Started with Committee Report 
of February 19, 1791 

N THE earliest days, before railroads and steam power were 
developed, water communication was the popular mode of 
commercial transportation. The spirit of the early settlers in 
Pennsylvania was alive with the idea of internal improvement, 
and very early they were anxious to reach out toward the 
western empire that was to become the promised land and fur¬ 
nish food for the world. The ultimate result of this vision was the con¬ 
struction of the grand system of canals connecting the navigable rivers, 
Delaware and Ohio, by which products of the States and Territories 
to the westward could be carried to Philadelphia, the metropolitan sea¬ 
port city of Pennsylvania. 

William Penn fostered the idea and recommended a scheme to con¬ 
nect the Susquehanna at what is now Middletown with Philadelphia by 
uniting the waters of the Schuylkill River at Reading with those of 
Tulpehocken Creek and the Quittapahilla, which flowed into the 
Swatara ten miles westward and thence into the Susquehanna at Mid¬ 
dletown. 

As early as 1761 Commissioners were appointed by the Proprietaries 
to clear, scour and make the Schuylkill navigable for boats, flats, rafts, 
canoes and other small vessels, from the ridge of mountains commonly 
called the Blue Mountains to the river Delaware. This action was the 
initial step in the formation of the Schuylkill Navigation Company. 

The broad river itself in many portions was concentrated into pools 





START OF CANAL SYSTEM 


131 


forming slack water navigation and these pools were connected by sec¬ 
tions of canals with a depth of six feet of water, passing boats with a 
capacity of 200 tons. 

The committee appointed in January, 1791, to examine the report of 
the Commissioners who explored the Delaware and western waters of 
the Susquehanna, reported February 19. They considered the Delaware 
toward New York State and to Lake Ontario; the Lehigh and Schuyl¬ 
kill, the latter with the object of reaching Harrisburg; the Juniata and 
the north and west branches of the Susquehanna. 

The several principal canals of the State in the order of the dates 
in which they were created by acts of Assembly, and from which all 
others were either extensions or feeders, were as follows: 

1. Schuylkill and Susquehanna Navigation Company, created Sep¬ 
tember 29, 1791, passed through the counties of Dauphin, Lebanon and 
Berks. It began at Columbia on the Susquehanna and extended to the 
mouth of the Juniata, then later on up along that river to Hollidaysburg 
at the eastern base of the Allegheny Mountains—a total length of 171 
miles. 

2. Delaware and Schuylkill, April 10, 1792, in Berks, Montgomery 
and Philadelphia Counties. 

3. Conewago Canal in York County, April 10, 1793. 

4. Brandywine Canal and Lock Navigation, April 10, 1793. 

5. Lehigh Navigation, February 27, 1798, in Northampton and 
Luzerne Counties. A total of forty-six miles. 

6. Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, February 19, 1801. 

7. Concocheague Navigation, February 7, 1803; connected Cham- 
bersburg with the Potomac. 

8. Conestoga Lock and Dam Navigation, March 17, 1806, in Lan¬ 
caster County, was an improvement of Conestoga Creek by locks and 
dams from its mouth to the city of Lancaster, a distance of fourteen 
miles. 

9. Union Canal Company, April 2, 1811, connected the Susque¬ 
hanna at Middletown to the Schuylkill two miles below Reading; 
length eighty-two miles. There was also a branch canal and feeder 
twenty-two miles in length with a railroad of four miles to Pine Grove 
coal mines. 

10. Neshaminy Lock Navigation, March 26, 1814. 

11. Schuylkill Navigation, March 8, 1815, in Schuylkill, Berks, 
Montgomery, Chester and Philadelphia Counties. This began at Port 
Carbon on Schuylkill, and ran to Philadelphia, a distance of 108 miles. 

12. Lackawanna Navigation, February 5, 1817, a part of the Dela¬ 
ware and Hudson Canal, from Honesdale on the Lackawaxen to the 
mouth of that stream, a distance of twenty miles. 

13. Monongahela Navigation, March 24, 1817, in Fayette, Greene, 
Westmoreland, Washington and Allegheny Counties. From Johnstown 


132 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


on the Conemaugh, at the western base of the Allegheny down the Cone- 
maugh, Kiskiminetas and Allegheny to Pittsburgh—distance, 105 miles. 

14. Octoraro Navigation, March 29, 1819. 

15. Conewago Canal, east side, March 29, 1814. 

In the report of Canal Commissioners made in 1827 was this para¬ 
graph : 

“In the latter end of May the location of a line from the mouth of 
the Juniata to Northumberland was commenced, beginning at Duncan 
Island, and extending up the west side to a point opposite Northumber¬ 
land.” This canal was thirty-seven miles in length. 

The North Branch began at Northumberland and extended to two 
miles below Wilkes-Barre, and later extended to New York State line. 

The West Branch began at Northumberland and ran to Muncy 
Dam, a distance of twenty-six miles, but later was extended to Bald 
Eagle, where it united with the Erie Canal. 

After extensive surveys made in 1824 and 1825, the Commonwealth 
entered, in the year 1826, into the actual construction of an extended 
system of internal improvements and continued the annual expenditure 
of large sums of money for canals and railroads for fifteen years, or 
until 1841. 

Ground was broken at Harrisburg for the building of the Pennsyl¬ 
vania Canal, on July 4, 1826. By the year 1834 a total of 673 miles of 
public works had been completed, at a time when the credit of the State 
was good. But unfortunately too extensive a system was undertaken 
and the works were not constructed or managed with economy. The 
debt of 1834 had mounted to twenty-three millions. By 1841 it reached 
forty-two millions, and the State defaulted even the interest on these 
bonds and all work ceased. 


French and Indian War Started by Arrival of 
Braddock’s Troops February 20, 1755 

HE French and Indian War opened April 17, 1754, when En¬ 
sign Ward was surprised by the appearance of a large French 
force, under Contrecoeur, while he was engaged in completing 
a stockade at the forks of the Ohio. The Ensign was obliged 
to surrender his position to the superior forces and retreat. 
Governor Hamilton strongly urged the Pennsylvania As¬ 
sembly to organize the militia and aid the Virginians, but they ques¬ 
tioned the right of Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia to invade the 
Province of Pennsylvania and charged his action as impudent. 

Virginia raised a force of 300 men, under command of Colonel Fry 
and Lieutenant Colonel George Washington, and near the Great 











START OF FRENCH-INDIAN WAR 


133 


Meadows, in Pennsylvania, a detachment of the French forces, under 
Jumonville, which had been sent to intercept the Virginians, was de¬ 
feated and Jumonville killed. 

Colonel Washington erected Fort Necessity near this point, and 
upon the death of Colonel Fry was promoted to the command. 

Washington led the small column against Fort Duquesne, but a 
large French force compelled the Virginians to fall back upon their 
stockade. The French, under M. de Villier, attacked them and, after 
a desperate defense, Washington was obliged to capitulate. 

In October, 1754, Governor Hamilton was succeeded by Robert 
Hunter Morris, who assumed his duties at the same time that a new 
Assembly was elected. At the session in December the Governor laid 
before it the royal order for a concert of action with the other colonies, 
commanding them to act vigorously in defense of their own province 
and to aid the other colonies to repel every hostile invasion. 

The Assembly appropriated £40,000 of which £20,000 was for the 
King’s use, redeemable by the excise in twelve years, the balance to sup¬ 
plant the torn and defaced bills of former issues. 

Great Britain determined to oppose the growing power of France in 
America, and ordered two regiments of foot from Ireland, under com¬ 
mand of Colonels Dunbar and Halkett, to Virginia, to be there rein¬ 
forced; other troops were ordered to be raised in America, 2000 in New 
England, 3000 in Pennsylvania, which were to be placed at the disposal 
of a commander-in-chief, who would be sent over for that purpose. 

Pennsylvania was, in addition, required to supply the foreign troops 
on their arrival with provisions and all necessaries for the soldiers 
landed or raised in the Province; also to provide the officers with means 
for traveling; and to impress carriages and quarter troops. All the ex¬ 
pense of this program was to be borne by the Province; whilst articles 
of more general concern would be charged upon a common fund to be 
raised from all the colonies of North America, of which the Province 
of Pennsylvania would be required to bear its proportionate share. The 
Governor of Pennsylvania was also directed to urge the Assembly to 
contribute liberally, until a union of the northern colonies for general 
defense could be effected. At this late day it would appear that the 
mother country depended more on Pennsylvania and Virginia than on 
all her other possessions in North America; and more on Pennsylvania 
than on Virginia for men and provisions. 

Governor Morris and the Assembly fenced for position on the 
proposition of a grant of an enormous sum for the King’s use. Neither 
side would yield. Finally the Assembly borrowed, on the credit of the 
House, £5000, to be expended in the purchase of fresh provisions, for 
the use of the King’s troops on their arrival, and appointed a committee 
to negotiate the loan. This action was unquestionably arrived at in an 
effort to prove to the Crown that their disposition was to assist the 


134 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

mother government, if treated by the Proprietary as they had a right 
to expect. 

On January 14, 1755, Major General Edward Braddock, Sir John 
St. Clair, Adjutant General, and the regiments of Colonels Dunbar and 
Halkett sailed from Cork. They arrived at Alexandria, Va., February 
20, whence they marched to Fredericktown, Md. 

The place of debarkation was selected with that ignorance and want 
of judgment which distinguished the British Ministry. Neither the 
country of Maryland nor Virginia could furnish provisions or carriages 
for the army, while Pennsylvania, rich in grain and well stocked with 
wagons and stock, could readily supply food and the means of transpor¬ 
tation required by officers and men in moving an army to any point. 

The Assembly could hardly feel otherwise at such a move, than that 
either the British ministry or Major-General Braddock was prejudiced 
against the government of this Province, so Dr. Franklin was sent to 
General Braddock, to undeceive him. 

While Franklin was yet with the army the return of the wagons 
obtainable was made to the general, from which it appeared that there 
were not more than twenty-five, and not all these serviceable. 

Braddock was so thoroughly disgusted with this condition of affairs 
that he declared the expedition at an end and exclaimed against the 
Ministers who would send him into a country destitute of the means of 
transportation. Franklin expressed his regret that the army had not 
been landed in Pennsylvania, where such means abounded. Braddock 
seized his words and at once commissioned him on liberal terms 
to procure 150 wagons and 1500 pack horses. 

Franklin immediately returned to Philadelphia and circulated adver¬ 
tisements through the counties of Lancaster, York and Cumberland, and 
by a clever address obtained in two weeks all the wagons, 250 pack 
horses and much popularity for himself. 

Franklin stated in his address that he found General Braddock in¬ 
censed at the delay of the horses and carriages he had expected from 
Philadelphia, and was disposed to send an armed force to seize carriages, 
horses and drivers necessary to the service. But that he, apprehending 
the visit of British soldiers in their present temper would be very in¬ 
convenient to the inhabitants and that he was desirous to try what 
might be done by fair and equitable means; and that now an oppor¬ 
tunity was presented of obtaining £30,000 in silver and gold, which 
would supply the deficiency of the Provincial currency. He expended 
£800 received from the general, advanced £200 from his own purse and 
gave his personal bond for the payment of the value of such horses as 
should be lost in the service. The claims made upon him in consequence 
of this engagement amounted to £20,000, and were not settled by the 
Government until after much trouble and delay. 


CAPITAL MOVED TO HARRISBURG 


135 


State Capital Removed to Harrisburg by Act 
of February 21, 1810 

ERY soon after the close of the Revolution there began an agi¬ 
tation about the removal of the seat of the State Government 
from Philadelphia. 

In March, 1787, the Assembly, then a single branch, re¬ 
solved that Philadelphia was “an unfortunate location” and 
expressed by their votes its determination to build a State 
house at Harrisburg on a plot of ground the property of the Common¬ 
wealth, etc., being four and a half acres, conveyed by John Harris in 
1785. Harrisburg was then a town of nearly 600 inhabitants. 

Action was not taken, but again in subsequent sessions, as in 1795, 
the House voted thirty-six to thirty-four in favor of moving the seat 
of Government to Carlisle. The Senate did not concur. 

In 1798 the House agreed to remove to Wrightsville, York County, 
“without delay.” Again the Senate refused to concur. 

But in 1799 the effort in favor of removal was crowned with suc¬ 
cess. Both branches voted this time to remove to Lancaster, then a 
town of great importance, by far the most considerable in the interior. 
Accordingly, in December, 1799, the Legislature met in Lancaster, con¬ 
tinuing to do so until the spring of 1812, when the seat of Government 
was removed to its present location in Harrisburg. 

The provisions of the Constitution now require that no removal 
can hereafter be made without the consent of the people at a general 
election, and, although there have been many attempts made to relocate 
at Philadelphia and elsewhere since 1812, it is hardly probable that any 
other city or section will ever be acceptable to the citizens. 

It appears the choice of Lancaster was not as satisfactory as expected 
as agitation for another removal was almost immediately commenced. On 
December 9, 1801, a motion was made by Stacy Potts, of Dauphin 
County, seconded by Mr. Lord Butler, of Luzerne County, calling for 
the appointment of a committee to consider and report on “the most 
eligible place to fix the permanent seat of government of this State.” 
The House voted to consider the report, January 13, 1802, but nothing 
further was done during that session, except an attempt to introduce the 
measure under a fresh dress. A measure was introduced for the erec¬ 
tion of a structure for the “safe preservation” of the State papers. 
Under this thin disguise, the subject of removal was very skillfully 
avoided by those opposed to removal in a debate extending through De¬ 
cember, 1802, and ending latter part of the following January. 

Senator Laird, January 4, 1809, presented the petition of sundry 








136 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


inhabitants of the town of Northumberland, at the forks of the Sus¬ 
quehanna, setting forth the central situation of that growing town, and 
showing the advantages of fixing the State government there, offering 
accommodations for the officers of the State and members of the Legis¬ 
lature, and praying a removal of the seat of government thither. 

This petition was referred to a committee consisting of Senators 
Laird, Heston, Doty, Hiester and Laycock. 

The committee shortly after submitted a report recommending the 
removal of the seat of government to the town of Northumberland. 
The Senate, however, when the report was under consideration, struck 
out the word “Northumberland,” and from that moment onward the 
subject was constantly agitated. 

On February 17, 1809, the Senate, in Committee of the Whole, en¬ 
deavored to have the words “City of Philadelphia,” inserted as the place 
for the seat of government, but, on vote, the motion was lost when 
only eight Senators supported the motion. Then another effort to insert 
the name of Northumberland was made, also Middletown, and Harris¬ 
burg. Northumberland received only seven votes, but when Harrisburg 
was voted upon the Senate supported it by a vote of fourteen to ten, 
but the House refused to consider the bill during that session. No 
further action was taken until February, 1810, when a bill passed both 
branches of the Legislature and became a law, February 21, 1810. 

This act consisted of ten sections and provided “that within the 
month of October, 1812, all the offices attached to the seat of govern¬ 
ment of this State shall be removed to the Borough of Harrisburg,” etc. 

Robert Harris, George Hoyer and George Ziegler were named in 
the act as commissioners to superintend and direct the removal of books, 
records, papers and other documents, etc., and to provide good and suit¬ 
able rooms and apartments for the accommodation of the Legislature 
and the State departments. 

The Governor was directed to accept “on behalf and in the name 
of the Commonwealth the offer of ten acres of land in or adjoining the 
said Borough of Harrisburg, at $100 per acre, made by William Maclay, 
adjoining to the four-acre lot formerly appropriated by John Harris 
for the use of the State,” etc. 

Appropriations were made for the payment of this land and for the 
erection of office buildings. The Governor was authorized to appoint 
three commissioners to fix upon a site, procure plans for and superintend 
the erection of the buildings. 

Governor Simon Snyder appointed William Findlay, Richard M. 
Crain, George Bryan, John B. Gibson and William Gibbons as com¬ 
missioners and they selected Stephen Mills as architect. 

A supplement to the act passed February 7, 1812, provided that all 
the offices should be removed to Harrisburg during the month of April. 
A second supplement passed March 10, 1812, directed “the clerks of 


CAPTAIN JOHN BOYD 


137 


the two houses, on or before the 1st of June next (1812), to remove 
or cause to be removed all the papers, records, books and documents be¬ 
longing to each house aforesaid, together with whatever furniture may 
be thought fit for removal.” 

From these records it is ascertained that the Government of the 
State was removed in all its departments, in the year 1812, from Lan¬ 
caster to Harrisburg, and that the first organization at the latter place 
was in December of that year. 

The first sessions of the Legislature were held in the old court 
house. 

The cornerstone of the capitol was laid Monday, May 31, 1819, by 
Governor William Findlay. The construction was rapidly pushed for¬ 
ward, and the building made ready for occupancy in December, 1821. 

The Legislature met in the new capitol, Wednesday, January 2, 
1822, when proper ceremonies were held in honor of the event. This 
building was destroyed by fire February 2, 1897. 

The present magnificent capitol building was constructed by a Com¬ 
mission composed of Governor William A. Stone, Edward Bailey, Wil¬ 
liam P. Snyder, Nathan C. Schaeffer and William H. Graham. Other 
officers of the commission were T. L. Erye, superintendent; Robert K. 
Young, general counsel; Edgar C. Gerwig, secretary; Joseph M. Hus¬ 
ton, architect, and George F. Payne, contractor. 

The capitol was dedicated, October 4, 1906, when President Roose¬ 
velt delivered the oration, and was entertained at luncheon by Governor 
Pennypacker. 


Service and Captivity of Captain John Boyd, 
Born February 22, 1750 

of the distinguished patriots of the Continental Army dur- 
the Revolution was Captain John Boyd, a frontiersman, 
o suffered Indian captivity and lived to rej'oin his family and 
.in become one of the foremost citizens of his time. 

The Boyd family gained a foothold in America when John 
__yd, the emigrant from the North of Ireland, landed on 
these shores in 1744, and settled in Chester County. He married Sarah 
De Vane, and they removed to Northumberland County, where they 
continued to reside until their decease. They were the parents of three 
patriotic sons—John, born February 22, 1750; Thomas, born in 1752, 
and William, born in 1755. 

William Boyd was a lieutenant in the Twelfth Regiment of the 
Continental Line, under Colonel William Cooke. He fell at the Battle 
of Brandywine. 







138 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

Thomas Boyd was a lieutenant in General. John Sullivan’s com¬ 
mand when he made his successful campaign against the Six Nations in 
Northern Pennsylvania and Southern New York in 1779. Lieutenant 
Boyd was in charge of a scouting detail on the march when he was cap¬ 
tured by the Indians and Tories under command of Colonel John But¬ 
ler, near Little Beard’s Town, in the Genesee. 

Boyd was surrounded by a strong detachment of the enemy, who 
killed fourteen of his men. He and a soldier were captured and only 
eight escaped. When General Sullivan learned of Boyd s fate the ad¬ 
vance was quickened in the hope they could reach him, but on arriving 
at Genesee Castle his remains and those of the other prisoners were 
found, surrounded by all the horrid evidences of savage barbarity. The 
torture fires were yet burning. Flaming pine knots had been thrust 
into their flesh, their fingernails pulled out, their tongues cut off and 
their heads severed from their bodies. 

John, the eldest brother, was commissioned as a first lieutenant in 
the Continental Army in May, 1777, which rank he held until Feb¬ 
ruary, 1781, when he received a captain’s commission from the State of 
Pennsylvania, which had resolved to raise and equip three companies of 
Rangers for the defense of the western frontier, then sorely distressed 
by the hostile incursions of the savages. It was to the command of one 
of these companies, that Captain John Boyd was promoted. 

In June, 1781, while marching his men across the Allegheny Moun¬ 
tains, he fell into an ambuscade of Indians near the headwaters of the 
Raystown branch of the Juniata River, in Bedford County, and was 
made a prisoner with a number of his soldiers, and led captive through 
the wilderness to Canada. 

Captain Boyd was confined during his imprisonment in Canada on 
an island in the St. Lawrence, near Montreal. 

In the spring of 1782 an exchange of prisoners took place and he 
was returned to Philadelphia with a number of his fellow soldiers. 

Previous to his capture he had been engaged in the Battles of 
White Plains, Germantown, Brandywine and Stony Point. He was 
one of the fifty who composed the “forlorn hope,” led by Mad Anthony 
Wayne at Stony Point, who met within the fort. He was at West 
Point and witnessed the execution of the unfortunate Major Andre. 

At the time of the ambuscade Captain Boyd was wounded during 
the skirmish, but after his capture and in spite of his wounds, he made 
a desperate effort to escape by running, but was pursued and received 
three terrible gashes in his head with a tomahawk when he was re¬ 
captured. 

The Indians immediately struck across the country, reaching the 
West Branch of the Susquehanna near the mouth of the Sinnemahoning 
Creek. They also had another prisoner named Ross, who was wounded 
even more severely than Boyd, and could travel no farther. He was 


CAPTAIN JOHN BOYD 


139 


fastened to a stake, with his arms tied behind his back; his body was 
cut with sharp points and pitch-pine splinters stuck into the incisions; 
the fire was lighted and the savages danced around him in fiendish glee. 
His tortures were terrible before death relieved him. 

During this tragic scene Captain Boyd, faint from the loss of blood, 
was tied to a small oak sapling, in such a position that he could not 
refrain from being a silent spectator of the horrible scene; realizing that 
he was soon to suffer the same tortures. 

He summoned up all his courage and resigned himself to his fate. 
Certainly his thoughts must have reminded him of the sufferings of 
his heroic brother only two years before, almost in the same manner. 

While the incarnate fiends were making preparations to torture 
him to death by inches, he sang a pretty Masonic song, with a plaintive 
air which attracted their attention and they listened to it closely until 
it was finished. At this critical moment an old squaw came up and 
claimed him for her son. The Indians did not interfere and she im¬ 
mediately dressed his wounds and attended to his comfort, carefully 
guarding him during their journey to Canada. 

This old squaw accompanied Captain Boyd to Quebec, where he 
was placed in a hospital and attended by an English surgeon. When he 
recovered he was turned out on the street without a penny or a friend. 

He found a Masonic Inn and made himself known to the proprie¬ 
tor who cared for him until he was exchanged. 

The old squaw who befriended him belonged to the Oneida tribe. 
Captain Boyd remembered her kindly as one of his best friends and fre¬ 
quently sent her presents of money and trinkets. On one occasion he 
made a journey north to visit her in her aboriginal home and personally 
thank her for saving his life. 

Captain Boyd, in partnership with Colonel William Wilson, 
operated a mill on Chillisquaque Creek, Northumberland County, for 
many years. 

He was one of the surviving officers who enjoyed the provisions of 
the act of Congress, May, 1828. 

He was a delegate to the convention which ratified the Federal 
Constitution December 12, 1787. 

He was an elector of President and Vice President in 1792, when 
he voted for Washington and Adams. He was appointed by President 
Washington Inspector of Internal Revenue for Pennsylvania. He also 
served as Register and Recorder of Northumberland County. 

Captain Boyd married May 13, 1794, Rebecca, daughter of Colonel 
John Bull, famous Revolutionary officer. They were the parents of five 
daughters and two sons. He died February 23, 1831. 


140 


DAILY STORIES Or PENNSYLVANIA 


Simon Girty, the Renegade, and Indians 
Attacked Fort Laurens, Feb¬ 
ruary 23,1779 

RIGADIER GENERAL LACHLAN McINTOSH, who 
had been sent by Congress and General Washington to restore 
peace on the harried western frontier of Pennsylvania, relieved 
General Edward Hand of his command at Fort Pitt. 

A treaty of peace with the Delaware Indians was concluded 
September 17, 1778, and General McIntosh immediately pre¬ 
pared an expedition against the British post at Detroit. 

On October 1, the army, consisting of 1300 troops, of whom 500 
were regulars of the Eighth Pennsylvania and Thirteenth Virginia, 
marched from Fort Pitt down the Ohio, to the mouth of the Beaver. 

Four weeks were occupied in building a fort within the present town 
of Beaver, which was named Fort McIntosh, in honor of the command¬ 
ing officer. 

A herd of lean cattle arrived at Fort McIntosh November 3, and on 
the 5th the army began its march, but they did not reach the Tus¬ 
carawas River until November 19. 

In accord with a provision in the treaty with the Delaware, General 
McIntosh was pledged to erect a protection for the Indian women and 
children. During the march to the Tuscarawas a Delaware chief was 
shot by a Virginia militiaman, and many Indians deserted the American 
force. 

General McIntosh, with great reluctance, determined not to continue 
the campaign so late in the year, and to employ the troops and make a 
show of enterprise, he began the construction of a stockade fort at Tus¬ 
carawas, where the army then encamped and from which place it 
would again set out in the spring on another attempt against Detroit. 

The fort was named Fort Laurens, in honor of the President of 
the Continental Congress. 

Before this fort was finished General McIntosh realized he could 
not get forward a sufficient quantity of provisions to maintain his large 
force in the Indian country long enough even for an expedition against 
the Sandusky towns. 

The Virginians were enlisted only until the end of the year, the 
weather became intensely cold, starvation and deep snows threatened, 
which seemed enough to discourage any commander and the general 
was forced to march his army to the Ohio. 

He left 150 men of the Thirteenth Virginia, under command of 
Colonel John Gibson, one of the stoutest-hearted of the frontiersmen. 







ATTACK ON FORT LAURENS 


141 


Colonel Daniel Brodhead, of Northampton County, with a detachment 
of the Eighth Pennsylvania, formed the winter garrison at Fort Mc¬ 
Intosh, while General McIntosh took up his quarters at Fort Pitt much 
chagrined over his disappointments. 

The little garrison at Fort Laurens experienced a terrible winter. 
They were short of food and clothing. The troops hunted until-driven 
out of the woods by the hostile Indians. 

The erection of this fort in the very heart of the Indian country 
greatly provoked the Wyandot, Miami and Mingo tribes, and they 
plotted its destruction. Early in January, 1779, they began to prowl 
about the post. 

General McIntosh promised to send provisions to the post by the 
middle of January, and Captain John Clark, of the Eighth Pennsyl¬ 
vania, was sent from McIntosh with fifteen men to convoy the pack 
horses loaded with flour and meat to the relief of the post on the Tus¬ 
carawas. 

This detail reached the fort January 21, and two days later set out 
on their return to the Ohio. Three miles from the fort the party was 
attacked from ambush by seventeen Mingo Indians, under the leader¬ 
ship of Simon Girty, the renegade and Tory, and two soldiers were 
killed, four wounded and one captured. 

Captain Clark was forced back to Fort Laurens, but a few days 
afterward he again started and led his little detail through without 
molestation. Girty led his captive soldier to Detroit, and while there 
raised a much larger force and returned to the vicinity of Fort Laurens, 
where he arrived about the middle of February. 

Fort Laurens was now surrounded by a band of 200 Miami and 
Mingo Indians led by Girty and Captain Henry Bird. Colonel Gibson 
succeeded in sending a messenger through the savage lines, who carried 
the distressing news to General McIntosh. 

On February 23, 1779, a wagon was sent out from the fort under 
an escort of eighteen soldiers to haul some firewood which had been cut 
by the troops. About a half a mile from the fort the little party 
passed an ancient Indian mound behind which a band of Indians lay 
hidden. The Indians burst upon them, both front and rear, and every 
man in the detail was killed and scalped except two, who were taken 
prisoners. 

The Indians then planned a regular siege upon the fort and en¬ 
deavored to starve the garrison into surrender. 

Colonel Gibson dispatched another messenger, who eluded the 
watchful Indians and reached Fort McCord March 3. 

In the interim the condition in the garrison became desperate. A 
sortie in force was contemplated but the strength of the savages caused 
this plan to be abandoned. The Indians paraded over the crest of the 
hill within plain sight, and about 850 warriors were counted. It was 


142 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


afterward learned that 200 had been marched to make a show, four 
times the strength. 

Captain Bird after this stratagem, sent in a demand for surrender, 
promising safe passage for the soldiers to Fort McIntosh, but Gibson 
sternly refused. The Indians then promised to withdraw if Gibson 
would furnish them with a barrel of flour and a barrel of meat. 

Bird believed the garrison was reduced to its last ration and would, 
of necessity, refuse the request, and therefore he felt certain that in a 
few days the garrison must surrender. 

Gibson had but a few barrels of food, and that in bad condition; but 
he quickly complied with the demand, sent out two barrels and said 
he had plenty yet inside. They enjoyed a feast on the flour and meat, 
and on the following day left that vicinity and returned to their towns 
in Northwestern Ohio. 

On March 23, General McIntosh appeared with his relieving force 
of 300 regulars and 200 militia escorting a train of pack horses with 
provisions. For more than a week the men had subsisted on roots 
and soup made by boiling raw hides. 

The famished troops sallied forth, and fired a volley to express their 
joy. The shooting frightened the pack horses, causing them to stampede 
through the woods, scattering food in every direction. Many of the 
horses were never recovered and the food lost. 

By the middle of May the garrison was compelled to return to Fort 
McIntosh to escape actual starvation. The fort was finally dismantled 
and the men returned to Fort Pitt. 


General Jacob Brown, Hero of War of 1812, 
Died February 24, 1828; Native of 
Pennsylvania 

HEN General Jacob Brown died in Washington, D. C., Feb¬ 
ruary 24, 1828, a monument was erected over his remains in 
the historic Congressional burial ground, which bore the fol¬ 
lowing inscription: 

“Sacred to the memory of General Jacob Brown. He was 
born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on the 9th of May, 
1775, and died in the city of Washington, commanding-general of the 
army, on the 24th of February, 1828. 

“Let him who e’er in after days 
Shall view this monument of praise, 

For honor heave the patriot sigh 
And for his country learn to die.” 






GENERAL JACOB BROWN 143 

Then this surely was an unusual man and such is the fact. 

He was born of Quaker parentage, in the house long since known as 
the Warner mansion, about three and a half miles below Morrisville, 
on the banks of the Delaware River, where his father lived until the 
son Jacob was grown, and they removed to New York toward the close 
of the century. 

From his eighteenth to his twenty-first year Jacob Brown taught 
school at Crosswicks, N. J., and passed the next two years in surveying 
lands in Ohio. 

In 1798 he opened a select school in New York City, and at the 
same time studied law. 

Some of his newspaper essays attracted the attention of General 
Alexander Hamilton, to whom he became secretary while that officer 
was acting General-in-Chief of the army raised in anticipation of a 
war with France. 

When those war clouds disappeared Brown went to northern New 
York, purchased lands on the banks of the Black River, not far dis¬ 
tant from Sackett’s Harbor, and founded the flourishing settlement of 
Brownsville, where he erected the first building within thirty miles of 
Lake Ontario. 

There Brown became county judge; colonel of the local militia in 
1809; brigadier general in 1810; and, in 1812, received the appoint¬ 
ment of commander of the frontier from Oswego to Lake St. Francis, 
a line two hundred miles in extent. 

During the War of 1812-14, he performed most conspicuous service, 
receiving two severe wounds in battle. 

At the second attack upon Sackett’s Harbor, May 27, 1813, when 
the news of the approach of the British squadron reached there Colonel 
Backus was in command. General Jacob Brown was at his home, a few 
miles distant. He was notified and arrived before dawn of the 28th. 
He sent expresses in all directions to summon the militia to the field, 
and fired guns to arouse the inhabitants. 

As rapidly as the militia came in they were armed and sent to 
Horse Island, where it was expected the enemy would attempt to land. 
On the appearance of some American gun boats the British squadron 
went out on the open lake. But when the enemy discovered the real 
weakness of the defenders, the squadron returned on the morning of 
the 29th and landed a large force on Horse Island. 

The militia had been withdrawn from the island to the mainland, 
and fled at the first fire of the invaders. 

This disgraceful conduct astonished General Brown, who rallied 
his troops, when he discovered the store houses and a ship in flames, 
set on fire by Americans who believed their militia was in full retreat. 
This caused General Brown to redouble his exertions to rally the 





144 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


militia. He succeeded, and so turned the fortunes of the day in favor 
of his country. 

When Sir George Prevost, mounted on a high stump, saw the 
rallying militia on his flank and rear, he believed them to be American 
reinforcements and sounded a retreat. 

For his conduct in the defense of Sackett’s Harbor, Brown was 
made a brigadier in the United States Army. 

General Brown made the only redeeming movement in Wilkin¬ 
son’s disgraceful expedition down the St. Lawrence River against Mon¬ 
treal, November, 1813. Brown captured and held the post at the foot of 
the rapids, which movement permitted the union of the several armies, 
or the defeat would have been even more disastrous. 

General Brown was severely wounded at the repulse of the British 
at Fort Erie, August 15, 1814. 

Both parties prepared to renew the contest, and General Brown re¬ 
mained in command. On September 17, he stormed the attacking 
forces by a sortie from the fort, and won a brilliant victory. This 
saved Fort Erie with Buffalo, and the stores on the Niagara frontier. 

Public honors were bestowed upon Generals Brown, Porter and 
Ripley. Congress presented each with a gold medal. 

To the chief commander, General Brown, it was said, “no enter¬ 
prise which he undertook ever failed,” and the city of New York gave 
him the freedom of the city in a beautiful gold box. The Governor of 
New York presented him with an elegant sword. 

At the function in New York City, held February 4, 1815, Mayor 
DeWitt Clinton presided, and the aldermen and principal citizens 
hailed him as the hero of Chippewa and Lundy’s Lane. 

The citizens of Philadelphia gave him a great public banquet at 
Washington Hall, Chief Justice Tilghman presiding, and Major Jack- 
son, vice president. 

The sanguinary battle near the cataract of the Niagara is known 
in history as the battle of Lundy’s Lane. 

The British had just been defeated (July 5, 1814), at Chippewa, 
and were smarting under the disgrace of having their veteran troops 
defeated by raw Americans. 

General Brown was ably supported by General Scott in this action 
and both were severely wounded. The command devolved upon Gen¬ 
eral Ripley who disobeyed General Brown’s orders, lost the advantage 
of a brilliant victory, and was soon replaced by General E. P. Gaines. 

At the close of the war, General Brown was retained in command 
of the northern division of the army, and was made general-in-chief, 
March 10, 1821, which exalted position he held with honor and credit 
till his death. 


CAPTURE OF ANDREW McFARLANE 


145 


Andrew McFarlane Captured by Indians at 
Kittanning February 25,1777 

HE Indian depredations along the Ohio River in the fall of 
1776 began along its eastern shore, when small parties of the 
Mingo tribe made incursions among the settlements, inflicting 
only slight damage. But in the spring of 1777, the outrages 
became general and more destructive. The first outrage was 
on the frontier of Westmoreland County when Andrew Mc¬ 
Farlane was captured at an outpost of Kittanning. 

McFarlane soon after the close of the French and Indian War, made 
his way west to Fort Pitt, where he engaged in the Indian trade with his 
brother James. When the territorial dispute with Virginia became 
acute, in January, 1774, Andrew McFarlane was appointed a justice 
of the peace by Governor Penn and he vigorously upheld the Pennsyl¬ 
vania authority. 

Captain John Connolly, at the head of his Virginia militia, inter¬ 
rupted the sessions of the Pennsylvania court at Hannastown, April, 
1774, and arrested three Pennsylvania justices, who resided in Pitts¬ 
burgh; Andrew McFarlane, Devereux Smith and Captain Aeneas 
Mackay. They were taken as prisoners to Staunton, Va., and there de¬ 
tained four weeks, until released by order of Governor Dunmore. 

On the evening of his arrest in Pittsburgh, McFarlane managed to 
send a letter to Governor Penn, in which he said: “I am taken at a 
great inconvenience, as my business is suffering much on account of my 
absence, but I am willing to suffer a great deal more rather than bring 
a disgrace upon the commission which I bear under your honor.” One 
result of his arrest indicates that McFarlane did not really suffer much 
during his captivity at Staunton for there he met and married Margaret 
Lynn Lewis, daughter of William Lewis, famed in the military history 
of Virginia. 

Andrew and James McFarlane, to escape exactions and persecutions 
of Virginia military authority, removed their store, in the autumn of 
1774, to Kittanning, at that time the extreme limit of white settlements 
toward the North. Here they prospered. 

When the Iroquois tribe began to give concern to the settlers on 
the western frontier, after the Revolution opened, the Continental 
Congress in July 1776, ordered the raising of a regiment consisting of 
seven companies from Westmoreland and one from Bedford, to build 
and garrison forts at Kittanning, Le Boeuf and Erie and protect that 
region from British and Iroquois. 

These troops were promptly raised under command of Colonel 





146 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Aeneas Mackay, with George Wilson, lieutenant colonel, and Richard 
Butler, as major. This regiment rendezvoused at Kittanning prepara¬ 
tory to an advance up the Allegheny, to build two other forts. 

A call was received for the regiment to march eastward, across the 
State, and join the hard-pressed army of General Washington, then 
near the Delaware. This regiment obeyed the call, in spite of a storm 
of protest on the frontier, and became known as the Eighth Pennsyl¬ 
vania. The long march began early in January, 1777. 

Many settlers believed the western frontier was not in imminent 
danger but Andrew McFarlane was not one of these. As soon as 
Mackay’s regiment departed Justice McFarlane begged of the West¬ 
moreland Commissioners that a company of militia be sent to Kittanning. 
He could hardly restrain his neighbors from running away, and during 
the late winter many did flee, leaving McFarlane and two clerks the 
only men at the place. 

There were many stores left at Kittanning by Colonel Mackay but 
no soldiers could be spared to guard them. In this emergency Samuel 
Moorhead, who lived at Black Lick Creek, undertook the formation of 
a company of volunteer rangers. He chose McFarlane as his lieutenant, 
and these two spent much time trying to recruit a small company from 
the scattered settlers. 

The story of the capture of Andrew McFarlane is preserved in two 
forms: One is gathered from letters written at the time, while the 
other is a tradition handed down in the Lewis family of Virginia. The 
Lewis story is now preserved in a history of Lynchburg, Va., and is in 
part as follows: 

“When Margaret Lynn Lewis married Mr. McFarlane, of Pitts¬ 
burgh, and left the parental roof, she traveled through a wilderness in¬ 
fested with hostile Indians till she reached that place. Once, when they 
least apprehended danger, a war whoop was heard, her husband taken 
prisoner, the tomahawk raised and she averted her eyes to avoid witness¬ 
ing the fatal stroke. 

The river was between them and she, with her infant and maid 
servant, of course endeavored to fly, knowing the inevitable consequences 
of delay. After starting, the servant reminded Mrs. McFarlane of her 
husband’s money and valuable papers, but she desired the girl not to 
mention anything of that sort at such a moment; but, regardless of the 
commands of her mistress, the servant returned to the dwelling, bringing 
with her all of the money and as many of the papers as she could hold 
in her apron, overtaking, in a short time, her mistress, as the snow was 
three feet deep. On looking back she saw the house in flames, and pur¬ 
suing their journey with incredible fatigue, reached the house of 
Colonel Crawford, a distance of fourteen miles. 

The contemporary account of this event is found in letters from the 
frontier, written to the officers of the Pennsylvania Government at 


WESTMORELAND COUNTY ERECTED 


147 


Philadelphia and made public in later years. “Two British subalterns, 
two Chippewa and two Iroquois Indians were sent by the commandant 
of Fort Niagara, to descend to Allegheny. 

On February 25, 1777, they arrived opposite the little settlement 
of Kittanning. Standing on the shore, they shouted toward the far 
shore, calling for a canoe. Thinking the Indians had come to trade or 
to bring important news McFarlane decided to venture across. The 
instant he stepped from his boat he was seized by the savages and told 
he was their prisoner. His capture was witnessed by his wife and some 
men at the settlement.” 

At the time Andrew McFarlane was captured, his brother James 
was a lieutenant in the First Pennsylvania of the Continental Line. It 
was through his personal efforts that Andrew was exchanged, in the 
fall of 1780. The released man immediately rejoined his wife and child 
at Staunton, and they soon afterward returned to the vicinity of Pitts¬ 
burgh. Kittanning being deserted and exposed, Andrew McFarlane 
opened a store on Chartier’s Creek, where he lived for many years. 

His eldest son, Andrew, doubtless the infant whom Mrs. McFarlane 
carried in her arms when she fled from Kittanning, became one of the 
pioneer settlers on the Shenango, near the present New Castle, Pa., and 
his descendants are numerous in Lawrence County. 


Westmoreland County, Last Under Proprie¬ 
tary, Erected February 26, 1773 

HE county of Westmoreland was erected by the Assembly of 
the Province of Pennsylvania by an act of February 26, 1773. 
It was the eleventh county in Pennsylvania and the last erected 
under the Proprietary Government. Like all the other coun¬ 
ties, except Philadelphia, it received its name from a county in 
England. 

In 1771 this wide region was included in the county of Bedford, but 
settlements grew so rapidly west of the mountains during the year 1772 
that a new frontier county was demanded. The evacuation of Fort 
Pitt by the British troops in the fall of 1772 also led the frontiersmen 
to demand a stronger civil government. 

When Westmoreland was erected it included all the Province west 
of Laurel Hill, being what is broadly known as Southwestern Pennsyl¬ 
vania and included what is now Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington, 
Greene, and the parts of Allegheny and Beaver Counties south of the 
Ohio River and about two-thirds of Indiana and one-third of Arm¬ 
strong County, a total area of 4,700 square miles. 

While this was the area of Westmoreland County in the intent of 








148 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the Provincial Government, it was restricted in fact by Virginia's seiz¬ 
ure and government of a large portion of the territory. 

A general settlement of the country west of the Allegheny Moun¬ 
tains did not begin until after the land office was opened in 
April, 1769. 

The settlers flocked into this new region from two directions. The 
Scots from the Cumberland Valley and other settled posts of the Prov¬ 
ince made their way westward along the Forbes military road and 
planted their cabins along its course. These men were loyal Pennsyl¬ 
vanians, and they held their lands under the Provincial Government. 
Other Scots came from the South, principally from the Old Dominion; 
they crossed the mountains by the Braddock road and occupied the fer¬ 
tile lands along the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers and 
Chartiers Creek. These men were Virginians and believed their 
settlements were still within that territory. 

A lively contest was carried on between Pennsylvania and Virginia 
for control of this region, and the organization of Westmoreland County 
had signal influence in strengthening the Pennsylvania authority, espe¬ 
cially when sixteen magistrates were corqmissioned to administer justice 
within its boundaries. 

The county seat was established at Robert Hanna’s little settlement 
on Forbes Road, about thirty-five miles east of Fort Pitt, and here at 
Hannastown, the first Pennsylvania court, west of the mountains, was 
held April 13, 1773. It was a Court of Quarter Sessions and William 
Crawford presided. These proceedings stirred up the Virginia authori¬ 
ties. 

The Earl of Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, took forcible posses¬ 
sion of the disputed territory. He appointed John Connolly, of Pitts¬ 
burgh, “captain commandant of Pittsburgh and its dependencies.” 

Connolly mustered the militia under the Virginia law, seized and 
garrisoned Fort Pitt, intimidated the Pennsylvania magistrates, marched 
some of them off to prison, and established the authority of Virginia 
throughout all the region between the Monongahela and the Ohio. 
Pennsylvania had no militia law at that time and was powerless to 
resist the usurpation. 

By this action upon the part of Virginia the territory of Westmore¬ 
land County, during the period of the Revolution, was limited to about 
half its actual area. It was not until the summer of 1780 that Vir¬ 
ginia finally agreed to accept the results of a joint survey which would 
extend the southern boundary line of Pennsylvania to a distance of 5 
degrees of longitude west of the Delaware River. 

Ligonier Valley, which extends along the eastern border of the 
county, was well settled by 1775, the largest settlement being Ligonier, 
where the British had built a fort in 1758. The principal citizen here 
was Captain, afterwards General Arthur St. Clair, a Scotchman who 


WESTMORELAND COUNTY ERECTED 


149 


served under Wolfe at Quebec and afterwards became the agent of the 
Penn family in Western Pennsylvania. 

Settlements also became numerous west of Chestnut Ridge, along 
the Loyalhanna and its tributaries, as far as Hannastown on the Forbes 
Road. Derry settlement was to the north of the road, between the 
Loyalhanna and the Conemaugh. Nearly all the settlers were Scots 
from Ulster, or their immediate descendants, with a sprinkling of Irish 
of Presbyterian faith. There was another Ulster settlement at the 
Braddock road crossing of Big Sewickley Creek, while lower down that 
stream were cabins and blockhouses of German emigrants from the 
Rhine Palatinate. 

The Virginia settlers along the Monongahela and Youghiogheny 
were a generation or more removed from the old country, but were 
nearly all of Scotch stock. The richest of these brought their slaves 
with them from Virginia, who were held in bondage long after the 
Revolution. 

The traders and principal citizens in the vicinity of Fort Pitt were 
members of the Church of England; it was from among these that the 
Tory sentiment developed during the Revolution. Old Westmoreland 
was, however, decidedly a Scotch and Calvanistic settlement. 

The Scotch pioneers were bold, stout and industrious men, sharp at 
bargains, fond of religious and political controversy and not strongly 
attached to government either of the royal or the proprietary brand. In 
nearly every cabin could be found three principal articles, the Bible, a 
rifle and a whiskey jug. Their hatred of the treacherous Indian was a 
strong characteristic. 

In 1775 the most prominent representatives of the Pennsylvania 
interests, in addition to General Arthur St. Clair, were Colonel John 
Proctor and Colonel Archibald Lochry, who lived near the Forbes Road, 
west of Chestnut Ridge; Robert Hanna and Michael Huffnagle, of 
Hannastown; James Cavet and Christopher Hays, of Sewickley; John 
Ormsby, Devereux Smith and Aeneas Mackay, traders and storekeepers 
at Pittsburgh; Edward Cook, near Redstone, and George Wilson, whose 
plantation was in the very heart of the Virginia sympathizers, on the 
Monongahela at the mouth of George’s Creek. 


150 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Early Days of Witchcraft in Pennsylvania- 
Two Women on Trial February 27, 1683 

HE most conspicuous of the early provincial tribunals and by 
far the best known to the present-day reader was the Provincial 
Council. Its duties were at once executive, legislative and 
judicial. 

The judicial functions discharged by the members of the 
Council were both interesting and important, and the volume 
of such business was very great. Its members were regarded by all 
classes as the supreme judges of the land. 

The trial of Margaret Mattson, which took place on February 27, 
1683, before William Penn himself, is of great interest, both on account 
of the peculiarity of the accusation and the notoriety it has acquired as 
illustrating the temper of our ancestors. . 

The records of the early Provincial Council contain this item: 

“1683, 7th, 12th mo., Margaret Mattson and Yethro Hendrickson 
were examined and about to be proved witches; whereupon this board 
ordered that Neels Mattson should enter into a recognizance of fifty 
pounds for his wife’s appearance before this board on the 27th instant. 
Hendrick Jacobson doth the same for his wife.” 

“27th of the 12th mo. Margaret Mattson’s indictment was read, 
and she pleads not guilty, and will be tryed by ye country.” 

It is a matter of historical interest that the Council was then com¬ 
posed of William Penn, Proprietor and Governor, and James Harrison, 
William Biles, Lasse Cock, William Haigue, Chris Taylor, William 
Clayton and Thomas Holmes. 

The Grand Jury was as follows: Robert Euer, foreman; Samuel 
Carpenter, Andrew Griscom, Benjamin Whiteman, John Barnes, Sam¬ 
uel Allen, John Parsons, Richard Orne, John Day, John Fisher, John 
Barnes, Gunner Rambo, Enoch Flower, Henry Drystreet, Thomas 
Mosse, Thomas Duckett, Dennis Lince, Thomas Phillips, Thomas Mil¬ 
lard, John Yattman and Harnaby Wilcox. 

The petit jury was composed of John Hastings, foreman; Robert 
Wade, William Hewes, John Gibbons, Albortus Hendrickson, Nathan¬ 
iel Evans, Jeremiah Collett, Walter Martin, Robert Piles, Edward Car¬ 
ter, John Kinsman and Edward Bezac. 

The evidence adduced against the prisoner was of the most trifling 
character, and such as now would be scouted from the witness-box of a 
court of justice. 

“Henry Drystreet, one of the Grand Jurors attested, saith he was 
tould 20 years agoe that the prisoner at the Barr was a witch and that 






EARLY DAYS OF WITCHCRAFT 


151 


severall cows were bewitcht by her, also that James Sunderling’s mother 
tould that she bewitcht her cow but afterwards said it was a mistake 
and that her cow should doe well againe for it was not her cow but 
another persons that should dye. 

“Charles Ashcom attested, saith, that Anthony’s wife being asked 
why she sould her cattle was because his mother had bewitcht them 
having taken the witchcraft off of Hendricks cattle and put on their 
oxen, she might keep but noe other cattle; and also that one night the 
Daughter of the Prisoner called him up hastily and when he came she 
sayd there was a great Light but just before and an old woman with a 
knife in her hand at the Bedd’s feet and therefore shee cryed out and 
desired Jno. Symcock to take away his calves or else she would send 
them to Hell. 

“Annakey Coolin attested, saith, her husband tooke the heart of a 
calfe that dyed as they thought by witchcraft and Boyled it whereupon 
the Prisoner at the Barr came in and asked them what they were doing, 
they said boyling of flesh, she said they had better they had boyled the 
bones with severall other unseemly Expressions. 

“Margaret Mattson saith that she values not Drystreets Evidence 
but if Sunderlin’s mother had come she would have answered her also 
denyeth Charles Ashcoms attestation at her soul and saith where is my 
daughter lett her come and say so. 

“Annakey Coolings attestation concerning the Gees she denyeth, 
saying she was never out of her conoo, and also that she never said any 
such things concerning the calves heart. 

“The Prisoner denyeth all things and saith that ye witnesses speake 
only by hear say. 

“After which the Govr. gave the jury their charge concerning ye 
Prisoner at ye Barr. 

“The jury went forth and upon their Returne brought her in 
Guilty of having the common fame of a witch but not Guilty in the 
manner and forme as she stands indicted. 

“Neels Mattson and Anthon. Neelson Enters into Recognizance 
of fifty pounds apiece for the good behavior of Margaret Mattson for 
six months.” 

In 1695 Robert Roman, presented by the grand inquest of Chester 
County for practicing geomancy according to Hidon, and divining by a 
stick. He submitted himself to the bench and was fined £5, and his 
books, Hidon’s Temple of Wisdom, Scott’s Discovery of Witchcraft, 
and Cornelius Agrippa’s Geomancy, were ordered to be taken from 
him and brought into Court. 

In 1701 a petition of Robert Guard and his wife was read before 
Council, setting forth “That a certain strange woman lately arrived in 
this town, being seized with a very sudden illness after she had been in 
their company on the 17th instant, and several pins being taken out of 


152 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


her breasts, one John Richards Butler and his wife Ann charged the 
petitioners with witchcraft and as being the authors of the said mischief. 
A summons was issued accordingly, but the matter, being judged trifling, 
was dismissed. 

Even as late as 1719, the Commissions to the justices of Chester 
County empowered them to inquire of all “witchcrafts, enchantments, 
sorceries and magic arts.” 

George Shrunk, of Germantown, known as “Old Shrunk,” was a 
great conjuror and many persons from Philadelphia and elsewhere went 
to him to learn where stolen goods were secreted and to have him tell 
their fortunes. They believed he could make any thieves stand still, 
while they desired to run away. They believed he could tell them 
where to dig for money and hidden treasures, and this brought “Old 
Shrunk” much business, for the idea was very prevalent that the pirates 
of Blackbeard’s day had deposited treasures along the Delaware and 
Schuylkill Rivers. 


Towns Laid Out in Erie County by Act of 
Assembly, February 28, 1794 

HE frontiers of Pennsylvania had not been seriously harassed 
by the Indians since the close of the Revolution, but late in 
1793 they again became restive and early in the following year 
so many depredations had been committed along the western 
frontier of the State that the Assembly on February 28, 1794, 
passed an act for enlisting soldiers for the defense of the Dela¬ 
ware River and the western frontiers. At the same time efforts were 
made toward the laying out of a town at Presqu’ Isle, “in order to 
facilitate and promote the progress of settlement within the Common¬ 
wealth and to afford additional security to the frontiers thereof.” 

Governor Mifflin transmitted to the President of the United States 
a copy of this act, apprehending the difficulties which soon manifested 
themselves. Prior to this he had sent to Captain Ebenezer Denny a 
commission, giving him command of the Allegheny Company, which was 
ordered to protect William Irvine, Andrew Elliott and Albert Galla¬ 
tin, who had been appointed Commissioners to lay out the town. For 
the same object a post had been established at Le Boeuf, two miles below 
the old French fort of the same name. 

The three Commissioners were instructed to lay out 1,600 acres 
for town lots and thirty-four acres for out-lots at Erie, the town lots 
to contain about one-third of an acre and the 'out-lots to contain five 
acres. In addition, sixty acres were reserved for the use of the United 
States near the entrance of the harbor for forts, etc. Upon completion 
of the surveys the Governor was authorized to offer at auction one-third 







TOWNS LAID OUT IN ERIE COUNTY 


153 


of all the lots, conditioned upon the building upon the lots within two 
years of a house with a stone or brick chimney. 

The troops were busily employed to protect the surveyors from 
the incursions of the Indians. Miss Sanford in her History of Erie 
County says: 

“Thomas Rees, Esq., for more than half a century a citizen of Erie 
County, made a deposition in 1806 as follows: ‘Thomas Rees of Har¬ 
bor Creek Township, in Erie County, farmer, being sworn according 
to law, etc. I was appointed deputy surveyor of District No. 1 north 
and west of the rivers Ohio, Allegheny and Connewango Creek, now 
Erie County, in May, 1792, and opened an office in Northumberland 
County, which was the adjoining. The reason of this was, all the 
accounts of the country north and west of the rivers, Ohio, Allegheny, 
and the Connewango Creek, represented it as dangerous to go into the 
country. In the latter part of said year I received three hundred and 
ninety warrants, the property of the Penn Population company for land 
situated in the Triangle and entered the same year in my book of en¬ 
tries. In 1793 I made an attempt to go; went to the mouth of Buffalo 
Creek to inquire of the Indians there whether they would permit me 
to go into my district to make surveys. They refused and added that if 
I went into the country I would be killed. At the same time I re¬ 
ceived information from different quarters which prevented me from 
going that year. 

“ ‘In 1794 I went into District No. 1, now Erie County, and made 
surveys on the three hundred and ninety warrants, mentioned above in 
the Triangle, except one or two for which no lands could be found. 
Among the surveys made on the warrants above mentioned, was that 
on the warrant in the name of John McCullough. 

“ ‘Before I had completed I was frequently alarmed by hearing of 
Indians killing persons on the Allegheny River, in consequence of which, 
as soon as the surveys were completed, I moved from the country and 
went to Franklin, where I was informed that there were a number of 
Indians belonging to the Six Nations going to Le Boeuf to order the 
troops off that ground. I immediately returned to Le Boeuf. The 
Indians had left the place one day before I arrived there. I was told 
by Major Denny, then commanding at that place, that the Indians had 
brought General Chapin, the Indian agent, with them to Le Boeuf; 
that they were very much displeased, and told him not to build a gar¬ 
rison at Presqu’ Isle. 

“ ‘There were no improvements made, nor any person living on any 
tract of land within my district during the year 1794. 

“ ‘In 1795 I went into the country and took a number of men with 
me. We kept in a body, as there appeared to be great danger, and con¬ 
tinued so for that season. There was no work done of any consequence, 
nor was any person, to my knowledge, residing on any tract within my 


154 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


district. In the course of the summer the Commissioners came on to 
lay out the town of Erie, with a company of men to guard them. 

“There were two persons killed within one mile of Presqu’ Isle, and 
others in different parts of the country. Such were the fears that 
though some did occasionally venture out to view the lands, many would 
not. We all laid under the protection of the troops. I sold, as agent 
of the Penn Population Company, during that season, 79,700 acres of 
land, of which 7,150 acres were a gratuity. The above quantity of land 
was applied for and sold to 200 persons. That fall we left the 
country.’ ” 

Captain Martin Strong, of Waterford, who had arrived at Presqu’ 
Isle the last of July, 1795, said: 

“A few days previous to this a company of United States troops had 
commenced felling the timber on Garrison hill, headed by General 
Elliott, escorted by a company of Pennsylvania militia commanded by 
Captain John Grubb, to lay out the town of Erie. We were in some 
degree under martial law, the two Rutledges having been shot a few 
days before (July 26 or 27) by the Indians near the present site of the 
present railway depot. 

“In 1795 there were but four families residing in what is now Erie 
County. These were the names of Reed, Talmadge, Miles and Baird. 
The first mill built in the Triangle was at the mouth of Walnut Creek; 
there were two others built about the same time in what is now Erie 
County; one by William Miles, on the north branch of French Creek, 
now Union; the other by William Culbertson, at the inlet of Con- 
neautte Lake, near Edinboro.” 

In spite of all these preparations, the Legislature suspended the lay¬ 
ing out of a town at Presqu’ Isle, and it was not until April 18, 1795, the 
difficulties were removed and the Assembly authorized the laying out 
of the towns at Le Boeuf, at the mouth of Conewango Creek, at the 
mouth of French Creek and at Presqu’ Isle. 

July 25, 1796, the Harrisburg and Presqu’ Isle Company was 
formed “for the settling, improving and populating the country near and 
adjoining to Lake Erie.” 

Erie County was erected March 12, 1800, and Erie named as the 
place for holding courts of justice, but it was not organized judicially 
until April, 1803, when Judge Jesse Moore held the first court near 
French and Third Streets. 


LAST INDIAN LANDS PURCHASED 


155 


Commissioners Appointed to Purchase Last 
Indian Lands, February 29, 1784 

ILLIAM MACLAY, Samuel John Atlee and Francis John¬ 
son were appointed February 29, 1784, by the Supreme Execu¬ 
tive Council to be Commissioners to treat with the Indians 
claiming the unpurchased territory within the acknowledged 
limits of the State. 

At the close of the Revolution, in 1783, the ownership of 
a large area of the territory within the charter boundaries of Pennsyl¬ 
vania was still claimed by the Indians of the several tribes that were 
commonly known as the Six Nations. 

The last purchase of lands from these Indians by the Proprietaries 
was made at Fort Stanwix, November 5, 1768. The Indian claim, 
therefore, embraced all that part of the State lying to the northwest of 
the purchase lines of 1768. 

As early as March 12, 1783, the General Assembly had passed an 
act setting apart certain lands lying north and west of the Ohio and 
Allegheny Rivers and Conewango Creek to be sold for the purpose of 
redeeming the depreciation certificates given to the officers and soldiers 
of the Pennsylvania Line, and for the purpose of making donations of 
land to the same officers and soldiers in compliance with a resolution 
adopted in 1780. 

At the time this resolution was adopted the Indian claim of title to 
these lands was still in force, but the authorities were fully alive to 
the necessity of securing the right to all the lands within the State— 
about five-sixteenths of its area—that remained unpurchased after the 
treaty of 1768. 

September 25, 1783, the General Assembly placed itself on record 
in the form of a resolution which recommended the appointment of a 
committee to devise ways and means for this acquisition. 

The three persons named as commissioners acknowledged their ap¬ 
pointment to the trust May 17, and recommended that Samuel Weiser, 
a son of Colonel Conrad Weiser, a proper person to notify the 
Indians of the desire to treat with them, as he was familiar with their 
language and customs and could also act as interpreter. 

The Continental Congress had likewise appointed Commissioners to 
meet the Six Nations for the purpose of purchasing lands beyond the 
limits of Pennsylvania, and these arranged for the meeting at Fort 
Stanwix. The Commissioners of Pennsylvania reached Fort Stanwix 
early in the month of October, where they found some of the tribes 
already assembled, and with them the Commissioners of the Continental 
Congress. 







156 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The negotiations continued until the twenty-third of the month, and 
on that day ended in an agreement by which the Indian title to all the 
lands within the boundaries of the State that remained after the title of 
1768 was exinguished. The consideration agreed upon for this surrender 
of their rights was $5,000. 

This deed, dated October 23, 1784, is signed by all the chiefs of 
the Six Nations and by the Continental Commissioners as witnesses. 

The territory thus acquired included a part of the present Bradford, 
Tioga, Clinton, Center, Clearfield, Indiana, Armstrong, Allegheny and 
Beaver Counties, and all of the land within Crawford, Mercer, Law¬ 
rence, Butler, Venango, Clarion, Forest, Jefferson, Elk, Warren, Mc¬ 
Kean, Potter and Cameron Counties and all of Erie County, excepting 
the small portion of the Erie triangle which did not become a part of 
Erie County until 1792. 

After the Commissioners had accomplished in so satisfactory a man¬ 
ner the object for which they journeyed to Fort Stanwix, it became nec¬ 
essary to appease the Western Indians, the Wyandot and the Delaware, 
who also claimed rights to the same lands. 

The same Commissioners were therefore sent to Fort McIntosh, on 
the Ohio River, at the site of the present town of Beaver, where in Jan¬ 
uary, 1785, they were successful in reaching an agreement with those 
Indians for the same lands. This deed, signed by the chiefs of both 
tribes, is dated January 21, 1785, and is in the same words (except as 
to the consideration money, which is $2,000) and recites the same bound¬ 
aries as the deed signed at Fort Stanwix. 

The Indian claim of right to the soil of Pennsylvania, within its 
charter limits, had thus, in a period of a little more than one hundred 
years ceased to exist. 

This large and important division of our great Commonwealth, now 
teeming with population and wealth, thriving villages, busy towns and 
great cities, was, in 1784, largely an uninhabited and untraversed wilder¬ 
ness. 

After the purchase of 1768 a disagreement arose between the Pro¬ 
prietary Government and the Indians as to whether the creek flowing 
into the West Branch of the Susquehanna, and called in the deed 
“Tyadaghton” was intended for Lycoming Creek or Pine Creek. The 
Indians said it was the former, the proprietaries claimed the latter stream 
to be the extent of the purchase, but in order to avoid any trouble that 
might arise from the dispute, it was wisely determined that no rights 
should be granted for lands west of Lycoming Creek. 

This determination, however, did not deter or prevent adventurous 
pioneers from making settlements within the disputed territory. 

These settlers, being classed as outlaws, were compelled to enter into 
an agreement for their government and protection. This resulted in an 
organization known as Fair Play Men. 


LAST INDIAN LANDS PURCHASED 


157 


It is handed down as a tradition that they met when and where the 
exigencies arose, and on short notice, tried the case at hand. 

It is related that when a squatter refused to abide by the decision of 
the court, he was immediately placed in a canoe, in which was a small 
quantity of food, then rowed to the mouth of Lycoming Creek, the 
boundary line of civilization, and there sent adrift down the river. 

These Fair Play courts were composed of three commissioners as 
they were termed, and after hearing a case and making a decision, there 
was no appeal. 

After the purchase of 1784 it was discovered that the trouble was 
likely to arise with the original squatters and the Legislature passed an 
act entitling those who had made actual settlement prior to 1780, the 
benefit of pre-emption to their respective possessions. 


First Law to Educate Poor Children Signed 
March 1, 1802 

HE same earnest solicitude for public education which made 
itself manifest in the settlement of the New England Colo¬ 
nies in an unusual degree does not run through the early history 
of Pennsylvania, yet, outside of the Puritan settlements, there 
was no other colony which paid so much attention as Pennsyl¬ 
vania to the mental training of youth. 

During the seventeenth century the general character of the province, 
as regards the intelligence of its people, stood deservedly high. The 
school-house, with its inevitable concomitant, the printing-press, never 
at any time ceased to exert its wholesome influence in training up a 
population which as regards sobriety, thrift, and all the substantial qual¬ 
ities that flow from instructions, has never been surpassed by any other 
great community. 

William Penn, who was one of the most accomplished scholars of 
his time, never wearied in pointing out to the colony the advantages of 
public education. The Constitution which he proposed for the infant 
Commonwealth contains the direction that virtue and wisdom must be 
propagated by educating the youth, and that after ages would have the 
benefit of the care and prudence of the founders in this respect. 

It was one of the provisions of the great law of April 25, 1683, that 
“schools should be established for the education of the young” and those 
in authority did not long delay in carrying it into practical effect. 

On December 26, 1683, the subject of education was brought up in 
the Provincial Council, when it was agreed that there existed a great 
necessity for a schoolmaster. Accordingly an agreement was entered 
into with Enoch Flower, who promised that in conducting such an 
establishment as was needed he would charge only four shillings for 
teaching English each quarter, six shillings for reading, writing and 
costing accounts. A scholar who boarded with him would receive his 
tuition as well as his lodging, meals and washing for £10 a year. 

This was the first regular English school in Pennsylvania. There 
had been schools during the ascendancy of the Swedes and the Dutch. 
The former are known to have maintained schools at Chester and Tini- 
cum as early as 1642, and the Dutch records show that in 1657 Evert 
Pieterson came over from Holland, and in the capacity of “schoolmas¬ 
ter, comforter of the sick and setter of Psalms,” sought twenty-five 
pupils. 

In 1689 George Keith was engaged at a salary of £50 a year, the 
use of a house, and the profits of the school for one year, to open a gram¬ 
mar school in Philadelphia. This institution was a flourishing one for 

158 






FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOLS 


159 


many years. Here the children of the poor were instructed free of 
charge, the schoolhouse being located on Fourth Street, below Chestnut, 
and conducted under a charter which had been procured by Edward 
Shippen, David Lloyd, John Jones, Samuel Carpenter, Anthony Mor¬ 
ris, James Fox, William Southby and others. 

Darby became the seat of a school in 1692. One was established in 
Germantown in 1701, with the learned Pastorius at its head. 

No church or sect was more active in education than the Moravians, 
and schools were established at Germantown, Nazareth, Bethlehem 
and Lititz. Christopher Dock, “the pious schoolmaster of the Skippack,” 
taught a Moravian school in Germantown, and is the author of the first 
book on school teaching published in America. 

During the sixty years following the establishment of Keith’s school 
there was no attempt made to start schools that would be free to all and 
not marked by the distinction between the rich and poor children. This 
democratic principle was not clearly formulated and advanced until it 
was taken up by Benjamin Franklin in 1749, when he distributed gratis 
a pamphlet which soon became productive of important results in the 
establishment of the future University of Pennsylvania. Prior to that 
time most of the schools in the province were conducted either under 
strictly private auspices or under the patronage of religious denomina¬ 
tions. 

March 1, 1802, Governor Thomas McKean signed the first law for 
the education of the children of the poor gratis, although both the Con¬ 
stitution of 1776 and that of 1790 provided for the establishment of “a 
school or schools in every county.” Owing to the lameness of this law, 
it remained a dead statute so far as some of the counties of the State 
were concerned. 

The City and County of Philadelphia had been erected into “the 
first school district of Pennsylvania” in 1818, and in 1822 the City and 
County of Lancaster were erected into “the second school district.” 
These, termed the Lancasterian methods, were the beginnings of that 
glorious system of free education which has been a blessing to our great 
Commonwealth. 

Up to 1830, the great free-school system, as we now have it, was 
still in embryo. The people began to awaken; public meetings were 
held all over the State, resolutions were adopted, comparisons with other 
States were made. The result was that on March 15, 1834, “An Act 
to Establish a General System of Education by Common Schools” was 
passed. Only a single member of the House and three Senators voted 
nay. 

Late in 1834 the enemies of free schools attacked the measure all over 
the State, and the Senate voted to repeal the act of 1834, but Thaddeus 
Stevens saved the measure in the House. By 1848 this school law had 
grown much in favor, but it was not until 1874 that the last district in 


160 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


’the State accepted the law. State Superintendent Wickersham then 
said in his annual report: “For the first time in our history the door of 
a public school house stands open to receive every child of proper age 
within the limits of the State.” 

The progress of education after 1850 was very rapid. The crown¬ 
ing acts to make elementary education universal were the free text¬ 
book law of 1893 and the compulsory attendance law of 1895. 


Pennsylvania on Paper Money Basis When 
Bills of Credit Are Issued 
March 2,1722-23 

HE first bills of credit, or paper-money, issued in the English 
American colonies were put forth by Massachusetts, in 1690, 
to pay the troops who went on an expedition against Quebec, 
under Sir William Phipps. 

It was Governor Sir William Keith who first introduced 
the people of Pennsylvania to the pleasures and benefits of an 
irredeemable paper currency. 

There had been great and long-standing complaint about the. de¬ 
ficiency of a circulating medium, for the use of wampum had ceased, 
and foreign coin had never become plenty. The course of exchange ran 
heavily against the Province, and those who possessed money made enor¬ 
mous profits by the purchase and sale of bills. 

The merchants of England did not ship bank-notes or coin to the 
Provinces. They paid for the produce which they purchased here with 
English goods, and settled the balances by shipments of sugar, rum, etc., 
from Barbadoes and other places in the West Indies, and by Negroes 
and indentured servants. 

There seems to have been more hard money in Philadelphia than in 
New England, for Franklin, a paper-money man, notes in his auto¬ 
biography how his fellow-workmen in Boston were surprised when he 
returned to his brother’s place in 1724 from Philadelphia. Franklin 
displayed a handful of silver, which was a rare sight, for they only had 
paper-money in Boston. 

When Franklin first visited Philadelphia, in 1723, he noticed with 
surprise the free circulation of metallic money among the people of Penn¬ 
sylvania. The whole of his own money then consisted of a Dutch dol¬ 
lar and a shilling’s worth of coppers. 

But this condition soon changed for James Logan, in writing to the 
Proprietaries late in 1724, says, “No gold or silver passes amongst us.” 

The Proprietary demanded sterling money in payment of quit-rents, 
no matter what the depreciation of the provincial currency. This was 






BILLS OF CREDIT ISSUED 


161 


their right since they had nothing to do either with the emission of the 
currency or its depreciation. 

As early as 1729 Logan wrote, “I dare not speak one word against 
it. The popular phrenzy will never stop till their credit will be as 
bad as they are in New England, where an ounce of silver is worth 
twenty shillings of this paper. They already talk of making more, 
and no man dares appear to stem the fury of popular rage.” Logan 
at that early date thought the king should arrest the delusion by 
proclamation. 

The peltries, grain, flour, ships, cooper-stuff, and lumber of Phila¬ 
delphia were always good for hard money with a good mercantile sys¬ 
tem. But the people were not satisfied. 

It is quite likely that wages and small debts were paid almost entirely 
in the way of barter instead of money, and this, by the losses it occasioned 
produced discontent. The capitalists opposed a change in the currency, 
the farmers, laborers, and small trades people favored it. 

In the language of petitions sent to the Assembly at this time, the 
friends of paper money contended that they were sensibly “aggrieved 
in their estates and dealings, to the great loss and growing ruin of 
themselves, and the evident decay of the province in general, for want of 
a medium to buy and sell with,” and they therefore prayed a paper 
currency. 

The people of Chester County, on the other hand, asked to have 
the value of the current money of the Province raised, the exportation 
of money prohibited, and produce made a legal tender, so as to obviate 
the necessity for paper money. They did not want a regular State 
issue, but nevertheless, like men of more modern greenback times, they 
wanted an inconvertible paper money, a non-exportable currency, as if 
that were a blessing. 

On March 2, 1722-23 an act was passed to issue £15,000. Gov¬ 
ernor Keith, in consenting to and promoting this experimental load, had 
been encouraged by the popularity of a similar measure matured by 
Governor Burnett of New Jersey. 

Pennsylvania was the very last of the middle colonies to embark in 
the paper money manufacture; but once embarked, she plunged in rap¬ 
idly and deeply. 

This first small loan of £15,000 was to be redeemed within eight 
years. In 1723 £30,000 was issued; in 1740 the issue reached a total 
of £80,000. 

Benjamin Franklin, who had urged and used his personal influence 
for this currency became alarmed and wrote, “I now think there are 
limits beyond which the quantity may be hurtful.” He was right. 

In 1755 Pennsylvania had £160,000 currency out; and in 1783 the 
State’s irredeemable currency had been increased by various issues until 
it reached $4,325,000, a sum simply ruinous to all values. 


162 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The general plan of these loans was good. No bills were loaned but 
on good security. The friends of the system were many. 

Paper money was also issued at times by individuals. In May, 1746, 
Joseph Gray gave notice that Franklin had printed for him £27,100 in 
notes of hand of 2 d., 3 d., and 6 d., “out of sheer necessity for want of 
pence for running change. Whoever takes them shall have them ex¬ 
changed on demand with the best money I have.” 

In 1749 the scarcity of small change was so great that the inhabitants 
petitioned for relief, and a committee of the Assembly was appointed to 
bring in a bill for the issue of £20,000, mostly in small bills. 

An association was formed for issuing paper money to relieve the 
pressure for change. Eight reputable merchants issued five-pound notes 
to the amount of £20,000, payable at nine months with five per cent 
interest. It was soon evident that anyone might do the same thing, and 
the community be flooded with valueless currency. It was also at the 
same time a new way of borrowing capital. A petition signed by two 
hundred tradesmen was presented to the Assembly, which forbade it. 

In 1763 the whole paper-money system of the colonies, including 
that of Pennsylvania, was outlawed by act of Parliament, when Frank¬ 
lin wrote a pamphlet, protesting against the act. 

This outlawing of colonial money had much to do with prejudicing 
the people of the colonies against the rule of Parliament. 


General Clark Began Draft for Troops in 
Drive Against Detroit, March 3, 1781 

HE Western frontiers of Pennsylvania were sorely distressed 
during the spring and summer of 1781 by the efforts of 
General George Rogers Clark, an officer of the Dominion of 
Virginia, to raise troops for an expedition in the interest of 
Virginia against the British post at Detroit. 

Clark received a commission as brigadier general and was 
given ample funds with which to purchase provisions in the country west 
of the Allegheny Mountains. Also a small force of 140 Virginia regu¬ 
lars was placed at his service and he was empowered to equip additional 
volunteers in the border counties. 

Agents were sent in advance of General Clark into the country be¬ 
tween the Laurel Hill range and the Ohio River, who began to buy 
flour and live cattle. This caused much uneasiness among the Pennsyl¬ 
vania militiamen stationed in that country, and Colonel Daniel Brod- 
head made complaint to the State Government. 

Colonel Brodhead received a letter from General Washington direct¬ 
ing him to give aid to General Clark’s undertaking and to detach from 










FIRST DRAFT FOR TROOPS 


163 


his own force the field artillery under command of Captain Isaac Craig, 
and at least a captain’s command of infantry, to assist the Virginia 
expedition. 

General Clark arrived on the Pennsylvania frontier March 3 and 
established his headquarters at the house of Colonel William Crawford, 
on the Youghiogheny, spending part of his time with Colonel Dorsey 
Pentecost on Chartiers Creek. 

It was generally known by this time that all of Virginia county of 
Yohogania and much of the counties of Monongahela and Ohio, claimed 
as part of Virginia, really belonged to Pennsylvania, but the actual 
boundary line had not been surveyed west of the Monongahela River. 

Among the settlers there were many factions, some who would only 
obey the laws of Pennsylvania, and who declared that Clark was a 
Virginia officer and had no business in Pennsylvania; others adhered to 
Virginia authority until the line should be permanently settled. A few 
took advantage of the situation and refused to obey either government 
saying they did not know which had authority over them, and they 
had enough to do to plant and keep their rifles in readiness for the 
savages. 

Clark intended to raise a force of 2,000 men. When he arrived at 
Colonel Crawford’s he learned that the frontiers were being raided by 
bands of Shawnee from the Scioto, Delaware from the Muskingum and 
Wyandot from the Sandusky. 

An expedition against those tribes would be more popular among 
the Western Pennsylvanians than a campaign against distant Detroit, 
and Clark very adroitly made an ostensible change in his plans. He 
gave it out that he was going against the Ohio savages, for the imme¬ 
diate benefit of the Westmoreland frontier, but his real design to con¬ 
quer Detroit was not altered. 

Colonel Brodhead was not for one moment deceived by General 
Clark, but many Pennsylvania officials were. On March 23 Clark 
wrote to President Reed, of Pennsylvania, asking his indorsement of the 
enterprise, for the effect it might have on the frontiersmen who called 
themselves Pennsylvanians. 

Colonel Christopher Hays, the Westmoreland County member of 
the Supreme Executive Council, was directed to aid Clark’s expedition, 
but he was at heart opposed to it. 

Colonel Hays called a meeting of all the commissioned officers of the 
Westmoreland militia to arrange a plan for the frontier defense. The 
officers met June 18, at the home of Captain John McClelland, on Big 
Sewickley Creek, and, much to the chagrin of Colonel Hays, decided by 
a majority vote to give aid to General Clark. It was resolved to fur¬ 
nish 300 men out of the county militia to join Clark’s army and Colonel 
Lochry was directed to see that this quota was raised bv “volunteer or 
draft.” 


164 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


This was the initial effort on the Pennsylvania frontier to raise 
soldiers by draft and it caused an outcry. 

Such prominent citizens as Colonel Pentecost, John Canon, Gabriel 
Cox and Daniel Leet worked zealously to recruit men for General 
Clark, while county lieutenant Marshel and his adherents were just as 
active to defeat the Virginian project. This rivalry, which grew ex¬ 
ceedingly bitter, was fatal to Clark’s enterprise. 

Few assembled at the general rendezvous, and Clark began to draft 
men for his army. This afforded the rougher element among the Vir¬ 
ginians an opportunity to exploit their hatred toward Pennsylvanians. 
The draft proceeded amid pillage, cruelty and personal violence. Vir¬ 
ginian raiding parties scoured the country, seizing and beating men, 
frightening and abusing women, breaking into houses and barns and 
causing a general reign of terror. 

Captain John Hardin was most vigorous in denouncing the Virginia 
proceedings and advising against the draft. He owned a grist mill 
near Redstone. His eldest son, John, was a lieutenant in the Eighth 
Pennsylvania, afterward famous as General John Hardin, of Kentucky. 

At the head of forty horsemen General Clark visited Hardin’s set¬ 
tlement and announced his purpose of hanging the stubborn old pioneer. 
Hardin could not be found, but one of his sons was caught and kept 
bound for several days. They broke open the mill, fed the grain to 
their horses, occupied his dwelling, killed his sheep and hogs for food 
and feasted there several days. 

General Clark declared Hardin’s estate forfeited for treason. The 
general threatened to hang those opposed to the draft, but none were 
hanged. 

On August 8, Clark began the descent of the Ohio with a force of 
400, but with his spirit broken. The evening of the day he left Colonel 
Archibald Lochry arrived with 100 volunteers from Westmoreland 
County. These expert riflemen could have been used to advantage by 
Clark and at the same time they would have avoided the disaster which 
befell Lochry during his effort to join Clark. 

Most of Clark’s force deserted him before he reached Louisville, so 
that he could not venture upon his march into the enemy’s country. He 
soon returned with small detachments, who dispersed to their homes in 
Virginia and Pennsylvania. 


PENNSYLVANIA CHARTERED 


165 


William Penn Received Charter for Pennsyl¬ 
vania from King, March 4, 1681 

DMIRAL SIR WILLIAM PENN, renowned in English his¬ 
tory by his martial valor as an officer of the British Navy, left 
to his son a claim against the Government for £16,000, con¬ 
sisting to a great extent of money advanced by him in the sea 
service and of arrearages in his pay. 

Sir William Penn was in command of an English warship 
at the age of twenty-three, when sent to the coast of Ireland to help 
fight the battle of Parliament against Charles the First. 

When the war with the Dutch followed—caused by the seizure of 
New Netherlands—Admiral Penn commanded the English fleet, under 
the Duke of York, in a fierce naval engagement off the east coast of 
England at Lowestoft, in June, 1665. Just before this battle the ad¬ 
miral’s son, William Penn, Jr., was sent to the King with dispatches. 

Admiral Penn died in 1670, worn out at forty-nine, and his son 
succeeded to his estates. 

In 1680 William Penn petitioned Charles II to grant him, in lieu 
of the sum due to his father’s estate, letter-patent, “for a tract of land 
in America, lying north of Maryland, on the east bounded with the 
Delaware River, on the west limited as Maryland, and northward to 
extend as far as plantable.” 

King Charles II was at once willing to grant the petition of William 
Penn because he could thus pay the debt owed Sir William. Some of 
his counselors objected, saying, that it would be ridiculous to suppose 
that the interests of the British nation were to be promoted by sending 
a colony of people that would not fight, that would have nothing to do 
with gin and gunpowder in dealing with the Indians. But the young 
Quaker stood high in the favor of the Duke of York, and of Charles 
II, and the King gladly consented to this easy mode of discharging the 
obligation. 

The Duke of York desired to retain the three lower counties, 
or the present State of Delaware, as an appendage to New York, but 
his objections were finally withdrawn, as were those of Lord Baltimore. 

After sundry conferences and discussions concerning the boundary 
lines and other matters of minor importance, the committee finally sent 
in a favorable recommendation and presented a draft of charter, consti¬ 
tuting William Penn, Esq., absolute Proprietary of a tract of land in 
America, therein mentioned, to the King for his approbation; and leav¬ 
ing to him also the naming of the Province. 

The King affixed his signature on March 4, 1681. The original 
charter is in the State Library. It is written on three pieces of strong 









166 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


parchment, in old English handwriting, with each line underscored with 
lines of red ink. The borders are gorgeously decorated with heraldic de¬ 
vices, and the top of the first page exhibits a finely executed likeness of 
His Majesty, in good preservation. 

Penn wished his province to be called New Wales, but the King in¬ 
sisted on Pennsylvania. Penn next proposed Sylvania, on the ground 
that the prefix “Penn” would appear like a vanity on his part, and not as 
a mark of respect for his father; but no amendment was accepted. 

The extent of the province was three degrees of latitude by five de¬ 
grees of longitude, the eastern boundary being the Delaware River, the 
northern boundary “the beginning of the three and fortieth degree of 
northern latitude, and on the south a circle drawn at twelve miles dis¬ 
tant from New Castle, northward and westward into the beginning of 
the fortieth degree of northern latitude, and then by a straight line west¬ 
ward to the limits of longitude above mentioned.” The three lower 
counties on the Delaware were not included in the charter. 

The charter gave title to more than 45,000 square miles of land, and 
was among the largest tracts in America ever granted to a single in¬ 
dividual. This grant gave Penn no coast line for his colony; so, August 
2, 1682, he purchased from the Duke of York the “Three Counties 
Upon the Delaware,” which now form the State of Delaware. Al¬ 
though these were separated from Pennsylvania in 1702, they remained a 
part of the domain of the Penn family until the American Revolution. 

Three things moved Penn to plant a colony in the New World; first, 
he would get payment for the amount of £16,000 due his father; sec¬ 
ondly, he would find a place for his brethren, the Quakers, or Friends, 
where they would not be openly insulted in the streets, or dragged from 
their meeting houses to loathsome jails and robbed of the last bed or 
cow to pay the fines for not attending the established church; and 
thirdly, he would satisfy the desire which the glowing accounts of the 
brethren in the present New Jersey had created in him. 

The second of these motives was by far the strongest. Penn himself 
had been tried for preaching to “an unlawful, seditious and riotous as¬ 
sembly.” Penn and his people enjoyed neither religious nor civil liberty 
in England. 

The charter to Penn sets forth three objects; a desire on the part of 
Penn to enlarge the English empire; to promote trade; and to bring the 
savage natives by gentleness and justice to the love of civil society and 
the Christian religion. 

Besides the territory granted, the charter gave Penn the power to 
make laws, set up courts, to trade, to erect towns, to collect customs 
duties; to make war, to sell lands and to impose taxes. 

Copies of all laws were to be sent to England, and if disapproved 
within six months they became void. No war was to be made upon any 
State at peace with England. Any twenty of the people could request 


COL. BRODHEAD AT FORT PITT 


167 


the Bishop of London to send them a preacher of the Church of Eng¬ 
land, who was to reside within the province without being molested. 

Penn offered attractive concessions to the settlers. Land was sold 
to them at the rate of $10 for 100 acres and every purchaser of lands 
should have a lot in the city, to be laid out along the river. In clearing 
th*e ground care was to be taken “to leave one acre of trees for every 
five acres cleared. This was the beginning of forestry in America. 

At the time of the charter the present limits of the State were in¬ 
habited by the Indians, with some Swedes and Dutch settled along the 
Delaware. 

The first real settlement under the new proprietor was made in 
1681, when Penn sent William Markham, his cousin, to take possession 
of the province. The next year Penn himself arrived, bringing in his 
ship, the Welcome, a hundred colonists of his own faith, to found 
Philadelphia, the city of “Brotherly Love.” 

Penn bought the land from the Indians, making a treaty of peace 
with them which remained unbroken for more than fifty years. “We 
shall never forget the counsel he gave us,” said an Indian chief at Con¬ 
estoga in 1721. 


Colonel Daniel Brodhead Arrives at Fort Pitt 
to Fight Indians, March 5, 1779 

OLONEL DANIEL BRODHEAD was sent to Fort Pitt to 
relieve General Edward Hand, and he arrived there March 5, 
1779. He was a trained soldier and knew how to fight Indians. 

General Hand turned over to him seven hundred militia¬ 
men. Some of these were stationed at Fort McIntosh, at what 
is now Beaver, some at Fort Henry, now Wheeling, W. Va., a 
few at Fort Randolph, now Point Pleasant, details at Fort Hand, 
near Kiskimimetas, near Apollo, and another guard at Fort Crawford, 
now Parnassus. 

Forts Hand and Crawford were intended to protect the northern 
border of Westmoreland County from the raids of the Iroquois who 
lived on the upper waters of the Allegheny River. 

With the first mild weather of spring the incursions of the savages 
began. The Seneca and Munsee descended the Allegheny in canoes 
and scattered in little bands throughout the country. They burned 
cabins, killed and scalped men, carried off the women and children and 
household goods. 

Colonel Brodhead put into operation a system of scouting along the 
border from one fort to another. From his regulars at Fort Pitt, he 
selected his boldest and most experienced frontiersmen and organized 
ranging parties and sent them on extended tours through the forests. 








168 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


To the command of these important details he selected three of the 
bravest woodsmen in the Eighth Pennsylvania, Captain Van Swearingen, 
Lieutenant Samuel Brady and Lieutenant John Hardin. It was in this 
service that Brady won his fame as an Indian fighter. 

Samuel Brady’s hatred of the savages was personal and he made, it 
his business to kill them. In this he was justified in the cruel death of 
his brother, James, August 8, 1778, which was followed by the treach¬ 
erous murder of his father, the celebrated Captain John Brady, April 
11, 1779. 

Samuel Brady received the news of his father’s death about the time 
he was chosen by Colonel Brodhead to the command of forest rangers. 
This increased his hatred of the red men and moved him to execute 
vengeance. 

Brady and his scouts were clad entirely in Indian fashion. In the 
forest excursions they even painted their bodies and faces and wore 
feathers in their hair, in imitation of savage warriors. 

An attack was made on Ligonier settlement in April. On April 26, 
one hundred Indians and Tories attacked Fort Hand, in both affairs 
defenders were killed and many captured, and other places were at¬ 
tacked and habitations burned. 

During May, Brodhead kept his scouts out along the upper Alle¬ 
gheny to give warning of the approach of hostile bands. 

Brodhead learned, about June 1, that a large band of Seneca and 
Tories, under Colonel John Butler was preparing to descend the Alle¬ 
gheny, and he dispatched three scouts, in canoes as far as Venango, the 
present Franklin. The scouts were discovered and pursued, and nar¬ 
rowly escaped capture, but brought the news which confirmed the report 
received by Brodhead. 

The savages penetrated into Westmoreland, where they killed and 
scalped a solitary soldier, then attacked the little settlement at James 
Perry’s Mills, on Big Sewickley Creek, killed a woman and four chil¬ 
dren, and carried off two children, many cattle and much plunder. 

Two ranging parties were sent after these marauders. One was 
marched to the Sewickley settlement and an attempt was made to fol¬ 
low the trail. The other band consisted of twenty men under Brady, 
which ascended the Allegheny River. 

As Brady’s detail advanced one evening along the beach within the 
mouth of the Big Mahoning where it empties into the Allegheny, they 
found many Indian canoes drawn up and hidden among the shrubbery. 
The Indians had gone into camp in the woods, on a little knoll north 
of the creek, and were preparing the evening meal when discovered by 
Brady. They had hobbled their horses and turned them out to graze. 
The stream was very high and the scouts were compelled to ascend it 
two miles before they could wade across. 

After nightfall Brady and his men hid themselves in the tall grass 


SETTLERS ATTACK PACK TRAINS 


169 


near the Indian camp. Brady and Chief Nonowland, laying aside their 
tomahawks, knives, powder horns and bullet pouches, crept to within 
a few yards of the Indian camp to count the savages and ascertain the 
position of the captive children. 

One of the Indians suddenly cast off his blanket, arose, stepped forth 
to within six feet of where Brady lay, stood there awhile, stretched 
himself and then returned to his slumber. 

Brady and Nonowland then prepared for an attack at daybreak. 
The whole party of scouts made their way through the grass and weeds 
to a position as near the camp as was considered safe, and lay awaiting 
the dawn. 

As daylight appeared an Indian awoke and aroused the others. They 
stood about the fire laughing and chatting when a deadly volley broke 
forth from the rifles of the scouts lying in the bushes. The chief and 
seven Indian warriors fell dead and the others, almost naked, fled into 
the dense forest, two of them severely wounded. Brady’s own rifle 
brought down the chief, and with a shout of almost fiendish triumph 
he sprang forward and scalped him. 

The traditions of the Brady family say that the chief was none other 
than Bald Eagle, who had struck down and scalped Brady’s younger 
brother, James, ten months before. Brodhead reported to Washington 
that the chief was “a notorious warrior of the Munsee nation.” 

The children captured at Sewickley were recovered unharmed and 
Brady and his men returned to Fort Pitt with the stolen horses and 
plunder, the blankets, guns, tomahawks and knives of the savages and 
many scalps. 


Settlers Attack Pack Trains Near Fort 
Loudoun, March 6, 1765 

HE period immediately following Colonel Bouquet’s successful 
expedition against the Indians at Muskingum October, 1764, 
was one of comparative peace, but this did not long continue. 

A most interesting episode occurred about this time in the 
Conococheague Valley, from the North to the South Moun¬ 
tain. The people who had been driven off had gradually re¬ 
turned and were now determined to make a better stand against the 
enemy. They raised a sum of money and recruited a company of rifle¬ 
men, of which James Smith was elected captain. They dressed in In¬ 
dian fashion and painted their faces red and black like the Indian war¬ 
riors. . . , 

Two of the officers had long been in Indian captivity, and they 
drilled their men in Indian discipline, and so expert did this company 
become that it was recognized by the British Government and Captain 








170 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Smith received a commission in the regular service under King George 
III, and the following year was with Bouquet’s expedition against Mus¬ 
kingum. 

George Croghan, the deputy agent for Indian affairs, went to Fort 
Pitt in February, 1765, and brought about the meeting with Sir Wil¬ 
liam Johnson, whereby on May 8, 1765, a definite treaty of peace was 
made with the Delaware. 

When Croghan set out from Philadelphia for Fort Pitt, March 1, 
1765, he gave a pass for a large number of wagons belonging to Boynton 
and Wharton, of Philadelphia, loaded with merchandise, which was in¬ 
tended as presents for the Indians at Fort Pitt. 

But the people of Cumberland County took the law into their own 
hands to prevent warlike stores being supplied to savages recently in 
arms against them. These goods were hauled to Henry Collins, at 
Conococheague, and there he contracted to pack them on eighty-one 
horses, by which they were to be delivered into Fort Pitt. 

This large transaction alarmed the country and William Duffield 
raised and armed about fifty of the trained men of that valley and 
marched to Fort Loudoun, where Duffield made a request that this 
consignment of goods be stored up until further orders, but this was 
refused, and on March 6 the pack train proceeded on its journey. 

The same morning a large company started from the house of Wil¬ 
liam Smith, one of the Justices of Cumberland County. They came up 
with this pack train at Sideling Hill, about seventeen miles beyond 
Fort Loudoun, when sixty-three of the horse loads were burned or 
pillaged. 

A sergeant and twelve men of the Highlanders sent from the fort, 
went through the neighborhood, saved the balance of the goods, cap¬ 
tured several persons, five rifles and four smooth bore guns. 

The traders, after losing their caravan, went back to the fort and 
complained to the commanding officer. It was then that three hundred 
riflemen marched to Fort Loudoun and encamped on the hill in sight of 
the fort. 

James Smith, a relative of Justice Smith, and the captain who served 
with Bouquet, appeared in a few days at the head of a large crowd of 
his infuriated neighbors, and declared that they would suffer death to 
the last man, rather than let the prisoners be put to jail at Carlisle. 

Two months later another caravan of horses laden with liquors, etc., 
for the troops at Fort Pitt, under a pass from the commander there, ar¬ 
rived at Fort Loudoun, about May 1, and were relieved of their burden 
in the fort. The drivers led their horses out to pasture, when about 
thirty men, with their faces painted black, rushed upon them, flogged 
the drivers, killed five horses and burned all the saddles. In the battle 
which ensued one of the attacking party was wounded. 

Again Captain James Smith led his neighbors to the fort. He was 


SETTLERS ATTACK PACK TRAINS 171 

accompanied by three Justices who demanded right to search the goods 
in store there, but intended for transportation to Fort Pitt. 

Lieutenant Charles Grant, of the Highlanders, commandant of the 
fort, explained that the general had committed the goods to his care, 
but had ordered an inventory to be taken before a justice of the peace, 
but this inventory could not be taken in the presence of a mob. 

The vigilance men threw off the restraints of decent appearance 
by issuing the following: 

“Advertisement. These are to give notice to all our Loyal Vol¬ 
unteers to those that has not yet inlisted, you are to come to our Town 
and come to our Tavern and fill your Belly’s with Liquor and your 
mouth with swearing, and you will have your pass, but if not, your 
Back must be whipt and mouth gagged. * * * We will have Grant, the 
officer of Loudoun, whip’d or hanged. * * * The Governor will pardon 
our Crimes, and the Clergy will give us absolution, and the Country 
will stand by us; so we may do what we please. * * * free toleration for 
drinking, swearing, sabbath breaking, and any outrage what we have a 
mind to, to let those Strangers know their place. * * * We call it 
Hell’s town, in Cumberland County, the 25th May, 1765. Peter’s 
Township.” 

The crowning deed was reserved for May 28. Lieutenant Grant, 
while riding about a mile from the fort, was fired upon. His horse 
started suddenly at the crack of the rifle and he was thrown off. Cap¬ 
tain James Smith and others seized him, carried him six miles distant 
and kept him a prisoner all night in the woods. He was there threat¬ 
ened unless he agreed to give up all the arms taken from the rioters. 

Governor Penn and General Gage were humiliated by these insults 
to the King’s uniform and their inability to punish the offenders, but the 
more serious concern was in the obstruction of the communication for 
traders with their goods to reach the Illinois country, where the French 
across the Mississippi, were ready to obtain an influence by commerce. 

While allegiance of the Indians was thus jeopardized, white men 
began to creep over the mountains and encroach upon land not yet sold 
by the aborigines. Red Stone settlement was thus made, at the risk of 
another war. Gage sent a detachment of Highlanders to this region 
to compel all whites west of the Alleghenies to return to their own 
provinces, but those who left soon went back again with others. 

On June 4, 1765, Governor Penn declared trade with the Indians 
open from June 20 to all inhabitants of the Province who should apply 
for and obtain his license. 


172 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Andrew Lycans Killed in Attack by Indians 
in Wiconisco Valley, March 7,1756 

HE Wiconisco or Lykens Valley includes that section of the 
“Upper End” of Dauphin County that is watered by the 
Wiconisco Creek and its branches, save where local names 
have been given to certain portions, such as Williams Val¬ 
ley, etc. 

In 1732 Andrew Lycans settled on the Swartara Creek, 
where he took up 250 acres of land. In 1740 he removed to the west 
side of the Susquehanna, where he settled between Sherman’s Creek 
and the Juniata, in then Cumberland County. 

This land had not been included in the last Indian purchase and the 
Shawnee Indians, who had a few scattered villages on the Juniata, com¬ 
plained of the encroachments of these settlers and demanded their re¬ 
moval. To pacify the Indians the provincial authorities sent, in 1748, 
the Sheriff of Lancaster County, with three magistrates, accompanied by 
Conrad Weiser, to warn the people to leave at once, but they remained, 
determined not to be driven away, at least by threats. 

On May 22, 1750, a number of high dignitaries appointed by the 
Lieutenant Governor, held a conference at the house of George Crog- 
han, in Pennsborough Township, Cumberland County. Subsequently, 
accompanied by Deputy Sheriff Andrew Work, of that county, they 
went to the place where Andrew Lycans and his neighbors lived, took 
them all into custody and burned their cabins. 

Sheriff Work presented his account for the “removal of trespassers 
at Juniata,” in which he asked for ten days’ pay for his “attendance on 
the Secretary Magistrates of the County of Cumberland, by his Hon’s. 
the Governor’s command to remove sundry persons settled to the north¬ 
ward of the Kickitania Mountains.” This and the expenses of a mes¬ 
senger sent from Lancaster amounted to three pounds and seven shill¬ 
ings. Then he asked for “the Under-Sheriff’s attendance in taking 
down Andrew Lycan to prison to Lancaster; other expenses on the jour¬ 
ney; two pounds ten shillings.” 

Lycans and his neighbors were subsequently released by order of 
Governor Hamilton. Andrew Lycans removed with his family to the 
east side of the Susquehanna, beyond the Kittochtinny Mountains, and 
by permission of the authorities “settled on a tract of about 200 acres 
situated on the northerly side of Whiconesong Creek.” Here he made 
extensive improvements. 

Until the spring of 1756 these pioneers were not disturbed, but fol¬ 
lowing the defeat of General Braddock, everywhere along the frontier 
the savages began their work of devastation and death. 








INDIANS KILL ANDREW LYCANS 


173 


On March 7, 1756, Andrew Lycans and John Rewalt went out 
early to feed their cattle, when they were suddenly startled by the report 
of two rifles. Neither of them being harmed, they were able to reach 
the house, where they prepared themselves for defense in case of an 
attack. 

The Indians concealed themselves behind a hog-house not far from 
the dwelling. John Lycans, a son of Andrew; John Rewalt and Lud¬ 
wig Shutt, a neighbor, crept out of the house in an effort to discover the 
whereabouts of the savages and get a shot at them, but they were fired 
upon by five Indians and each one wounded, Shutt receiving a dangerous 
wound in the abdomen. 

At this moment Andrew Lycans discovered one of the Indians named 
Joshua James near the hog-house and also two white men running away 
from their hiding place. Lycans fired and killed James. 

Lycans and his party in the house believed this a favorable oppor¬ 
tunity for escape and started from the dwelling, but they were observed 
and closely pursued by a score of the enemy. 

John Lycans and John Rewalt were too badly wounded to put up 
much resistance, but with the aid of a Negro servant they escaped, leav¬ 
ing Andrew Lycans, Ludwig Shutt and a boy to engage the Indians. 

The savages rushed in upon them, and one Indian in the act of 
striking the boy with his tomahawk was shot dead by Shutt, while 
Lycans killed another and wounded a third Indian. 

The Indian killed by Shutt was named Bill Davis. Two others 
recognized by Lycans were Tom Hickman and Tom Hayes, all of the 
Delaware tribe, and well known in that neighborhood. 

This upset in the plan of attack caused the Indians to momentarily 
cease their pursuit and Lycans, Shutt and the lad, being exhausted from 
loss of blood, sat down on a log to rest themselves, believing they were 
no longer in danger. The Indians stood some distance off to keep 
them in view, but in spite of this caution, Lycans managed to lead his 
little party to a place of safe concealment and later over the mountain 
into Hanover Township, where neighbors gave them assistance; but 
Andrew Lycans died from his injuries and exposure. 

This pioneer martyr left a wife, one son and five daughters. These 
returned to their home soon as the danger was over, and on more than 
one subsequent occasion were compelled to flee before the marauding 
savages. The one attack in which Andrew Lycans was killed is the 
only occasion where a life was lost by the Indian incursions in the 
Wiconisco Valley. 

John Lycans, son of Andrew, became an officer in the provincial 
service, commissioned July 12, 1762. In June, 1764, he was stationed 
at Manada Gap. His mother, Jane Lycans, in February, 1765, had a 
patent issued to her for the land on which her husband had located. 

The original Lycans cabin stood until about fifty years ago. It was 


174 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


situated near the present site of Oakdale, a few yards north of the bridge 
that crosses the Wiconisco. It was built of hewn logs with windows 
about nine inches square, which were also used as port holes. 

Andrew Lycans has given his name to the beautiful valley of the 
Wiconisco, owing possibly to his fatal encounter with the Indians, March 

7, 1756. 

Ludwig Shutt recovered from his serious wounds and lived until 
1790, and left a large family, some of his descendants being present 
residents of Lykens Valley. John Rewalt subsequently removed to an¬ 
other part of the province as did John Lycans, following his tour of 
duty as an officer in the provincial service. 


Frightful Slaughter of Indians at Gnaden- 
huetten, March 8,1782 

N THE fall of 1781, Pennsylvania frontiersmen decided that 
their safety would no longer permit the residence of the Mora¬ 
vian Indians on the Muskingum, which was about seventy 
miles from Fort McIntosh, in the present State of Ohio. Fort 
McIntosh was on the right bank of the Ohio River at the 
mouth of Beaver River, now Beaver, Pennsylvania. 

Colonel David Williamson, one of the battalion commanders of 
Washington County, gathered a company of 100 men and on Novem¬ 
ber 5 started for the Tuscarawa Indians to compel the Moravians 
either to migrate into the hostile country or to move in a body to Fort 
Pitt. They found the village deserted save by a few Indian men and 
women. Colonel Williamson conducted these Indians safely to Fort 
Pitt. 

A small settlement of Delaware had already been established near 
Fort Pitt. After Colonel Daniel Brodhead destroyed Coshocton, in the 
spring of 1781, Killbuck, the chief sachem of the Delaware, with his 
immediate kindred and the families of Big Cat, Nonowland and other 
chiefs, who remained friends to the American cause took possession of a 
small island at the mouth of the Allegheny River, opposite Fort Pitt, 
where they built bark wigwams, planted corn and vegetables and other¬ 
wise supported themselves by hunting and the sale of furs. This place 
became known as Killbuck Island, afterwards Smoky Island. 

Many of this settlement accompanied military scouting parties, and 
were of much service in the defense of the Western frontier. Chief 
Killbuck, also known as Gelemend, meaning “leader/’ became a soldier 
and officer in the United States Army. He died in 1811. 

In the spring of 1782, which was unusually early, came the 
marauding Indians. The first blow fell February 8, when John Fink 






INDIANS MASSACRED BY SETTLERS 


175 


was killed near Buchanan’s Fort, on the upper Monongahela. On Sun¬ 
day, February 10, a large body of Indians visited the dwelling of Robert 
Wallace, on Raccoon Creek, Beaver County. The head of the family 
being absent at the time, the savages killed all his cattle and hogs, 
plundered the house of its contents and carried away Mrs. Wallace and 
her three children. 

About February 15, six Indians captured John Carpenter and two 
of his horses on the Dutch Fork, of Buffalo Creek. They crossed the 
Ohio at Mingo Bottom and made off toward the Tuscarawa villages. 
Four of these Indians were Wyandot. Two spoke Dutch, and told 
Carpenter they were Moravians. On the morning of the second day, 
Carpenter was sent to the woods to get the horses. Finding them some 
distance from the camp fire, he mounted one of the horses and dashed 
for Fort Pitt, where he told his story to Colonel Gibson. 

Gibson mustered 160 young men of Washington County, and placed 
Colonel Williamson in command of the expedition, which moved im¬ 
mediately. The Ohio was at flood height and they effected a crossing 
Monday, March 4, and hastened along the beaten trail toward Gnaden- 
huetten on the Muskingum. As may well be imagined Robert Wallace 
was an eager volunteer in this expedition. 

They had not proceeded far until they found the torn corpse of Mrs. 
Wallace, impaled on the trunk of a sapling, just off the path. The 
mutilated body of her infant lay nearby. The infuriated frontiersmen 
remounted their horses, reached the environs of Gnadenhuetten in the 
evening of March 6, when their scouts brought back word that the 
village was now full of Indians. 

Colonel Williamson divided his force into three parties, sending one 
command to strike the river below the town, a second to cross the stream 
above and cut off retreat in that direction, the third forming the center 
to advance upon the place directly. 

The attack was begun on the morning of March 7, and not a shot 
was fired by the center or left. The presence of women and children 
warned the frontiersmen that it was not occupied simply by a war party, 
and Colonel Williamson quickly learned the Indians were Moravians. 
No resistance was made and soon the frontiersmen were conversing with 
the Indians who could speak English. In a council the colonel told 
them they must go to Fort Pitt, which the Indians appeared willing to 
do. The Indians sent messengers down the river to Salem to tell their 
people to come to Gnadenhuetten. 

The right wing had a more thrilling experience when they found 
the Tuscarawas was in flood and too swift for their horses to swim. 
A young man named Sloughter swam across to get a canoe, which proved 
to be a maple sugar trough, but he paddled it across the swollen stream. 
The others stripped, placed their clothing and rifles in the trough, swam 
across, pushing the trough before them. 


176 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Advancing down the western shore, a solitary Indian was shot and 
wounded in the arm. This act was witnessed by another Indian named 
Jacob, who sought escape in a canoe, but was killed. 

The company advancing upon the Indians working in the corn 
field, found them to be Moravians and led them to the village. Soon 
the Indians from Salem arrived to the number of 96, all of whom were 
confined in a log church, after being disarmed. 

An Indian woman was found to be wearing the dress of Mrs. Wal¬ 
lace. The garment was identified by the bereaved husband. A search 
of the cabins was then made which resulted in finding stolen household 
effects. 

The volunteers could hardly be restrained longer. Colonel William¬ 
son consulted with his captains, some of whom favored the execution 
of the whole band. But during this council many Indians were brought 
before it, one at a time, and examined. Not one acknowledged his own 
guilt, but some confessed that others had been on the war path. Some 
were even then in their war paint. These revelations produced such 
an effect upon the borderers that the Colonel could no longer resist their 
outcry for vengeance. He put the question to a vote and only eighteen 
of the entire body of volunteers voted for mercy. 

Friday morning, March 8th, the decree of condemnation was exe¬ 
cuted. The Indian men were led, two by two, to the cooper shop and 
there beaten to death with mallets and hatchets. Two broke away and 
ran for the river, but were shot dead. The women were led to another 
building and slain like the men. 

Only forty of the volunteers participated in the execution of forty 
men, twenty women and thirty-four children. It is probable that even 
the frontiersmen who stood aside and looked on did not consider their 
deed a crime. 

The volunteers then burned the Indian village at Schoenbrun, and 
before they departed from Gnadenhuetten they set fire to every building. 
Salem was also destroyed. 

Two weeks later, on Sunday, March 24, some militiamen attacked 
the Indians on Killbuck Island. Several Indians were killed. Killbuck 
and most of his band escaped in canoes. 

General Irvine returned to Fort Pitt from a visit to Philadelphia and 
Carlisle the day after the attack and immediately put a stop to the raids, 


BEDFORD COUNTY FORMED 


177 


County of Bedford Formed from a Part of 
Cumberland, March 9, 1771 

HE county of Bedford was erected March 9, 1771, by an act of 
the General Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania. 

The entire territory for the new county was cut from 
Cumberland County. 

The commissioners appointed to “run, mark out, and dis¬ 
tinguish the boundary lines between the said counties of Cum¬ 
berland and Bedford,” were Robert McCrea, William Miller, and Rob¬ 
ert Moore. 

The boundaries of the new county embraced the entire southwestern 
portion of the State, from the Tuscarora Mountains westward to the 
Ohio and Virginia line. 

March 21, 1772, at the time Northumberland County was erected, 
the limits of Bedford County were more definitely explained. North¬ 
umberland County was given a part of the original territory of Bedford. 

The limits of Bedford were afterward reduced by the erection of 
Westmoreland in 1773, Huntingdon in 1787, Somerset in 1795, Cambria 
in 1804, Blair in 1846, and Fulton in 1850. The territory now wholly 
or in part of twenty of the present counties of Pennsylvania was in the 
original Bedford County. 

The name was taken from the county town, which was selected 
when the county was erected. The town was so called from the fort 
of that name, which had been given to it by Governor John Penn, when, 
by his order the fort at Raystown was built. This was in honor of 
one of the dukes of the house of Bedford, in England, during the latter 
part of the reign of King George II. 

The exact date of the building of Fort Bedford is not certain, but 
there is no doubt that the place of defense was celebrated during the 
French and Indian Wars. It was one of the earliest settlements west of 
the Allegheny Mountains. Mr. Jones in his History of the Juniata 
Valley claims that the earliest settlement on the Raystown Branch of 
the Juniata was made by a man named Ray in 1751, who built three 
cabins near where Bedford now stands. He further says: “In 1755 
the province agreed to open a wagon road from Fort Loudon, in 
Cumberland County, to the forks of the Youghiogheny River. For this 
purpose three hundred men were sent up, but for some cause or other the 
project was abandoned.” 

This road was completed in 1758, when the allied forces of Virginia, 
Maryland, and Pennsylvania marched against Fort Duquesne, under 
General John Forbes. 







178 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

A fort was built at this same time at Raystown, and called Fort 
Bedford. 

Mr. Charles N. Hickok, of Bedford, who has written much of the 
history of that county, claims that Rae, as he spells the name, defended 
his settlement as early as 1751, almost a decade before the soldiers of 
Forbes’ exposition arrived there. The settlement was known as “Camp 
at Raystown” before General Forbes was encamped there, and his first 
official papers were so dated. 

Early in April, 1757, Governor Denny ordered Colonel John Arm¬ 
strong and his battalion to encamp at Raystown, “a well chosen situation 
on this side of the Allegheny Hills between two Indian roads.” 

In June following Captain Hance Hamilton led a scouting party 
from the “Fort at Carlisle to Raystown, but encountered no Indians.” 

On August 16, 1758, Major Joseph Shippen wrote from the camp 
at Raystown: “We have a good stockade fort here, with several con¬ 
venient and large store houses. Our camps are all secured with good 
breast works and a small ditch on the outside, and everything goes well.” 

The “Old Fort House,” which is still standing, was a large and 
commodious building for the period in which it was erected. It was 
used as the officers’ quarters, and was designated as the “King’s House.” 

Fort Bedford was the center of much activity during the latter part 
of the French and Indian and the Pontiac Wars. At times more than 
a thousand troops were quartered there. There are accounts of mutiny 
among the troops and other exciting incidents. 

In 1763, Fort Bedford was the principal depot for military stores 
between Carlisle and Fort Pitt, and in order to further strengthen it, 
the small stockades at Juniata Crossing and Stony Creek were abandoned 
and the force concentrated at Fort Bedford. 

Indians never made an attack upon the fort, but killed, scalped, or 
took prisoner, eighteen persons, in that immediate neighborhood. 

The town of Bedford was laid out by Surveyor-General John Lukens, 
in 1766. 

Following the Pontiac War Colonel James Smith, and his celebrated 
band of “Black Boys,” were conspicuous for several years and kept the 
Indians in check and administered a lasting rebuke to the Proprietary 
Government when it attempted to furnish food and clothing to the 
Indians on the western frontier. 

The history of Fort Bedford was celebrated by the visitations of 
such celebrities as Generals Forbes and Washington, Colonels Arm¬ 
strong, Bouquet, Burd and others. 

The first white child born at Raystown was William Fraser. 

The county buildings, court house and prison, were arranged for 
in the act which erected the county. The first session of court was held 
April 16, 1771, before “William Proctor, Jr., Robert Cluggage, Robert 
Hanna, George Wilson, William Lochrey, and William McConnell, 


ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES 


179 


Esquires, justices of our Lord the King.” William Proctor was the first 
sheriff, and Arthur St. Clair was appointed first prothonotary, recorder, 
and clerk of the court. 

The first attorney to be sworn was Robert Magraw. 

The names recommended to the Governor for license as tavern- 
keepers were Margaret Fraser, Jean Woods, Frederic Naugel, George 
Funk, John Campbell, Joseph Irwin, John Miller, and Samuel Paxton. 

Bedford County became an active unit in the State and when the 
Revolution broke out she sent her best men into the State Conventions 
and during all that long struggle for independence performed her full 
duty to Pennsylvania and the colonies. 

Bedford County has had some illustrious sons among whom were 
Hon. Thomas Smith, Hon. Jonathan Walker, Hon. Charles Huston, 
Hon. John Tod, Hon. Jeremiah S. Black, all members of the Supreme 
Court, and other high offices; United States Senator Hon. William Wil¬ 
kins, and Hon. John S. Carlisle, who served as United States Senator 
from West Virginia, and others 

The medicinal springs at Bedford are widely and justly celebrated, 
and the town is one of the most attractive resorts in all this country. 


Organization of Sixty-seven Counties of 
Pennsylvania Began with Philadel¬ 
phia, March 10, 1682 

HE three original counties of Pennsylvania were Philadelphia, 
Chester and Bucks. Some authorities claim Philadelphia was 
the original county and the others formed soon thereafter. 
These authorities give the date of the erection of Philadelphia 
County as March 10, 1682. 

Pennsylvania historians generally agree that the three were 
originally erected at the same time by William Penn. Philadelphia ex¬ 
tended toward the northwest, bounded on either side by its neighboring 
counties, Bucks and Chester. 

Bucks was called Buckingham in a letter written by William Penn 
to the Society of Free Traders in 1683. At that time its northern 
boundary was the Kittatinny Mountains, or as far as the land might 
be purchased from the Indians—a very indeterminate line. 

Chester County included what is now Delaware County, and all 
the territory, except a small portion now in Philadelphia County south¬ 
west of the Schuykill, to the extreme limits of the Province. 

The first county to be formed in addition to the three original 
counties was Lancaster, which was taken from the territory of Chester 
County May 10, 1729. Its boundaries then comprised “all the province 







180 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


lying to the northward of the Octararo Creek, and westward of a line 
of marked trees running from the north branch of the said Octararo 
Creek northeasterly to the Schuylkill.” This new county was first 
reduced in size August 19, 1749, when York County was cut from its 
territory; and secondly on January 27, 1750, when the big county of 
Cumberland was erected from Lancaster. The limits of Cumberland 
then included the whole country west to the boundary of the State, or 
as far as the preceding Indian purchase. 

Bucks County was reduced in size when Northampton County was 
erected from its territory, March 11, 1752, and on the same day the 
County of Berks was erected from Philadelphia, Bucks and Lancaster. 
Thus the Province of Pennsylvania continued with the eight counties 
until March 9, 1771, when Bedford was formed from Cumberland, the 
first of the many counties taken from her territory. 

Northumberland County was erected March 21, 1772, from parts 
of Lancaster, Cumberland, Berks, Bedford and Northampton. On 
account of Indian purchases now reaching to the western boundaries 
of the State, the limits of Northumberland reached to the western and 
northern boundaries of the State. Her territory was so extensive that 
she has been known as “The Mother of Counties,” and all or parts of 
thirty of the present counties of Pennsylvania have been taken from the 
original territory of “Old Mother Northumberland.” 

February 26, 1773, was erected the County of Westmoreland, whose 
territory was taken from Bedford County. It then included the entire 
southwestern section of the State. The next county to be erected was 
Washington, on March 28, 1781, and its territory was taken from West¬ 
moreland, as was the County of Fayette, formed September 26, 1783. 
Thus, Westmoreland was considerably reduced in size within ten years 
from its organization. 

Franklin County was erected September 9, 1784, and its territory 
taken from Cumberland. The following day, September 10, 1784, 
Montgomery County was formed from a part of Philadelphia County, 
the last territory to be taken from the original county. 

March 4, 1785, Dauphin was cut oflf from Lancaster; September 25, 

1786, Luzerne was erected from Northumberland, and September 20, 

1787, Huntingdon was formed from Bedford. 

Allegheny County was formed from Westmoreland and Washington 
Counties, September 24, 1788. Mifflin was formed from Cumberland 
and Northumberland Counties September 19, 1789. 

Old Chester County lost part of its territory when Delaware County 
was cut from it September 26, 1789. Thus the county which comprised 
the most ancient settlements in Pennsylvania was now formed into the 
new County of Delaware, and the organization of counties in the south¬ 
eastern part of the State completed. 

When the County of Lycoming was cut from Northumberland, 


ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES 


181 

April 13, 1795, it was for years the largest county of the State. Four 
days later the County of Somerset was formed from Bedford. Green 
County was cut from Washington February 9, 1796, thus completing 
the formation of counties in the southwest corner of the State. 

The next county to be formed was that of Wayne, which was set off 
from Northampton March 21, 1797, and formed the northeastern corner 
of the State. 

Adams was erected from York January 22, 1800, and February 13 
following Center was formed from parts of Northumberland, Ly¬ 
coming, Mifflin and Huntingdon, and March 12 eight new counties— 
Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Venango and War¬ 
ren—were formed. Thus, the remaining corner of the State was 
organized. The counties were taken from Lycoming and Allegheny, 
Westmoreland furnished a part of Armstrong and Washington yielded 
up a portion for Beaver, but Allegheny furnished the largest amount 
of territory for the new counties. 

Indiana was cut from Westmoreland and Lycoming, March 30, 
1803. 

Six new counties were erected on March 26, 1804, when Cambria, 
Clearfield, Jefferson, McKean, Potter and Tioga were formed. The 
latter four being taken from Lycoming, while Northumberland helped 
with Clearfield, but Cambria was cut from parts of Huntingdon, Somer¬ 
set and Bedford. Bradford and Susquehanna, were formed February 
21, 1810, the former from Lycoming and Luzerne and the latter from 
Luzerne alone. 

March 11, 1811, Schuylkill was formed from Berks and Northamp¬ 
ton. March 6, 1812, Lehigh was taken from Northampton, and Febru¬ 
ary 16, 1813, Lebanon was erected from Lancaster and Dauphin. 
Columbia and Union were erected March 22, 1813, both being taken 
from Northumberland. Pike was cut from Wayne, March 26, 1814, 
and Perry was taken from Cumberland, March 22, 1820. 

The State remained thus until Juniata was formed, March 2, 1831, 
from Mifflin; Monroe was taken from Northampton and Pike, April 1, 
1836; Clarion was taken from Venango and Armstrong, March 11, 
1839, and on June 21 following Clinton was formed from Lycoming 
and Center. Wyoming was erected from Luzerne, April 4, 1842, and 
Carbon was formed from Northampton and Monroe, March 13, 1843. 
April 18 following, Elk was cut from Jefferson, Clearfield and McKean. 

Blair was formed February 26, 1846 from Huntingdon and Bed¬ 
ford; Sullivan was taken from Lycoming, March 15, 1847; Forest was 
formed from Jefferson and Venango, April 11, 1848; Lawrence from 
Beaver and Mercer, March 20, 1849; Fulton was cut from Bedford, 
April 19, 1850, and little Montour was taken from Columbia, May 3, 
of the same year. 

Snyder was formed from Union March 2, 1855, and March 29, 


182 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

1860, Cameron was cut from parts of Clinton, Elk, McKean and 
Potter. 

The last of the sixty-seven counties of Pennsylvania is Lackawanna 
which was cut from Luzerne, August 13, 1878. 


Public Education Established by Governor 
George Wolf, Who Died March 11,1840 

EORGE WOLF, the seventh Governor of Pennsylvania, was 
born in Allen Township, Northampton County, August 12, 
1777, and died March 11, 1840. 

He attended a classical school established in the county by 
a society formed for the purpose, which was presided over by 
Robert Andrews, A. M., a graduate of Trinity College, 
Dublin. Here he acquired a good knowledge of the Latin and Greek 
languages and of the sciences usually pursued in a liberal education. 
Leaving school he took charge of his father’s farm and also acted as 
principal of the academy in his native township. Before his majority 
he acted as clerk to the prothonotary, at the same time studying law 
under the direction of John Ross. 

He early espoused the political principles of Thomas Jefferson, and 
when the latter became President he appointed Mr. Wolf Postmaster 
at Easton, and shortly after Governor Thomas McKean appointed him 
Clerk of the Orphans’ Court of Northampton County, which office he 
held until 1809. 

In 1814 he was elected a member of the Legislature, and in 1824 
he was elected a Representative in Congress, a position he acceptably 
filled for three terms. 

In 1829 he was chosen Governor of Pennsylvania over Joseph Ritner. 

Mr. Wolf was not an active aspirant for the office of Governor 
and received the nomination without knowing that any considerable 
strength in the convention was in his favor. He accepted the nomina¬ 
tion, abandoned his lucrative practice and entered vigorously into the 
campaign. 

At this period there began to be a change in the political horizon 
of the state. A fearful crusade was made against secret societies, which 
were denounced as tending to subvert government. 

Commencing in the New England States, the reported abduction 
of a traitor to the Freemasons in Batavia, New York, assisted to spread 
rapidly the contagion, and party lines were almost equally drawn in the 
State of Pennsylvania. The Federal party lost its identity, and the 
Anti-Masons sprang up like mushrooms. Their candidate, Joseph Ritner, 
was defeated at the first election by seventeen thousand and at the 








GOVERNOR GEORGE WOLF 183 

second by only three thousand out of a poll of almost two hundred 
thousand. 

When Governor Wolf came into office the financial affairs of the 
Commonwealth, owing to the extensive scheme of public improvements, 
then progressing at a fair rate, were in deplorable condition. There was 
but one course to pursue which would maintain the credit of the State 
and that was to push the works to rapid completion. This was done 
and in a few years he with others had the proud satisfaction of behold¬ 
ing how far these needed improvements went towards developing the 
great natural resources of Pennsylvania. 

But the most substantial and enduring merit of Governor Wolf was 
evinced in his advocacy of a system of popular education. 

James Buchanan, in a speech delivered at West Chester previous 
to the election of the Governor, had said: “If ever the passion of envy 
could be excused a man ambitious of true glory, he might almost be 
justified in envying the fame of the favored individual, whoever he may 
be, whom Providence intends to make the instrument in establishing 
Common Schools throughout the Commonwealth. His task will be 
arduous. He will have many difficulties to encounter and many preju¬ 
dices to overcome; but his fame will exceed that of the great Clinton, in 
the same proportion that mind is superior to matter. Whilst, the one 
has erected a frail memorial, which like everything human must decay 
and perish, the other will raise a monument which shall flourish in 
immortal youth, and endure whilst the human soul shall continue to 
exist. ‘Ages unborn and nations yet behind’ shall bless his memory.” 

To Governor George Wolf that honor was accorded. 

The Governor, in his annual message, December, 1831 said in refer¬ 
ence to this subject: “It is cause for no ordinary measure of gratification 
that the Legislature, at its last session, considered this subject worthy of 
its deliberations, and advancing one step toward the intellectual regenera¬ 
tion of the State by laying a foundation for raising a fund to be employed 
hereafter in the righteous cause of a practical general education.' It is 
no less gratifying to know that public opinion is giving strong indications 
of having undergone a favorable change in reference to this momentous 
measure, and by its gradual but powerful workings is fast dispelling the 
groveling fallacies, but too long prevalent, that gold is preferable to 
knowledge and that dollars and cents are of a higher estimation than 
learning. I would suggest for your consideration the propriety of 
appointing a commission, to consist of three or more talented and 
intelligent individuals, known friends of a liberal and enlightened 
system of education, whose duty it should be to collect all the informa¬ 
tion and possess themselves of all the facts and knowledge that can be 
obtained from any quarter having a bearing upon or connection with the 
subject of education, and arrange and embody the same in a report to 
the Legislature.” 


184 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


In compliance with this wise recommendation, Senator Samuel Breck, 
of Philadelphia, was made chairman of the committee, which reported 
a bill, embodying what were believed to be the best features of those 
systems which had been most successful in other States, and at the 
session of 1834 it passed both branches of the Legislature with a unan¬ 
imity rarely equaled in legislation. The bill was approved by the 
Governor April 1, 1834. 

Although the school bill was adopted with comparative unanimity, 
it was at once attacked by a storm of opposition in certain sections of 
the State. The opposition was well crystallized when the Legislature 
convened in the fall of 1834. 

Governor Wolf’s message was firm, but the members had been 
flooded with petitions for the repeal of the measure. 

On April 11, 1835, Thaddeus Stevens, by a memorable speech and a 
remarkable parliamentary effort, swayed the opposition, and by a vote 
of 55 to 30 successfully defended the schools when threatened with 
destruction. 

Thus public education in Pennsylvania was saved; but Governor 
Wolf, who had advocated it so strenuously, was defeated for a third 
term by Joseph Ritner. 

Retiring from the gubernatorial chair, he was appointed by President 
Jackson in 1836, to the office of First Comptroller of the Treasury. 
After holding this position for two years he was appointed by President 
Van Buren to be Collector of the Port of Philadelphia, which he held 
until his death on March 11, 1840. 


Lands Set Apart for Soldiers of Revolution, 
March 12, 1783 

HE soldiers of the Pennsylvania Line who served in the War 
of the Revolution were by act of legislation entitled to wild 
lands of the State and a large area of the northwestern por¬ 
tion of the State north of the depreciation lands and west of 
the Allegheny River was set apart and surveyed to the officers 
and soldiers. 

As early as March 7, 1780, while the war for the independence of 
the American colonies was still in active progress, and being vigorously 
waged by the hostile armies in the field, the General Assembly of Penn¬ 
sylvania, by resolution, made a promise of “certain donations and 
quantities of land” to the soldiers of the State, known as the “Pennsyl¬ 
vania Line,” then serving in the Continental Army. 

This resolution provided that these lands should be “surveyed and 
divided off” at the end of the war, and allotted to those entitled to re- 






DONATION LANDS 


185 


ceive them according to their several rank. In order to comply with 
the letter and intention of the resolution, an act was passed by the Gen¬ 
eral Assembly on March 12, 1783, by the provisions of which certain 
lands were set apart to be sold for the purpose of redeeming the certifi¬ 
cates of depreciation given to the soldiers of the Pennsylvania Line. 
It also provided that a certain tract of country, beginning at the mouth 
of Mogulbughtition Creek, now known as Mahoning Creek, in Arm¬ 
strong County; then up the Allegheny River to the mouth of Cagnawaga 
Creek, in now Warren County; thence due north to the northern 
boundary of the State; thence west by the said boundary, to the north¬ 
west corner of the State, thence south, by the western boundary of the 
State, to the northwest corner of lands appropriated by the act for dis¬ 
charging the depreciation certificates; and thence by the same lands east 
to the place of beginning, “which said tract of country shall be reserved 
and set apart for the only and sole use of fulfilling and carrying into 
execution the said resolve.” 

The territory thus set apart comprised parts of the present counties 
of Lawrence, Butler, Armstrong, Venango, Forest and Warren, all of 
the counties of Mercer and Crawford and that portion of Erie County 
which lies south of the triangle. 

This territory was a wild and unbroken wilderness, except at the few 
places fortified by the French and later occupied by the English and 
Colonists during the Revolution. 

The officers of the First and Second Battalions of the Province of 
Pennsylvania in the French and Indian War petitioned for and re¬ 
ceived twenty-four thousand acres of land along the West Branch of the 
Susquehanna River, and these officers and their families thus became 
pioneer settlers in that picturesque valley, and now the veterans of the 
Revolution were given homes in the northwestern section of the State 
and there planted the settlements which have grown into the most im¬ 
portant industrial centers of the Western Hemisphere. 

The act of March 12, 1783, gave a clear title to the land, for under 
Section 6, all rights, titles, or claims to land within the described 
bounds, whether obtained from the Indians, the late Proprietaries, or 
any other person or persons, were declared to be null and void, thus 
reserving the entire tract from sale or settlement until after the 
allotments to the soldiers were duly made and their claims fully 
satisfied. 

By the following section of the act the officers and enlisted soldiers 
were to be allowed two years after the declaration of peace in which to 
make their applications, and in event of death occurring before any 
veteran made his application, an additional year was allowed his heirs, 
executors or administrators to make application. Thereafter the un¬ 
located tracts were to be disposed of upon such terms as the Legis¬ 
lature might direct. This period for making applications was many 


186 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


times extended, so that no veteran was deprived of a fair opportunity to 
obtain his tract of the donation land. 

The authorities of Pennsylvania were even more thoughtful of 
these Revolutionary veterans, for the General Assembly passed an act 
which exempted from taxation during lifetime the land which fell to 
lot of each veteran unless the same was transferred or assigned to an¬ 
other person. 

Then followed the great purchase of October 23, 1784, and then the 
Act of March 24, 1785, which directed the manner in which the allow¬ 
ances of land were to be distributed to the troops, and provided for 
legal titles, vesting in them the right of ownership. 

A section of the act described the persons who should be entitled to 
land, and Section 5, in order to comply with a previous resolution of 
the General Assembly, included the names of Baron Steuben, the Ger¬ 
man patriot drill master of the Continental Army, who was to receive 
a grant equal to that of a major general of the Pennsylvania Line, and 
Lieutenant Colonel Tilghman a grant equal to his rank. 

Complete lists of all soldiers entitled to land were furnished by the 
Comptroller General to the Supreme Executive Council, and these 
claimants were divided into four classes. 

Upon application of the officers of the Pennsylvania Line, General 
William Irvine, the commanding officer at Fort Pitt, was appointed 
agent to explore the lands, as he was well acquainted with all the land 
appropriated for donation purposes. 

General Irvine entered upon his duties promptly and seemed to have 
exercised good judgment. An interesting report of his notes and obser¬ 
vations was transmitted to President John Dickinson of the Supreme 
Executive Council in a letter dated at Carlisle, August 17, 1785. The 
streams, boundaries and other natural terrain were carefully described, 
and the general gave a most comprehensive narrative of his every act 
while on this important tour of duty. 

Section 8 provided minute directions for the distribution of the 
tracts by lottery. 

The drawing of the lottery commenced October 1, 1786, and was 
to continue one year. The committee of the Supreme Executive Coun¬ 
cil selected to superintend the drawing consisted of Captain John Boyd, 
Jonathan Hoge, Stephen Balliet and William Brown, to which was 
shortly added Peter Muhlenberg and Samuel Dean. 

The time of the drawing was subsequently extended until under 
various laws the last limit of time was fixed as April 1, 1810, and from 
that day the offices were closed against any further applications for dona¬ 
tion lands. 


COLONEL MATTHEW SMITH 


187 


Colonel Matthew Smith, Hero of Early Wars, 
Born March 13, 1740 

ATTHEW SMITH was the eldest son of Robert Smith, and 
was born March 13, 1740, in Paxtang, then Lancaster County, 
but since March 4, 1785, a part of Dauphin County. At the 
age of fifteen he was a soldier under Colonel Henry Bouquet, 
serving in the final campaign of the French and Indian War. 
During the interim between that war and the Revolutionary 
War he was an active leader among the early settlers in what are now 
Dauphin, Cumberland and Northumberland Counties, a leader in the 
struggles against the Indians and a respected and brave frontiersman. 

Late in 1763 the Indians, especially the Conestoga, caused much 
suffering in the lower Susquehanna region and the territory between 
Harris’ Ferry and the Schuylkill. The terrible incursions perpetrated 
and the many murders committed by these savages resulted in having 
the provincial authorities place these Indians under their care in Lan¬ 
caster, Conestoga and Philadelphia. 

This protection so incensed the settlers, who had lost many of their 
kin through the perfidy of the so-called friendly Indians, that an appeal 
was made to the authorities against this support and protection, but no 
attention was given the frontiersmen. 

These settlers continued to suffer until their patience was sorely 
tried. They then took matters in their own hands and banded together 
as the “Paxtang Boys,” under the leadership of Captains Matthew 
Smith and Lazarus Stewart, and they made a clean job of their 
design. 

The “Paxtang Boys” marched to Lancaster, December 27, 1763, 
broke into the workhouse, and before their anger could be suppressed 
the last of the so-called “Conestogas” had yielded up his life. After this 
no other murder was committed by the Indians among the settlers in 
this vicinity. 

Captain Matthew Smith, as one of the actual leaders, seems to have 
borne the lion’s share of the blame for the act. 

February 13, 1764, a lengthy declaration was prepared for presen¬ 
tation to the General Assembly, then meeting in Philadelphia, signed 
by two of the citizens, Matthew Smith and James Gibson. The peti¬ 
tion stated, however, that they signed it “on behalf of ourselves and by 
appointment of a great number of the frontier inhabitants. This peti¬ 
tion was one of the most important ever presented to a Pennsylvania 
Legislature and caused much heated debate. 

A long and exciting siege in the Assembly was enacted by the 
leaders. On one side were Benjamin Franklin, Israel Pemberton, the 







188 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Quaker leader, and Joseph Galloway, and on the popular side, or that 
of the people and the “Paxtang Boys,” were the Rev. John Ewing, the 
Rev. Gilbert Tennent, Dr. David James Dove and many others. 

As a stronger act in supporting their position the “Paxtang Boys” 
planned a march to Philadelphia and started in a body under Captain 
Matthew Smith. Great consternation was witnessed in the capital 
city. The militia was called out and all business was suspended. But 
the delegation was not warlike and totally unaware of the anxiety felt 
in Philadelphia or of the military preparations made to receive them. 
Proudly bearing their declaration, approved by fifteen hundred of the 
frontier inhabitants, with many letters from prominent personages, they 
were met by commissioners sent out by the Governor, to whom they 
made known their intentions. Captain Smith presented their declara¬ 
tions to the Assembly, which was termed in the minutes of that day as 
“The declaration of the rioters and the petition of the back inhabitants.” 
During the long debate the main body of the party returned home and 
thus ended the “Paxtang Boys’ Insurrection.” 

At the very outbreak of the Revolution Captain Smith organized 
a company of riflemen, which was assigned to Colonel Thompson’s 
battalion. After a tedious march overland from Dauphin County to 
Boston, the company joined the Continental Army at that place and on 
September 5, 1775, his company was detached to General Arnold’s 
command for the expedition to Canada. 

He survived the hardships of the march through the Maine woods, 
the disastrous assault at Quebec December 31, and the brief confine¬ 
ment as a prisoner of war which followed, when he joined his regiment 
together with the few survivors of his company, but he soon thereafter 
resigned his commission on December 5, 1776. Captain Smith’s serv¬ 
ices were, however, much appreciated and he was promoted to full 
rank of major, September 27, 1777, and assigned to the Ninth Penn¬ 
sylvania Regiment. 

In the spring of 1778 he was elected by the citizens of the central 
part of the Province as a member of the Supreme Executive Council. 
October 11, 1779, he was elected vice president of the Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania, but resigned shortly after assuming the responsible 
duties of his high office. 

When the intelligence of the capture and total destruction of Fort 
Freeland, on Warrior Run, in Northumberland County, reached Pax¬ 
tang, Matthew Smith marched to Sunbury with a volunteer militia of 
fifty men raised by his own efforts and made a hurried march to over¬ 
take the British commander, Captain McDonald, and the retreating 
British invaders, including their Indian allies. 

This distinguished statesman-soldier-patriot established himself in 
a fine residence, in what is now the Fourth Ward of Mdlton and be¬ 
came its most influential and revered citizen. 


FRIES’ REBELLION 


189 


The following obituary appeared in Kennedy’s Gazette, published at 
Northumberland, under date July 30, 1794: 

“Died, the 22d inst., about sunset at Milton, Colonel Matthew 
Smith, aged fifty-four years, being one of the first patriots for liberty; 
went to Canada in the year 1775, and suffered extremities. He was 
once prothonotary of Northumberland County. Was interred 23d 
inst., attended by a large number of his friends and acquaintances, to¬ 
gether with a volunteer company of light infantry from Milton, con¬ 
ducted by Major Pratt, and commanded by Captain James Boyd, who, 
marching about six miles to Warrior Run burying ground and shedding 
a tear over the old patriot’s grave, deposited his remains with three well 
directed volleys and returned home in good order.” 

Linn’s Annals of Buffalo Valley is authority for the statement that 
these soldiers actually carried the body the entire distance of six miles 
to the old cemetery, where his bones now repose. The dust of this 
patriot, soldier and statesman lies within a few rods of the very fort he 
rushed from Paxtang with his brave militiamen to protect. His grave 
is unmarked and few have knowledge that he is buried there. 


Fries’ Rebellion or Hot-Water War Arouses 
Governor, March 14, 1799 

N 1798 the Federal Government enacted a direct tax law, 
which became known as the “house tax,” and was unpopular 
in many parts of the country, especially in some of the coun¬ 
ties of Pennsylvania, and it led to an insurrection known in 
history as “Fries’ Rebellion.” 

The story of this insurrection, as told in “Pennsylvania 
Colonial and Federal” by Jenkins, is as follows: 

“The troubles between the United States and France at this time 
assumed the form of active hostilities, and James McHenry, Secretary 
of War, began to organize an army. The President was given author¬ 
ity to borrow $5,000,000, and $2,000,000 more was to be raised by a 
new and odious tax. This tax was direct, and fell upon houses, lands 
and slaves. 

“For every slave between the ages of twelve and fifty years, fifty 
cents was to be required of the owner. For every house valued at 
from $200 to $500, twenty cents per $100 was required, while the tax 
was thirty cents per 100 on houses valued from $500 to $1000. 

“There were but few slaves in Pennsylvania, and as a result the tax 
fell mainly on houses and lands. The value of the houses was deter¬ 
mined by counting the number and measuring the size of the windows. 
Houses with but few and small windows were rated lower, and in 








190 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


order to save the tax the farmers usually had small windows in their 
houses. Pennsylvania’s share of the tax was $232,177.72.” 

The assessors and collectors of the tax found very little difficulty 
and opposition until the eastern part of the State was reached. It was 
in the counties of Bucks, Montgomery and Northampton, almost within 
sight- of the Federal capital, that the opposition became alarming, aris¬ 
ing from the fact that the German people did not understand the law. 
Many a farmer knew nothing of the tax until the assessor came around. 
The people remembered the old hearth tax of Germany, and they 
thought this tax was a revival of it. 

Women set dogs on the assessors, and poured scalding water on them 
when they tried to measure windows. This fact has also given the 
name “Hot Water War” to the affair. In a number of townships, as¬ 
sociations of the people were formed in order to prevent the officers 
from performing their duty. 

In many places, violence was actually used and the assessors were 
taken and imprisoned by armed parties. The insurrection rose to such 
a height that it became necessary to compel the execution of the laws, 
and warrants were issued against certain persons and served upon them. 
Headquarters were appointed for the prisoners at Bethlehem but a 
number of persons marched there and demanded the release of the 
prisoners. The operations of the mob were so hostile that the marshals 
could offer no resistance, so the prisoners were released. 

The leading spirit in the opposition to the Government was John 
Fries, a farmer’s son, born in Hatfield Township, Montgomery County, 
in 1750. He learned the cooper trade and in 1779 married Mary 
Brunner, of Whitemarsh Township. In 1775 Fries removed to Lower 
Milford Township, Bucks County. He saw service in the Revolution. 
He also helped to put down the Whisky Insurrection in Western Penn¬ 
sylvania. 

After settling in Bucks County, Fries became a traveling auctioneer 
and journeyed from village to village in this employment. He and his 
dog, Whiskey, were familiar figures in every country store. He could 
speak German fluently and in his rounds had excellent opportunities to 
denounce the tax. 

Fries was present at a meeting in February, 1798, at the house of 
Jacob Kline, near the point of union of the four counties of Mont¬ 
gomery, Bucks, Lehigh and Berks. Fries assisted in drawing up a 
paper in opposition to the tax, which received fifty-five names. He also 
pledged himself to raise 700 men to resist the tax. His expressions 
against the law were very violent, and he threatened to shoot one of 
the assessors, Mr. Foulke, through the legs if he proceeded to assess 
the houses. Fries and his partisans followed and persecuted a number 
of the assessors, chasing them from township to township. 

Fries was armed with a large horse pistol, and a man named Kuyder 


FRIES’ REBELLION 


191 


assisted him in command. Learning that the marshal had taken a num¬ 
ber of prisoners, the rioters determined to rescue them. Fries drew up 
a paper at his own house, setting forth their design, and the next morn¬ 
ing more than twenty followers appeared in arms. They then set out 
for Bethlehem to release the prisoners. The marshal was intimidated 
and the imprisoned rioters were released. 

The Government became greatly alarmed at these proceedings. The 
President issued a proclamation commanding rioters to disperse. He 
also called upon the Governor and militia of Pennsylvania to assist 
in maintaining order. Governor Mifflin issued a proclamation March 
14, 1799, and on March 20 the cavalry from Philadelphia, Chester, 
Montgomery, Bucks and Lancaster Counties was called out and en¬ 
camped at Springhouse, Montgomery County. Here General Mac- 
Pherson issued a proclamation to the rioters. Proceeding to Quaker- 
town, the army began to make arrests and to scour the country in 
search of rioters. 

After releasing the prisoners at Bethlehem, Fries returned to his old 
employment, but was arrested while holding a vendue. At the cry of 
the soldiers he leaped to the ground and fled to a swamp. He was ar¬ 
rested for treason, and with some thirty others taken to Philadelphia 
for trial. 

The case of Fries was called up in Federal Court at Philadelphia 
on April 30, 1799. His lawyers were Alexander J. Dallas and Messrs. 
Ewing and Lewis. Messrs. Rawle and Sitgrave were the counsel for 
the United States. The verdict was guilty, but as it appeared after the 
verdict that one of the jury, previous to being empaneled, had expressed 
the opinion that Fries ought to be hanged, a new trial was granted. The 
second trial was called April 29, 1800. At the former trial Fries’ law¬ 
yers argued at great length that the offense was only riot and not 
treason. They cited many cases in support of their view. But the 
Court relied upon the definition of treason in the Constitution. 

Fries’ counsel then refused to appear further in the case. He was 
again declared guilty, the Friday for the hanging was named and the 
sheriff’s posse was selected. 

The cause of Fries was espoused by the old Republican Party and 
by a number of newspapers throughout the State. The Aurora de¬ 
nounced the action of the officers and charged that the Army lived in 
free quarters on the inhabitants. The Adler, a German paper published 
in Reading also condemned the course of the Government and claimed 
that the troops imposed upon the people as they marched through the 
country. Discussion on the subject became so bitter that it entered into 
National and State politics and became an important issue. 

In the meantime National political affairs were so developing that 
President Adams was led to pardon Fries. 


192 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Mollie Maguires Murder Wm. H. Little- 
hales, March 15, 1869, Which Brings 
Detective McParlan to the 
Coal Regions 

HE bloody record of the Mollie Maguires during the decade 
1865 to 1875 marks the darkest and most terrible period in 
the history of the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania. 

This was a secret organization, composed of lawless Irish¬ 
men, who resorted to murder in its most cowardly form, to 
attain their ends and satisfy their revengeful feelings toward 
mine owners, superintendents and bosses, and also justices of the peace 
and borough officials who had the integrity to administer justice, and 
not cringe before these criminals, when under arrest. 

The members df this organization' became unusually active and 
bloodthirsty in 1865. On August 25 of that year David Muir, a 
colliery superintendent, was cruelly murdered in Foster Township, 
Schuylkill County; January 10, 1866, Henry H. Dunne, superintendent 
of a colliery and one of the leading citizens of Pottsville, was murdered 
on the public road, near his home. 

There were other crimes committed by the members of this or¬ 
ganization, but those which most aroused the indignation of the public 
were where prominent men were killed from" ambush for no apparent 
reason than that they held responsible position in a coal company. 

October 17, 1868, Alexander Rea was murdered near Centralia, 
Columbia County, and this crime was the most heinous up to this time. 
Arrests were made, and a strong chain of circumstantial evidence made 
out by the Commonwealth against them. One of the accomplices even 
gave out the facts which caused the apprehension of the others. 

Separate trials were granted by the Columbia County Court, and 
Thomas Donahue was tried first. He was defended by Messrs. Ryon, 
Freeze, Strouse, Wolverton and Marr. He was acquitted February, 
1869. The others, Pat Hester, Peter McHugh, and Pat Tully, were 
not then placed on trial. 

But the next and most important outrage committed by the Mollie 
Maguires was the murder of William H. Littlehales, superintendent of 
the Glen Carbon Coal Company, in Cass Township, Schuylkill County. 

This crime occurred March 15, 1869, on the main highway leading 
from his home to the mines. The act was witnessed by several persons, 
but the assassins escaped. 

It was this act which caused Hon. Franklin B. Gowen, President of 
the Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company, and the Philadelphia 





LITTLEHALES MURDERED BY “MOLLIES” 193 

and Reading Coal and Iron Company to send for Mr. Allan Pinkerton, 
and engage his services in dispersing this murderous crew. 

Mr. Pinkerton accepted the employment offered him and assigned 
to the principal task a young man named James McParlan, a native of 
Ireland, aged twenty-eight years. 

McParlan set out on his mission Monday, October 27, 1873, in 
the disguise of a vagabond Irishman seeking employment in the mines, 
and as a criminal who was seeking refuge from crimes committed in the 
vicinity of Buffalo, N. Y. 

He assumed the name of James McKenna, and as such won his 
way into the confidence of the Mollies, joined their organization and 
became known as the most desperate Mollie in all the anthracite region. 

Many others were murdered after McParlan arrived in the region. 
He prevented murder when it was possible to do so. He warned those 
who were to be victims through Mr. Franklin, superintendent of the 
Philadelphia and Reading Coal Company, with whom he kept in daily 
contact by clever correspondence. 

Up to the hour that James McParlan arrived in Schuylkill County, 
no information had been obtained concerning the identity of those who 
murdered Littlehales, nor had it been possible to convict a single Mollie 
Maguire in any court where they were brought to trial. 

Another crime which McParlan was sent to investigate was the 
murder of Morgan Powell, at Summit Hill, Carbon County, which oc¬ 
curred December 2, 1871. These were enough to occupy the time of 
a man even as clever as Detective McParlan alias James McKenna. 

During the more than two years that McParlan lived among the 
Mollies he did not learn the murderers of Littlehales but succeeded in 
bringing to justice many other murderers. 

The arrests quickly followed one another when once begun early in 
1876. The trials began in Mauch Chunk in March. While McParlan 
did not testify in the first case he furnished very valuable information, 
and greatly assisted the prosecution. 

Then followed the arrest and trial of others in Pottsville, Mauch 
Chunk and Bloomsburg with the conviction of many. 

McParlan went upon the stand in the trial of James Carrol, Thomas 
Duffy, James Roarty, Hugh McGehan, and James Boyle, for the mur¬ 
der of B. F. Yost, which occurred at Tamaqua, July 6, 1875. This trial 
was held at Pottsville, before a full bench of Hon. C. L. Pershing, D. B. 
Green and T. H. Walker. James Kerrigan, a Mollie, was a witness 
for the Commonwealth. 

The trial of Thomas Munley in June, 1876, in the same court, for 
the murder of Thomas Sanger and William Uren, brought Mr. F. B. 
Gowen into the case and the delivery of his wonderful speech, which 
will ever remain one of the greatest in the history of the criminal courts 
of our State. 


7 


194 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The Mollies were convicted of murder in the first degree and paid 
the extreme penalty on the gallows. 

Many other Mollies were hanged, and on May 21, 1877, Governor 
J. F. Hartranft issued warrants for the execution of eight of the Mollie 
Maguires, which brought to an end the bloody record of this nefarious 
organization. 


David Wilmot, Author of Proviso, Died at 
Towanda, March 16, 1868 

AVID WILMOT, of Pennsylvania, retired from Congress 
after six years of service, March 4, 1851, with his name more 
generally involved in the political discussion of the country 
than that of any other of our statesmen. He was born in 
Bethany, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1814, and 
died in Towanda, March 16, 1868. 

After acquiring an academic education wholly by his own efforts he 
was admitted to the bar in Wilkes-Barre in 1834. He at once located 
at Towanda, the county seat of Bradford, where he commenced his 
career and to which place he brought great and lasting honor. 

He took a leading part in the support of Van Buren for the presidency 
in 1836, and in 1844 he was elected to Congress from the Twelth Dis¬ 
trict, then composed of the Counties of Bradford, Susquehanna and 
Tioga. 

At that time there existed much friction with Mexico over the 
boundary line, also ominous signs of a determined effort to extend 
slavery beyond its then existing limits, tariff agitation, trouble with Great 
Britain in the Oregon region, and other grave questions of national 
import. 

The admission of Texas as a State, March 1, 1845, which was 
favored by Wilmot and his party, was followed by the war with Mexico 
a year later. 

A bill was introduced August 8, 1846, which authorized the placing 
of $2,000,000 at the disposal of President Polk for the purpose of 
negotiating peace with Mexico and the crucial hour in our history had 
arrived. The prospect of the erection of future slave States out of 
Mexican territory aroused the anti-slavery sentiment of the North, and 
among the most pronounced of the dozen or more anti-slavery Dem¬ 
ocrats was David Wilmot. 

At a conference of anti-slavery Democrats was presented what be¬ 
came known as the Wilmot proviso, of which the text was a repetition 
of the Jefferson proviso to the ordinance of 1787, except that it was 
framed for the present situation. The following is the full text: 
“Provided, that as an expressed and fundamental condition to the 








DAVID WILMOT 


195 


acquisition of any territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United 
States, by virtue of any treaty that may be negotiated between them, and 
to the use by the Executive of the moneys herein appropriated, neither 
slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of such 
territory, except for crime whereof the party shall be first duly convicted.” 

When offered by Wilmot the proviso produced the utmost consterna¬ 
tion in the House, as many members had become alarmed at the anti¬ 
slavery sentiment in their districts. The House was in committee of 
the whole, and to the surprise of both sides the proviso was adopted by 
a vote of 83 to 64, the Democrats of the North supporting it with but 
three exceptions. 

An effort was made in the Senate to remove the proviso, but the 
last day of the session the gavel fell while the proviso was being debated, 
the first instance in which a bill was defeated by speaking against time 
in the Senate. 

Wilmot was vehemently assailed by most of the leaders of his party, 
but the growing anti-slavery sentiment in the North only served to in¬ 
spire Wilmot in his great battle, and he developed wonderful power as a 
public disputant. 

Wilmot’s contest for re-election in 1848 attracted the attention of 
the whole Nation, and his triumph did much to strengthen the anti¬ 
slavery movement throughout the North. 

Opposition to the Wilmot Proviso was finally forced as a cardinal 
doctrine of the party. When Wilmot came up for re-election in 1850 
he was nominated at the Democratic primaries, but the newspapers 
opposed him and his defeat was regarded as one of the first duties of 
those who desired the success of the Democracy against him, and it 
appeared as if a Whig was sure to be elected. 

Conservative Democrats suggested that both the Democratic candi¬ 
dates withdraw and select another upon whom all could unite. Wilmot 
promptly agreed on condition that the one nominated would sustain his 
anti-slavery faith and be personally acceptable to himself. He was 
asked to suggest a man, and he named Galusha A. Grow, then a young 
member of the bar in Susquehanna County, who had studied law with 
him. 

Grow was found by a committee in his mountain retreat and hurried 
back to make his battle. He was elected and became the Speaker of 
Congress in the trying days of the Civil War. 

The year Wilmot retired from Congress he succeeded Hon. Horace 
Willston on the bench of the judicial district then composed of Bradford, 
Susquehanna and Sullivan Counties, and ably served in that capacity 
until 1857, when he resigned to become a candidate for the governorship 
against William F. Packer, by whom he was defeated. After his defeat, 
Wilmot, by appointment of Governor Pollock, resumed his place on 
the bench and served until 1861. 


196 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


When Wilmot cast his lot with the Republican Party he was 
recognized as a leader in the first national convention in 1856. He was 
tendered the nomination as Vice President on the ticket with Fremont, 
which was declined. He was chairman of the Committee on Resolutions 
and to him belongs the honor of drafting the first platform of the 
Republican Party. 

In the campaign of 1860 Wilmot was a delegate at large and was 
honored by being selected as the temporary chairman of that historic body 
that nominated Abraham Lincoln. 

Wilmot was a candidate for Senator in 1861, but Simon Cameron 
held the balance of power in the contest, and gave the victory to Edgar 
Cowan. Later during the same session when Cameron resigned his seat 
in the Senate to enter the Cabinet of President Lincoln, as Secretary of 
War, Wilmot was chosen to succeeed him. 

At the end of his two years’ term the Democrats had carried the 
Legislature by one majority and made Charles R. Buckalew, of Columbia 
County, the Senator. Soon thereafter he was appointed by President 
Lincoln Judge of the Court of Claims, which position he held until 
death terminated his remarkable career. 

His vigor was much impaired during the last few years of his life 
by steadily failing health, and he was finally able to give but little of 
his time to his judicial duties, and March 16, 1868, he quietly passed 
away in his home at Towanda. 

In the beautiful suburbs of the town may be seen Riverside Cemetery, 
and near the public road stands the simple marble headstone of the grave 
of David Wilmot, with his name and date of birth and death on the 
inner surface, and on the outer surface, where it can be seen by every 
passerby, is inscribed the text of the Wilmot Proviso. 


First Excise Laws of Pennsylvania Enacted 
March 17, 1684 

HE first excise tax in Pennsylvania was imposed by the Assembly 
of the Province March 17, 1684, in an act entitled “Bill for 
Aid and Assistance of the Government.” 

This act seems to have been prompted by a record in the 
minutes of the Assembly for February 20, 1684: “The Govr. & 
Provll Councill have thought fitt. from the Exteriordinary iri 
the Case, to place Patrick Robinson as administrator to Benj. Acrods 
Estate, and to have a recourse to this board from time to time. 

“Wheras, the Verdict of the Coroner’s Jury was, that Benj. Acrod 
killed himselfe with drinke, wch might give the Province a pretence to 
his Estate therin. The Propor & Govr. Relinquished all his Claime 







FIRST EXCISE LAWS 


197 


thereunto in Council, and desired ye Council to take Care that some 
person be appoynted to take Care of ye Estate of ye sd Acrod, for ye 
paymt of his debts, and the remaineder to be disposed of according to 
Law, &c” 

At the session held on March 26 a bill was read that it should be 
left to the Governor and Provincial Council to discuss with Indians 
matters concerning the use of rum among them. Another bill was read 
which prohibited bargains being made “when People are in Drinke.” 
This bill was passed. 

The objectionable features of the first excise bill passed by the 
Assembly were soon after repealed and not again renewed until the 
year 1738, when the Provincial Assembly, August 14, heard a bill 
“sent by the House of Representatives, entitled an Act for laying an 
Excise on Wine, Rum, Brandy and other Spirits.” This bill was passed 
without amendments and signed by Lieutenant Governor George 
Thomas, August 25, 1738. 

This bill proved to be very unpopular, and it remained in force 
only a few months. 

In 1744 this subject was again revived when at the session of the 
Provincial Council held May 25 Lieutenant Governor Thomas in a 
message sent to him by the Assembly was advised among other things 
that “We are also of the Opinion that it will be for the Interests of 
Our Constituents to make further Provision concerning the Excise Act 
and we have a bill before us to this Purpose; and we hope these Bills, 
and such others as shall be truly useful to the Province, when offered, 
will meet with the Governor’s assent. And we, on our Part, shall then 
Cheerfully make Provision for his Support for the Current Year, equal 
to any granted for the like Time to either of his immediate Predecessors.” 

This bill proposed an excise tax as a means of providing money with¬ 
out resorting to a general tax, not only to be used to purchase arms 
and ammunition for defense, but as well to answer such demands as 
might be made upon the inhabitants of the Province by his Majesty for 
distressing the public enemy in America. This bill, like the former ones, 
was not long in operation. 

March 31, 1764, a bill was passed by the Assembly and Council and 
signed by Lieutenant Governor John Penn, which tended to suppress 
“Idleness, Drunkenness, & other Debaucheries, within this Government.” 

The attention of the Assembly was once more called to the excise 
as a productive source of revenue on February 24, 1772, when Lieutenant 
Governor Richard Penn laid before the Council a bill sent to him by the 
Assembly, entitled “An Act for the support of the Government of this 
Province making the Excise on Wine, Rum, Brandy, and other spirits 
more equal, and preventing Frauds in the Collecting and paying the 
said Excise.” 

That a considerable portion of the money expended in the Provincial 


198 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Government was raised by excise is evidenced from a report made by 
Governor John Penn June 26, 1775, which was an account of the 
several amounts of the excise tax collected for the years 1771, 72, 73 
and 74, the total amount of which, after deducting the commissions to 
the Treasurer and collectors exceeded £28,000. Together with this 
report was another indorsed “State of the Bills of Credit struck on 
the Excise for several years, laid before the Governor with the bill for 
the support of Government & paymt of public debts.” 

In the Act of 1722 a duty was levied on domestic and foreign spirits. 
At first, however, as to home-distilled spirits it was not executed, and, 
indeed, hardly any steps were taken for the purpose particularly in the 
older counties. But, during the Revolutionary War, the necessities of 
the State and a temporary unpopularity of distillation, owing to the 
immense amount of grain consumed, when the troops so much needed 
it as a food, rendered the collection of duties both necessary and 
practicable, and a considerable revenue was thereby obtained. Toward 
the end of the war the act was repealed. 

In 1780 Congress resolved that an allowance of an additional sum 
should be made to the army, to compensate the troops for the deprecia¬ 
tion in their pay. This was distributed among the several States for 
discharge. Pennsylvania made several appropriations for the purpose, 
but the revenues so applied turned out to be unproductive. 

The depreciation fund was always favorably regarded, and upon an 
application of officers of the Pennsylvania Line, another effort was made, 
the revenue arising from the excise remaining uncollected was appro¬ 
priated to this fund, and vigorous measures were taken for its collection. 

Great changes, however, had taken place in the disposition of the 
people since the first imposition of these duties. The neighboring States 
were free from the burden, and in New Jersey, where a law had been 
passed for the purpose, its execution had been entirely prevented by a 
powerful combination. The Pennsylvania law, therefore, met with great 
opposition, especially west of the Allegheny Mountains and there is no 
evidence that the excise was ever paid in that section. 

The excise law of Pennsylvania, after remaining for years a dead 
letter, was repealed, and the people were to submit to a similar law 
passed by the Congress of the new Federal Government March 3, 1791. 
This laid an excise of fourpence per gallon on all distilled spirits. 

The members of Congress from Western Pennsylvania, Smilie, of 
Fayette, and Findley, of Westmoreland, stoutly opposed the passage of 
the law, and on their return among their constituents loudly and openly 
disapproved of it. Albert Gallatin, then residing in Fayette County, 
also opposed the law by all constitutional methods. 

The majority of the people in the western counties of the State were 
of Scotch-Irish descent. They had heard of the exaction and oppression 
in the Old Country under the excise laws—that houses were entered 


PITTSBURGH CHARTERED 


199 


by excise officers, the most private apartments examined, and confiscation 
and imprisonment followed if the smallest quantity of whisky was dis¬ 
covered not marked with the official brand. They also remembered the 
effective resistance to the Stamp Act, that those who forced the repeal 
of the odious law were the real factors in bringing about the indepen¬ 
dence of America. Holding these opinions, it is not to be wondered at 
that the more hot-headed resorted to threats of violence and precipitated 
the riotous proceedings known in Pennsylvania history as the Whisky 
Insurrection. 


Pittsburgh Built in 1760, Incorporated April 
22,1794, and Chartered as City 
March 18, 1816 

N APRIL 17, 1754, Ensign Ward was surprised by the appear¬ 
ance of Frenchmen, who landed, planted their cannon and 
summoned the English to surrender. The French soon de¬ 
molished an unfinished fort and built in its place a much 
larger and better one, calling it Fort Duquesne, in honor of the 
Marquis Duquesne, the French Governor of Canada. 

This was the actual beginning of what is now Pittsburgh, but there 
were many stirring conflicts for permanent possession of the site at the 
“Forks of the Ohio.” 

When General John Forbes invested Fort Duquesne November 25, 
1758, he marched into a place which had been abandoned by the French 
and instead of a formidable fortress it was now nothing but a mass of 
blackened and smoldering ruins. The enemy, after burning the barracks 
and storehouses, had blown up the fortifications. Forbes’ first care was 
to provide a better defense and shelter for his troops, and a strong 
stockade was built, which he named Pittsburgh, in honor of England’s 
great Minister William Pitt. 

A strong fort was subsequently built, which was known as Fort Pitt, 
and which continued until after the Revolutionary War to be the 
western base of the military department. 

The first town of Pittsburgh was built near Fort Pitt in 1760. In a 
very carefully prepared list of the houses and the inhabitants outside of 
the fort, headed “a return of the number of houses of the names of the 
owners and number of the names of the owners and number of men, 
women and children in each house Fort Pitt, April 14, 1761,” the 
number of inhabitants is 233, with the adition of ninety-five officers, 
soldiers and their families residing in the town, making the whole number 
328. There were 104 houses. The lower town was nearer the fort, 







200 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the upper on higher ground, principally along the bank of the 
Monongahela, extending as far as the present Market Street. 

This town enjoyed comparative quiet until the Pontiac War, in 
1763, when Fort Pitt was completely surrounded by the savage foe and 
the garrison reduced to dire straits until relieved by Colonel Bouquet. 

The second town of Pittsburgh was laid out in 1765, by Colonel 
John Campbell, by permission of the commandant of Fort Pitt. It 
comprised the ground bounded by present Water Street, Second and 
Ferry Streets. Campbell’s plan of lots was subsequently incorporated 
unaltered in the survey made by George Woods for the Penns in 1784, 
and is known as the “Old Military Plan.” Several of these houses built 
of hewn logs and weather-boarded stood until quite recently and the old 
redoubt of Colonel Bouquet, built in 1764, north of the present Penn 
Street, west of Point, remains the most valued relic of the pre-Revolu- 
tionary days in Western Pennsylvania. 

The little building is of brick, five-sided, with two floors having a 
squared oak log with loop holes on each floor. There are two under¬ 
ground passages, one connecting it with the fort, and the other leading 
to the Monongahela River. This building and ground upon which it 
stands is owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution of Alle¬ 
gheny County, who keep it in excellent repair. It was the gift of Mrs. 
Mary E. Schenley, April 1, 1894. 

During the Revolution the Assembly confiscated the property of the 
Penn family, excepting certain manors and other property which the 
Proprietaries held in their private capacities by devise, purchase, or 
descent. The Manor of Pittsburgh contained 5766 acres and included 
the present city of Pittsburgh and the country eastward of it and south 
of the Monongahela; this was surveyed March 27, 1769, and remained 
as the property of the Penns. 

In 1784 Tench Francis, of Philadelphia, as agent for the Proprie¬ 
taries, laid out this Manor in town and outlots. The surveyor’s work 
was- done by George Woods, of Bedford. These lots found ready sale 
and by 1786 there were 100 houses and 500 population. The fur trade 
was still the most important, although the general business was im¬ 
proving. 

The first newspaper published west of the Alleghenies was the Pitts¬ 
burgh Gazette, now the Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, established July 29, 
1786. Pittsburgh was incorporated as a borough April 22, 1794. 

Another important event occurred May 19, 1798, when the galley 
President Adams was launched at Pittsburgh. She was the first vessel 
built here which was competent for a sea voyage, and was constructed 
by the Government, in preparation for the threatened war with France. 
The Senator Ross was launched the following spring. 

The first glass works were established here in 1797 by James O’Hara 
and Isaac Craig. William Eichbaum was brought from near Phila- 


PITTSBURGH CHARTERED 


201 


delphia to superintend this new enterprise, the first real manufacturing 
venture in this place. The first paper mill west of the Alleghenies was 
erected this same year in Pittsburgh. 

During the three years from 1802 to 1805 four ships, three brigs 
and three schooners were built in Pittsburgh. 

The first bank in the western part of the State was a branch of the 
Bank of Pennsylvania, which opened for business January 1, 1804, on 
Second Street, between Ferry and Chancery Lane. An iron foundry 
was established by Joseph McClurg during 1804. 

On March 24, 1811, the New Orleans, the first steamboat ever 
built or run on Western waters, was launched at Pittsburgh. This boat 
started on its initial trip to the Crescent City, December 24 following. 
The second such boat was christened the Comet and launched in Pitts¬ 
burgh in 1813. A large number of boats was built in this city, and the 
•trade was immense. 

The first canal boat ever built or run west of the mountains was the 
General Abner Lacock. She was owned by Patrick Leonard, of Pitts¬ 
burgh, but was built in Appollo. This was a fine packet boat, with 
berths and dining service, as well as capacity for carrying freight. 

The first railroad entered Pittsburgh in the fall of 1834, on the 
completion of the Philadelphia and Columbia, and the Allegheney 
portage railroads. 

Pittsburgh became a city by an Act of Assembly at the sessions of 
1815-1816, the date of the change in city government being March 18, 
1816. At the first election for municipal officers under the City Charter, 
Major Ebenezer Denny was chosen Mayor. 

The first great consolidation was effected March 29, 1872, when 
the South side was united with Pittsburgh. This brought into the city 
the boroughs of Birmingham, East Birmingham, Ormsby, Allentown, 
St. Clair, South Pittsburgh, Monongahela, Mount Washington, Union, 
West Pittsburgh and Temperanceville. 

The population of Pittsburgh according to the census of 1920 was 
588,343. 


202 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Margaret Junkin Preston, Poetess-Laureate, 
Died March 19, 1897 

T IS a matter of just pride that the most brilliant and beloved 
poetess of yesteryear was none other than a Pennsylvania girl, 
Margaret Junkin Preston, who through her writings, both in 
prose and poetry, attained Nation-wide distinction and won 
the title “Poetess-Laureate of the South.” 

Margaret Junkin was born in Milton, Northumberland 
County, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1820, the eldest child of Rev. George 
and Julia Rush Miller Junkin. 

Her parents were of that stalwart, heroic race, the Covenanters of 
Scotland. 

Dr. Junkin’s life was devoted to religion and education, and at the 
time of his marriage he was the minister of the Presbyterian Church at 
Milton. 

When Margaret was ten years old her parents moved to German¬ 
town, where her father assumed charge of the Manual Labor Academy 
of Pennsylvania. After a delightful residence of two years Dr. Junkin 
was called to the first presidency of Lafayette College, and the family 
moved to the “Forks of the Delaware.” 

It was during the incumbency of Dr. Junkin that the college, which 
for two years was conducted on a farm south of the Lehigh, was moved 
to the present site, on what has since been known as College Hill 
Easton, and Old South College built. President and Mrs. Junkin and 
their seven children moved into the original building, where they con¬ 
tinued to reside until March 30, 1841, when the doctor accepted the 
presidency of Miami College, Oxford, O. 

It was during her residence at Easton that Margaret and her sister, 
Eleanor, became members of the First Presbyterian Church and that 
her first productions in verse appeared in the columns of a local news¬ 
paper; they were “Childhood,” “The Forest Grave” and “Where 
Dwelleth the Scent of the Rose.” After her removal to Oxford, O., she 
wrote “Lines Written on Reading Letters Bringing Sad News From 
Easton.” 

In 1844 Dr. Junkin returned to Easton to again assume the presi¬ 
dency of Lafayette College, in which position he capably served until 
1848, when he accepted the presidency of Washington College, now 
Washington and Lee University, at Lexington, Va. 

Upon Margaret Junkin’s return to Easton, she wrote “Love’s Trib¬ 
ute to the Departed,” occasioned by the death of an intimate friend, and 
“The Fate of a Raindrop.” These were followed after removing to 
Lexington, by “Thoughts Suggested by Powers’ Proserpine,” “The Old 






MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON 


203 


Dominion,” “The Solaced Grief,” “ Galileo Before the Inquisition," 
and “The Polish Boy.” 

The life of Margaret Junkin at Lexington differed from that which 
she experienced as a young girl at Germantown, Easton and Oxford. 
She had reached the age of twenty-eight, and the old town in the 
Shenandoah Valley, with its educational institutions, social atmosphere 
and local culture brought many interesting persons as visitors, not to 
speak of the quaint life among the slaves. This all appealed to her. 
She entered into the spirit of this environment to the fullest extent. 
Her lovely character, unusual attainments, literary and social, were fully 
recognized at home and abroad. 

The death, in 1849, of her brother, Joseph, followed by that of her 
mother, in 1854, and only a few months later by that of her favorite 
sister, Eleanor, brought profound grief to the Junkin household. 

The sister, Eleanor, survived only a year her marriage to Major 
Thomas J. Jackson, a graduate of West Point, and then a professor in 
the Virginia Military Institute, who later achieved fame in the Civil 
War and gained the sobriquet of “Stonewall Jackson,” second only to 
his oommander-in-chief, Robert E. Lee. After the death of Mrs. 
Jackson, her husband continued to be a member of Dr. Junkin’s house¬ 
hold for four years. 

Margaret Junkin married, August 3, 1857, Major T. L. Preston, 
professor of Latin in the Virginia Military Institute, a widower with 
seven children. To this family she proved to be an affectionate and de¬ 
voted mother. 

Two sons were born to Major and Margaret Junkin Preston— 
George Junkin Preston, for many years a successful specialist in nervous 
diseases at Baltimore, now deceased, and Herbert Preston, now General 
Solicitor for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. 

The war clouds were lowering for a bitter conflict between the 
North and South, and the Junkin family became divided. The father, 
Rev. George Junkin, a pronounced abolitionist and opposed to seces¬ 
sion, resigned the presidency of Washington College, and, with his 
widowed daughter departed for Philadelphia. 

The story told of this trip, which was made overland, is that when 
the Mason and Dixon line was reached the team pulling the heavy 
load of household effects, and the one attached to the carriage in which 
the doctor and his daughter were riding, were halted, the goods un¬ 
loaded, the horses, harness, wagon, carriage and themselves all care¬ 
fully washed, then again loaded and driven over the boundary line into 
Pennsylvania. As the doctor afterwards related, no Southern soil 
should be brought into Pennsylvania, he wanted to leave it all where 
it belonged. 

His son, William, espoused the Southern cause and became a cap¬ 
tain, but his son, John M., served as a surgeon in the Federal Army. 


204 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Following the close of the Civil War, Mrs. Preston devoted much 
time to reviewing books for various publishers, and in compiling and 
arranging for publication her own compositions in prose and verse, the 
latter resulting in the publication, in 1866, of her “Bechenbrook,” a book 
of poems voicing the sorrow and patriotism of the Southern people, and 
of “Old Songs and New” in 1870. 

These were followed by “Cartoons,” “Handful of Monographs,” 
“For Love’s Sake,” “ Colonial Ballads and Sonnets,” “ Chimes for 
Church Children” and “Aunt Dorothy.” In addition she contributed 
to Century Magazine in the early eighties some reminiscences of Gen¬ 
eral Robert E. Lee, and personal reminiscences of General “Stonewall” 
Jackson. 

ColonelPreston resigned his professorship in 1882, when he and his 
talented wife traveled and visited among their children. The husband 
died July 15, 1890, and Mrs. Preston continued to live at Lexington 
for two years, but late in December, 1892, she removed to Baltimore 
and made her home with her eldest son, Dr. George Junkin Preston. 

Margaret Junkin Preston died March 19, 1897. 

There was much written about this poetess at the time, and possibly 
the best known was “An Appreciation of Margaret J. Preston, a Sketch 
of her Fifty Years of Literary Life,” by Prof. James A. Harrison, of 
the University of Virginia. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Randolph Preston Allan compiled and published a 
volumn entitled “The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston,” 
and an excellent sketch of her interesting life has also been written by 
Ethan Allen Weaver, of Germantown, from which much of this story 
of the “Poetess-Laureate of the South” has been taken. 


Military Laws of Province Repealed by 
Import Act, March 20, 1780 

N MARCH 20, 1780, a law was passed to effect a reorganiza¬ 
tion of the whole militia system in Pennsylvania. It provided 
for the appointment of a lieutenant for each county, and two 
sub-lieutenants or more, not exceeding the number of bat¬ 
talions, which were to be divided into classes as heretofore. 
Fines, however for non-attendance on muster days were fixed 
for commissioned officers at the price of three days’ labor. 

When called out, the pay of privates was to be equal to one day’s 
labor. Persons called out, but neglecting or refusing to go, were liable 
to pay in each case the price of a day’s labor during the term of service, 
beside a tax of fifteen shillings on the hundred pounds upon their 
estates. As a relief to this class, the hiring of substitutes was allowed. 








MILITIA REORGANIZED 


205 


Pensions were promised the wounded in battle, and support to the fam¬ 
ilies of those militiamen who were killed, at rates to be fixed by the 
courts. Considerable opposition was made to this law, from the fact 
that by permitting the hiring of substitutes it would relieve the dis¬ 
affected and Tories. 

While this bill, undoubtedly, had many defects, it was the first real 
effort toward the establishment of a military system in the Common¬ 
wealth upon a practical basis. 

Militia companies were provided in each county, the State being 
divided into districts, and all males were required to enroll, who were 
between eighteen and fifty-three years of age. 

This act was modified in 1783, when a more specific code of dis¬ 
cipline was adopted. This act remained in force until 1793. 

The militia act of March 20, 1780, was the outgrowth or develop¬ 
ment of the militia system' of Pennsylvania which may be considered to 
have begun in the year 1747. Altho in the charter given to William 
Penn, the Governor was given authority to levy, muster and train men, 
to make war upon and pursue the enemy, even beyond the limits of 
the province. 

As early as 1702, Lieutenant Governor Hamilton asked the As¬ 
sembly to enact a bill to provide for “what may come against us by land 
or by sea.” 

Several years later Lieutenant Governor Evans urged a similar law, 
but the idea was unpopular. Several other similar bills were subse¬ 
quently defeated, yet the Assembly occasionally appropriated funds for 
“the King’s use,” for the purchase of bread, beef, pork, flour, wheat and 
other grain.” Franklin later commented that “other grain” meant black 
grains of gunpowder. 

It was through the effort and influence of Franklin, in 1747, that a 
volunteer military association was effected, consisting of about 1200 
of the most influential men in the province. This soon grew to 10,000 
and the following year the “Associated Companies,” by which natne 
the organization became known, had enrolled 12,000 horse, foot and 
artillery, each armed and equipped at personal expense, and the officers 
chosen from the members. Franklin was one of the original colonels. 

This association rendered conspicuous service in the French and 
Indian wars and preserved its organization. Many of the companies 
volunteered for service in the Revolution and formed the backbone of 
the State’s militia. 

In 1756 there were in Philadelphia three of these companies, with 
a total of seventeen officers and 260 private men, one troop of horse 
with five officers and forty men and one battery of artillery with three # 
officers and 150 men. In Bucks County there were nine companies 
with thirty-nine officers and 513 men; in Chester County there were 
several companies, under command of Captain John Singleton, Samuel 


206 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


West, Robert Boyd and Jacob Richardson. In York County there 
were eight companies with an enrollment of 642 men and in Lancaster 
County there were nine companies and 545 men. 

It was not until Braddock’s defeat that the Assembly voted a sub¬ 
stantial sum for the “King’s use,” but made no provision for an organ¬ 
ized military force. November 25, 1755, the Assembly passed “an Act 
for the better ordering and regulating such as are willing and desirous 
to be united for military purposes within the province.” 

This was the first act of Assembly which in any way provided for 
the organized defense of the province, and this was to remain in force 
only until October 30, 1756. 

By March 29, 1757, the Quakers had become a minority in the 
Assembly and an act was passed which was more satisfactory. It also 
provided for the compulsory enrollment of all male persons between the 
ages of seventeen and fifty-five years. It also stated the financial re¬ 
sponsibility required of those who would serve as officers. 

One section of this act provided “that all Quakers, Menonists, 
Moravians and others conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms, who 
shall appear on any alarm with the militia, though without arms, and 
obey the Commands of the officers in extinguishing fires, suppressing in¬ 
surrection of slaves or other evil-minded persons during an attack, in 
caring for the wounded, conveying intelligence as expresses or mes¬ 
sengers, carrying refreshments to such as are on duty, and in convey¬ 
ing to places of safety women and children, aged and infirm, and 
wounded persons are free and exempt from penalties of this act.” This 
act remained in force until the close of the French and Indian War in 
1763. 

There was no special control of military affairs again until June 30, 
1775, when the Assembly passed an act for “the defense of their lives, 
liberty and property.” 

At this same session there was established a Committee of Safety, 
of twenty-five members, which constituted the Board of War, whose 
powers enabled them to call into service so many of the associators as 
they deemed necessary or the occasion required. 

The Committee of Safety was organized July 3, 1775, with Benja¬ 
min Franklin as president. 

This committee exercised supreme control of the land and naval 
forces of the province until October 13, 1777, when its powers were 
transferred to the body known as the Council of Safety, this comprising 
the Supreme Executive Council and nine others. The Council of 
Safety was dissolved December 6, 1777, when the military authority was 
# assumed by the Supreme Executive Council and the Assembly. 

The aggregate number of men furnished by the Associators during 
the Revolution was in excess of 35,000. 

Pennsylvania furnished in all arms of the service, under the various 


NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY ERECTED 207 


calls, a total of 120,514 men, which number does not include many 
bodies of militia and many men who were under arms for a brief 
period, a record of which service was not kept during the early years 
of the war. 

Laws were passed during the war relating to the military forces, but 
these were all repealed by the formal act of March 20, 1780. 


Old Northumberland, Mother of Counties, 
Erected March 21,1772 

Ha === ^HE political development of Pennsylvania followed closely in 
the wake of its expanding settlements. In 1682 the Counties 
of Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester were formed, with limits 
intended to include not only the populated area, but territory 
enough in addition to meet for a considerable time to come the 
growing necessities of the rapidly increasing immigration. 

It was not until 1729, therefore, that the extension of the settle¬ 
ments and the purchase of new lands from the Indians led to the erec¬ 
tion of Lancaster County. At that time the Susquehanna River marked 
the western limit of the land purchased from the Indians in the province. 
But the purchase of October 11, 1736, opened a triangular area west 
of the river, which was attached to Lancaster until the convenience of 
the increasing settlements in this region in 1749 demanded the erection 
of York County, and a year later for the erection of Cumberland 
County. 

The northern extension of these counties was limited by the Indian 
boundary line, marked by the Kittatinny Range. 

Again the extension of settlements and the treaty of August 22, 
1749, demanded new county organizations, and in 1752 Berks and 
Northampton were formed to include in their jurisdiction the northern 
portions of the older counties and the newly acquired territory between 
the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers. Berks embraced the larger 
area 1 . 

Additional territory west of the Susquehanna was acquired from 
the Indians by the treaties of 1754 and 1758, which made the outlying 
county of Cumberland too large for the convenience of its inhabitants, 
and in 1771 Bedford County was erected. 

A similar development was rapidly taking place east of the Susque¬ 
hanna, occasioned by the activity about Fort Augusta, at the Forks of 
the Susquehanna, and the Pennamite-Yankee War, which was being 
waged for possession of the territory in the Wyoming Valley and else¬ 
where, claimed by the Susquehanna Company of Connecticut, and the 
treaty of November 5, 1768, added much new territory. 









208 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


By an act passed March 21, 1772, the County of Northumberland 
was erected out of parts of the counties of Lancaster, Cumberland, 
Berks, Bedford and Northampton. The bounds of the new county 
stretched to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary line on the north 
and to the Allegheny River on the west, including in its extensive ter¬ 
ritory the present-day counties of Susquehanna, Lackawanna, Luzerne, 
Wyoming, Bradford, Sullivan, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, 
Snyder, Union, Lycoming, Tioga, Potter, Clinton, Cameron, Elk, 
McKean, Forest, Jefferson, Clarion and parts of Schuylkill, Cen¬ 
ter, Mifflin, Juniata, Clearfield, Indiana, Armstrong, Venango and 
Warren. 

It is with eminent propriety this tenth county of Pennsylvania has 
been frequently styled “Old Mother Northumberland,” and each of 
her twenty-nine children refer back to her for their earliest political 
history. 

Its greatest proportions were attained in 1785, when, by the Act of 
April 9, all that part of the purchase of October 22, 1784, east of the 
Conewango Creek and Allegheny River was placed within its limits. 
The county thus extended along the northern line of the State as far 
west as the Conewango Creek, which crosses the New York-Pennsyl- 
vania boundary line in Warren County, and from the Lehigh River 
to the Allegheny River, with a maximum width of nearly two-thirds 
that of the State. The extent of this region exceeds that of several 
States of the Union. 

By the Act of September 24, 1788, Allegheny County was created, 
including all the territory in the State north and west of the Ohio and 
Allegheny Rivers, and from this territory, by act of March 12, 1800, 
the counties of Beaver, Butler, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Warren, Ven¬ 
ango and Armstrong were erected. Thus it would seem that the first 
five of these should be added with the offspring of Old Northumberland, 
for three years at least. If this be the case her children would num¬ 
ber thirty-four of the sixty-seven counties of the State. 

The first curtailment of this generous domain resulted from the 
erection of Luzerne County, September 25, 1786. West of the Sus¬ 
quehanna the first county to which Northumberland contributed was 
Mifflin, erected September 19, 1789, but the part taken from Northum¬ 
berland with additional territory from Northumberland and other 
counties, was erected into Center, February 13, 1800. The formation 
of Lycoming County, April 13, 1795, deprived Northumberland of the 
large extent of territory it had acquired under the purchase of 1784, 
with a considerable part of its original area. 

Northumberland was thus reduced to the position of an interior 
county. With this reduced territory the statesmen of Pennsylvania 
were not fully satisfied, and March 22, 1813, the townships of Chillis- 
quaque and Turbot were detached to form part of the new Columbia 


PETER PENCE CAPTURED 


209 


County, but this was an unpopular move and the greater part of these 
townships were re-annexed to Northumberland, February 21, 1815. 

On June 16, 1772, the surveyor general was directed to “lay out a 
town for the county of Northumberland, to be called by the name of 
Sunbury, at the most commodious place between the fort (Augusta) 
and the mouth of Shamokin Creek.” 

Until the court house was built the courts were held at Fort Au¬ 
gusta, the first session being held April 9, 1772. 

The first jail in the county was the dungeon beneath the magazine 
of Fort Augusta. This is the only part of the early county buildings 
now in existence, and this particular dungeon and the old well which 
supplied water for the garrison are now the property of the Common¬ 
wealth. 

When the county was erected the Governor appointed William 
Plunket, Turbut Francis, Samuel Hunter, James Potter, William Mac- 
lay, Caleb Graydon, Benjamin Allison, Robert Moodie, John Lowdon, 
Thomas Lemon, Ellis Hughes and Benjamin Weiser to be justices. 
William Plunket was the president of the court and served as such 
four years. 

William Maclay was the Prothonotary and Register and Recorder, 
and served until March 22, 1777; George Nagel, Sheriff of Berks 
County, served in a similar capacity in the new county; Edward Burd 
was the State’s attorney, and the Coroner was James Parr. The orig¬ 
inal County Commissioners were William Gray, Thomas Hewitt and 
John Weitzel. Alexander Hunter was Treasurer, and Walter Clark, 
Jonathan Lodge, Peter Hosterman, James Harrison, Nicholas Miller, 
Jacob Heverling arid Samuel Weiser, Assessors; Thomas Lemon, Col¬ 
lector of Excise; Joshua Elder, James Potter, Jesse Lukens and William 
Scull were appointed to run the boundary line; Samuel Hunter was the 
first member of the Assembly. 


Peter Pence, Indian Fighter, Captured 
March 22, 1780 

NE of the conspicuous characters along the Susquehanna Valleys 
during the period of the Revolutionary War, and afterwards, 
was a Pennsylvania Dutchman by the name of Peter Pence. 
It is generally believed that his proper name was Bentz, a name 
which occurs frequently in Lancaster County, from which 
place he went to Shamokin. The well-known aptitude of the 
Dutchman to incorrectly sound his letters is given as the reason that his 
name was pronounced and spelled Pence. 

In accord with the resolution adopted by Congress, June 14, 1775, 
directing the formation of six companies of expert riflemen in Pennsyl- 








210 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


vania to be employed as light infantry, one of the companies was re¬ 
cruited in Northumberland County, June 25, 1775, under the command 
of Captain John Lowdon. 

Captain Lowdon then resided on a farm called Silver Spring, adjoin¬ 
ing the present town of Mifflinburg, Union County, where he died in 
February, 1798, aged sixty-eight years. 

The company formed part of the battalion of riflemen commanded 
by Colonel William Thompson, of Carlisle. This company boarded 
boats on the Susquehanna River and were conveyed to Harris’ Ferry, 
then marched overland to Reading, where they arrived July 13, and 
received knapsacks, blankets and other equipment. This battalion was 
composed of nine companies, two from Cumberland County, two from 
Lancaster, and one each from York and Northumberland, Berks, Bed¬ 
ford and Northampton. 

The battalion arrived at Cambridge August 7, and soon became the 
picketguard of the 2000 provincials there. It also became the First 
Regiment of the Continental Line, Colonel Thopipson being promoted 
to brigadier general, March 1, 1776. He was succeeded by Colonel 
Edward Hand, of Lancaster, who also became a brigadier, September 
17, 1778. 

This battalion participated in the Battle of Trenton, was at the 
taking of Burgoyne, was with Sullivan in his expedition against the Six 
Nation Indians, was at Stony Point under General Wayne and finally 
served in the campaign of South Carolina during the latter days of the 
war. 

The first record of Peter Pence is as a private soldier in Lowdon’s 
company, and the further fact that he served faithfully is sufficient 
introduction to the thrilling life he led in the frontiers of Pennsylvania. 

On March 22, 1780, the Indians made an attack on some settlers in 
the vicinity of Fort Wheeler, on the banks of Fishing Creek, about three 
miles above the present town of Bloomsburg, Columbia County. The 
Indians killed and scalped Cornelius Van Campen and his brother, 
and a son was tomahawked, scalped and thrown into the fire. Lieu¬ 
tenant Moses Van Campen, another son, was taken captive, as was his 
cousin, a young lad, and Peter Pence. Soon after this, at another place, 
the Indians took a lad named Jonah Rogers and a man named Abram 
Pike. 

With their captives the Indians made their way over the mountains, 
into what is now Bradford County. The savage warriors were ten in 
number. 

One evening, while the prisoners were being bound for the night, 
an Indian accidentally dropped his knife close to Van Campen’s feet, 
and he covered the knife unobserved. 

About midnight, when the warriors were all asleep, Van Campen 
got the knife and released Peter Pence, who in turn released the others. 


PETER PENCE CAPTURED 


211 


Cautiously and quickly the weapons were obtained and a plan of action 
determined. The prisoners had been placed in the midst of the warriors. 
Van Campen and Pike were to use the tomahawk on one group, while 
Peter Pence opened fire on the other with the rifles. 

The work was well done, Van Campen and Pike dispatched four 
while Pence, with unerring aim speedily killed his group. A hand to 
hand fight between the remaining Indian, John, a Mohawk sachem, and 
Van Campen, resulted in the Indian making his escape. 

The liberated captives scalped the Indians, picked up their plunder 
and hastily constructed a raft, and, after a series of adventures, reached 
Wyoming, April 4, 1780, where Pike and young Rogers left the party. 
Peter Pence and the Van Campens reached Fort Jenkins on the 
morning of April 6, where they found Colonel John Kelly, with 100 
frontiersmen who had hurried there from the West Branch. The fol¬ 
lowing day Pence and Van Campen reached Fort Augusta, where they 
were received in a regular frontier triumph. 

The next exploit in which we find Pence enegaged is in the year 
1781, when one of the most atrocious murders Nvas committed near 
Selinsgrove. 

Three brothers by the name of Stock were at work in the field when 
a party of about thirty Indians appeared. They did not attack the boys, 
but passed on to the house, which they entered. On the way they 
found another son plowing, whom they killed. Mrs. Stock and a 
daughter-in-law were found in the house. The mother defended her¬ 
self with a canoe pole, as she retreated toward the field where her 
husband was working. She was tomahawked, however, the house 
plundered and the young woman carried into the woods nearby and 
killed and scalped. When Stock returned and found his wife, son and 
daughter-in-law inhumanly butchered he gave an alarm. 

Three experienced Indian fighters, Michael Grove, John Stroh and 
Peter Pence went in pursuit of the enemy. They found them encamped 
on the North Branch, on the side of a hill covered with fern. Grove 
crept close enough to discover that their rifles were stacked around a 
tree and that all but three were asleep. 

One of the Indians was narrating in high glee how Mrs. Stock 
defended herself with the pole. Grove lay quiet until all the Indians 
fell asleep. He then returned to his companions, Stroh and Pence. They 
decided to attack, and crept up close to the camp, when they dashed 
among the sleeping savages. Grove plied his deadly tomahawk, while 
Stroh and Pence seized the rifles and fired among the sleepers. Several 
Indians were killed; the others, believing they were attacked by a large 
party fled to the woods. 

A captive white boy was liberated and the three brave men brought 
home a number of scalps and the best rifles. 

March 10, 1810, the Legislature passed an act granting an annuity 


212 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


to Peter Pence, in consideration of his services, of $40 per annum. He 
died in the Nippenose Valley, in 1812. He left several sons and 
daughters. Robert Hamilton, of Pine Creek Township, Clinton County, 
was the executor of his estate. He left a will which is recorded in 
Lycoming County. 


John Bartram, First Great American Botanist 
and Founder of Bartram Gardens, Born 
at Darby, March 23,1699 

T IS not generally known, at least outside of Pennsylvania, 
that that State was the birth place of a man whom the cele¬ 
brated Linnaeus pronounced the greatest natural botanist in the 
world. This man was John Bartram, a native of Delaware 
County. 

August 30, 1685 John Bartram bought three hundred acres 
of land from Thomas Brassey, which land was situated along Darby 
Creek, in now Delaware County. Here John Bartram was born March 
23, 1699. 

His early attention was first directed to botanical studies by one of 
those accidents which seem to shape the destinies of all great men. 

When a mere lad and helping his father with the work about the 
farm he plowed up a daisy. Despite everything the modest little flower 
kept intruding itself on his consideration, until after several days he 
hired a man to plow while he rode to Philadelphia to procure a treatise 
on botany and a Latin grammar. 

Fortunately for himself and the world he inherited a farm from a 
bachelor uncle, which gave him the means to marry early, and purchase 
the land where he afterwards established the noted “Botanical Gardens.” 
H is wife was Mary, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Maris; they 
were married April 25, 1723. Mrs. Bartram died within a few years, 
and he then married Ann Mendenhall, February 11, 1729. 

Bartram bought his piece of ground at Gray’s Ferry in 1728. On 
this estate he built with his own hands a stone house, and on one of the 
stones in the gable was cut “John * Ann Bartram, 1731.” 

Here he pursued his studious habits, his reputation spreading abroad 
until correspondence was solicited by the leading botanists of the Old 
World,—Linnaeus, Dr. Fothergill, and others,—while in the colonies, 
all scientific men in the same line of study sought his favor, advice and 
opinions. Dr. Benjamin Franklin was his earnest friend, and constantly 
urged Bartram to authorship. 

His fame had so extended that in 1765 King George III appointed 
him. botanist to the King. 







JOHN BARTRAM 


213 


He transmitted both his talents and tastes to his son William, and 
their joint labors during a period of nearly one hundred years were the 
most valuable contributions that this country has made to the science in 
whose behalf they were devoted. 

They were pious Quakers, admired and loved by their acquaintances. 

James Logan was probably the first person who directed the mind of 
John Bartram seriously to botany as the pursuit of a lifetime. 

Logan was a lover of plants and flowers and enjoyed a wonderful 
garden at “Stenton,” and Bartram was a welcome guest. 

Logan, in 1729, sent to England for a copy of “Parkinson’s Herbal,” 
saying he wanted to present it to John Bartram, who was a person 
worthier of a heavier purse than fortune had yet allowed^ him, and had 
“a geniu§ perfectly well turned for botany.” 

A subscription was started in 1742 to enable Bartram to travel in 
search of botanical specimens. It was proposed to raise enough for him 
to continue his travels for three years, he being described as a person who 
“has had a propensity to Botanicks from his infancy,” and “an accurate 
observer, of great industry and temperance, and of unquestionable 
veracity.” 

The result of these travels was the publication of two very delightful 
books by this earliest of American botanists. 

The specimens he collected were sent to Europe, where they attracted 
Kahn and many other naturalists to this country. 

In 1751 he published his work, “Observation on the Inhabitants, 
Climate, Soil, Divers Productions, Animals, etc., made in his Travels 
from Pennsylvania to Onondaga, Oswego, and the Lake Ontario.” In 
1766 appeared “An Account of East Florida, by William Stork, with a 
Journal kept by John Bartram, of Philadelphia, upon a Journey from 
St. Augustine, Fla., up the River St. John’s.” 

He also contributed numerous papers to the Philosophical Transac¬ 
tions from 1740 to 1763. 

He was the first in this country to form a botanical garden. 

On the outside of his house, over the front window of his study, was 
a stone with the inscription, carved by his own hand: 

“ ’Tis God alone, Almighty God, 

The Holy One, by me Adored. 

John Bartram, 1770;” 

and an inscription over the door of his greenhouse was: 

“Slave to no sect, who takes no private road, 

But looks through nature up to Nature’s God.” 

As the British soldiers were approaching Philadelphia from the Battle 
of Brandywine, John Bartram greatly feared they would destroy his 
“beloved garden,” the work of a lifetime. He became very much 


214 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


excited, and said, “I want to die!” and expired half an hour later, 
September 22, 1777. His remains lie buried in the Friends’ burying 
ground, Darby. 

His son William went to Florida to study and collect botanical 
specimens, returning home in 1771. In 1773, at the instance of the dis¬ 
tinguished Quaker physician, Dr. John Fothergill, of London, William 
spent five years in the study of the natural productions of the Southern 
States. The results of these investigations were published by Dr. 
Fothergill. 

In 1782 he was elected Professor of Botany in the University of 
Pennsylvania, but declined the appointment on the score of ill health. 

Besides his^ discoveries and publications on botany, he prepared the 
most complete table of American ornithology prior to Wilson’s great 
work, and he was an assistant of the latter in a portion of his work. 

He died suddenly, July 22, 1823, just a moment after he had com¬ 
pleted writing a sketch of a new specimen of a plant. 

This first botanical garden in America is situated in West Phila¬ 
delphia, near Fifty-fourth Street and Woodland Avenue. There is a 
cider mill, and close by the grave of an old and faithful slave. 

The house is sufficient to attract any visitor, and it was here where 
the illustrious visitors from various parts of the world were received by 
the Bartrams. 

The city authorities assumed control of this property in 1891. 


Proposal for Second Constitution for Penn¬ 
sylvania Adopted March 24, 1789 

HE Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 proving inadequate for 
the requirements of a useful and effective Government, its re¬ 
vision was demanded. On March 24, 1789, the Assembly 
adopted resolutions recommending the election of delegates 
to form a new Constitution. 

The struggle for independence had been fought and won, 
but with the triumph of the Revolution even those who had been op¬ 
posed to the movement speedily acquiesced, though many years elapsed 
before all the bitter memories engendered by the strife could pass away. 
Time was healing the wounds of war, and others were growing up who 
had not suffered. 

The adoption of the Federal Constitution had rendered the insti¬ 
tution of measures necessary for the election of members of Congress 
and electors of President and Vice President of the United States. In 
order to avail themselves as fully as possible of the privileges afforded, 
the Anti-Federalists were early at work. 






CONSTITUTION OF 1790 


215 


A few of the leading men of this party assembled in convention at 
Harrisburg in September, 1788, ostensibly for the purpose of recom¬ 
mending revision of the new Constitution. Blair McClenacben was 
chosen as the chairman of this small assembly, and General John A. 
Hanna, secretary. They resolved that it was expedient to recommend 
an acquiescence in the Constitution but that a revision of the instrument 
was necessary. They debated among other topics, a reform in the ratio 
of congressional representation, and a referendum on the term of a 
Senator. Several other changes were advocated, but the body contented 
itself by nominating a general ticket for Congress. 

The action of this body was immediately denounced and as the 
nominees were Anti-Federalists, it was said that power to enforce the 
new constitutional system ought not to be granted to its opponents. 

A new convention was to meet at Lancaster, which selected candi¬ 
dates for Congress and electors for President. The election took place 
in November, and in the State six of the nominees on the Federal 
ticket were elected and two (David Muhlenberg, of Montgomery, and 
Daniel Hiester, of Berks), who, although Federalists, had with two 
others of the same politics, been placed as a matter of policy with the 
opposition ticket. 

The political condition of Pennsylvania had undergone a great 
change, and now the three original counties had multiplied by 1790 
to twenty-one. Immigration was strongly flowing into the State. The 
abundance of fertile lands formed an attraction to the immigrant almost 
without parallel in the county. 

Then the Constitution of 1776 had been rather hastily prepared 
amid great excitement and was adopted with the determined spirit 
that characterized all public measures during the Revolutionary period. 

Even though the instrument had become somewhat antiquated, it 
might have been improved by regular methods, and the amended Con¬ 
stitution would have been acceptable to a large number of people, but 
such action would not have served the personal ambitions of the 
leaders. 

The chief objections to the Constitution were the single legisla¬ 
tive body, and a Council of Censors whose functions were of such an 
unusual character, the latter body being the real bone of contention. 

When the people had grown discontented with the old Constitution, 
believing they had suffered long enough through lack of action, and 
authority, they were willing to adopt another Constitution containing 
the principles of enduring life. 

The same movement that led to the ratification of the Federal Con¬ 
stitution by Pennsylvania stirred the waters in another direction. If 
the Federal Constitution could be ratified by a convention, why could 
not a convention be called to make and adopt another Constitution for 
Pennsylvania ? 


216 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


A petition was addressed to the Legislature, which adopted a reso¬ 
lution March 24, 1789, but the Supreme Executive Council refused to 
promulgate this action of the Ass'embly. 

September 15, 1789, the Assembly adopted another resolution calling 
for a convention by a vote of 39 to 17. 

At the election in October delegates were chosen, and on Tuesday, 
November 24, 1789, the convention assembled in Philadelphia, but a 
quorum not being present, the organization was effected the following 
day with sixty-four delegates in attendance. No returns had been re¬ 
ceived from the counties of Northumberland and Allegheny, and Mif¬ 
flin had sent a double delegation. 

Thomas Mifflin was chosen president; Joseph Redman, secretary; 
Frederick Snyder, messenger, and Joseph Fry, doorkeeper. 

On the Republican side, those in favor of a new constitution were 
James Wilson, Thomas McKean and Thomas Mifflin, all of Philadel¬ 
phia; Timothy Pickering, of Luzerne; Edward Hand, of Lancaster. 
Among the Constitutionalists were William Findley, of Westmoreland; 
John Smilie and Albert Gallatin, of Fayette; Robert Whitehill and 
William Irvine, of Cumberland. 

After a long session the convention adjourned Friday, February 26, 
1790, to meet Monday, August 9. 

The second session of the convention met pursuant to adjournment 
and got down to business the third day, and concluded its work by the 
final adoption of a new instrument September 2, 1790, the final vote 
being sixty-one to one, Mr. George Roberts, of Philadelphia, voting 
against its adoption. 

The most radical changes were made in the executive and legislative 
branches of government. The Assembly ceased to have the sole right to 
make laws, a Senate being created. The Supreme Executive Council 
was abolished. A Governor was directed to be elected to whom the 
administration of affairs was to be entrusted. 

The former judicial system was continued, excepting that the judges 
of the higher courts were to be appointed during good behavior, instead 
of seven years. The Bill of Rights re-enacted the old Provincial pro¬ 
vision copied into the first Constitution, respecting freedom of worship 
and the rights of conscience. The Council of Censors ceased to have 
authority and Pennsylvania conformed in all important matters to the 
system upon which the new Federal Government was to be admin¬ 
istered. 

The first election held under the Constitution of the Commonwealth, 
that of 1790, resulted in the choice of Thomas Mifflin, the president of 
the convention, which made, adopted and proclaimed the Constitution, 
for Governor. He served three terms. 


DAVID LEWIS, ROBBER 


217 


David Lewis, Robber and Counterfeiter, 
Born March 25, 1790 



AVID LEWIS was the most notorious robber and counter¬ 
feiter in this country a little more than a century ago. 

He was born at Carlisle, March 25, 1790, of poor, but 
respectable parents, being one of a large family of children. 
The father died when David was less than ten years old, and 
the widow had a hard struggle to raise her family. Be it said 
to the credit of David that he remained with her and assisted in raising 
the family until he was seventeen years old. Then he worked at differ¬ 
ent occupations in and about Bellefonte until he enlisted in the army. 

During this service he was punished by a sergeant for some offense 
and deserted, only to re-enlist a few months later, as a private in Captain 
William N. Irvine's company of light artillery, under an assumed name. 

By this time he had formed vicious habits and he immediately 
planned to decamp with his bounty money, but he was discovered as a 
former deserter. The War of 1812 was imminent and discipline rigid, 
so that the sentence of his court martial was death. Through the efforts 
of his distressed mother, his sentence was commuted to imprisonment in 
a guard house, secured by ball and chain. 

He served only one week of this sentence, for he then made his es¬ 
cape and safely reached a cave on the banks of the Conodoguinet Creek, 
less than two miles from Carlisle. The very night he arrived in this 
favorite haunt Lewis began his long and varied career of robbery and 
lawlessness. This cave and another on Little Chickies Creek near 
Mount Joy, Lancaster County, were the storehouses for the major por¬ 
tion of the ill-gotten loot of Lewis and his gang. 

The first victims of Lewis were the country banks, but recently es¬ 
tablished and whose bank notes were easy to counterfeit. Lewis was 
quick to make the most of this condition. He journeyed to Vermont and 
there made enormous quantities of spurious bank bills, purporting to 
have been issued from banks in Philadelphia and various Pennsylvania 
towns. These were successfully passed in New York. 

Lewis was captured and committed to jail at Troy, from which he 
soon escaped, with the assistance of the jailer’s daughter, who fled with 
him and became his wife. His devotion to her was so genuine that it is 
strange her influence did not prove sufficient for him to have become a 
valuable member of society instead of one of the worst criminals on 
record. 

Lewis was a man of unusual physical strength, handsome, and pos¬ 
sessed a most pleasing personality. He was conscious of that fact, and 






218 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


made many friends, not in crime, but those who would aid him in mak¬ 
ing escape or give him timely warning. The story is told of Nicholas 
Howard, a prominent landlord near Doubling Gap, who would dis¬ 
play a flag from a certain upper window when the coast was clear, and 
Lewis was thus advised of the movements of the officers seeking his ap¬ 
prehension. Food was often carried to him in his hiding place by those 
who never suspected they were befriending an outlaw. 

A Mr. Black, of Cumberland, Md., related a personal adventure 
with Lewis in the Allegheny Mountains. Black had crossed the moun¬ 
tain on horseback to Brownsville, where he collected a large sum of 
money. He rode a speedy black horse. While in Brownsville he won 
another horse in a race and the following day started home, riding the 
new horse, leading his own “Blacky.” 

In a lonely ravine a man suddenly appeared and jumped on Blacky’s 
back and rode alongside Black and began to barter for the horse. The 
horse was not for sale and they rode together until a spring was reached, 
where they dismounted and quenched their thirst and ate a bite and 
drank some peach brandy. By the time a second spring was reached 
Black and his new-found companion were on intimate terms. The 
stranger asked Black if he had ever seen Lewis, about whom there was 
so much fear and excitement. He replied that he had not. 

“Well, sir,” replied the stranger, jumping to his feet, “here is Lewis 
—I am the man.” 

Black further stated that Lewis told him he had seen the race in 
Brownsville and knew he had collected much money there, and that he 
had preceded him to waylay and rob him, but that Black had treated 
him like a gentleman and he would not harm him or take a cent from 
his pocket. 

At another time when a large searching party in Adams County in 
pursuit of Lewis met a well-dressed stranger on horseback, they asked 
him if he had “seen or heard anything of Lewis, the robber.” He re¬ 
plied that he had not and joined in the pursuit. Later he had the 
audacity to send a letter stating that they had been riding with Lewis, 
and he was anxious to learn if they had thought him an agreeable 
companion. 

One of the best of his exploits took place in Mifflin County. Having 
failed in the execution of some plots to rob several wealthy farmers, 
his ready cash uncomfortably low, he set out to replenish his finances. 
Coming across a fine, large house that stood back from the highway, he 
knocked at the door, which was opened by an elderly woman of re¬ 
spectable appearance. Lewis, to ascertain where her money was kept, 
asked her to change a five dollar note. 

“That I am not able to do,” replied the woman, “for I am unfor¬ 
tunate and have not a dollar in the house, and what'is worse,” she 
added despondently, as she caught sight of a man coming through the 


DAVID LEWIS, ROBBER 


219 


woods toward the house, “there comes the constable to take my cow for 
the last half-year’s rent. I don’t know what to do without her.” 

“How much do you owe?” inquired Lewis, hurriedly. 

“Twenty dollars, sir,” answered the woman. 

“Have you no one to help you?” inquired Lewis. 

“No one,” she replied. 

“Then I will,” said the robber, as he drew from his pocket the exact 
sum. “Pay that fellow his demand and be sure to take his receipt, but 
don’t say anything about me.” 

Lewis had just time to make his escape, unobserved, when the con¬ 
stable arrived and proceeded to drive away the widow’s cow, but she 
rushed forward, paid him the money and took his receipt. 

He immediately set out upon his return, but had not proceeded far, 
when Lewis bounded into the road and greeted him as follows: 

“How d’ye do, stranger? Got any spare change about you?” 

“No,” answered the frightened constable. 

“Come, shell out, old fellow, or I’ll save you the trouble,” retorted 
Lewis, as he presented his pistol. This argument convinced the worthy 
official that the stranger meant business and he quickly handed over his 
money. 

Lewis got back his twenty dollars and forty dollars in addition. He 
often afterward boasted that the loan of that twenty to the widow 
was one of the best investments he ever made. 


More Exploits of Lewis, the Robber—Con¬ 
clusion of Yesterday’s Story, March 26 

ESTERDAY’S story was a brief outline of the early life of 
David Lewis, the robber and counterfeiter, and in this will be 
told those events which followed and ended in his death. 

In 1818, Dr. Peter Shoenberger, owner of the Huntingdon 
Furnace, in Huntingdon County, had made extensive ship¬ 
ments of iron to Harper’s Ferry and prepared to cross the 
mountains to receive his pay. Lewis and his band knew of this proposed 
trip and determined to waylay and rob him. The sum to be collected 
amounted to more than $13,000, and the ironmaster’s credit would be 
ruined if this sum was not in deposit in Bellefonte by a certain date. 

While they were scheming to rob Shoenberger news reached them 
that their victim was returning home by way of the Cumberland Valley 
and Harrisburg. 

When Lewis and his gang arrived at Harrisburg they learned that 
the doctor, warned of their designs, had again changed his route, but 
the highwaymen knew the country and soon got in advance of their vie- 







220 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


tim. In the early hours of the morning, a few miles east of Bellefonte, 
the doctor was confronted by a large man on horseback, who, with a 
pistol in hand, ordered him to “stand and deliver.” 

The doctor was in a dilemma; he faced financial ruin or loss of life. 
As he reached for his saddlebag he heard a shout and at the same time 
saw the top of a Conestoga wagon reaching the top of the hill. The 
wagoners were encouraging their horses as the doctor yelled in despera¬ 
tion, “Men, I am being robbed. Help! Help!” 

Lewis snapped his pistol, but it failed to discharge. Connelly, a 
mate of Lewis, rode up and would have killed the doctor, but for Lewis. 
A shot by one of the wagoners struck Connelly in the shoulder, but he 
and Lewis escaped in the woods. 

During his operations in New York City Lewis formed a partner¬ 
ship with other noted crooks. Each one signed an ironclad compact with 
blood drawn from the veins of each member as they formed in a circle, 
while Lewis held a basin to receive the blood of each, which was used 
as ink. 

Lewis knew that Mrs. John Jacob Astor was to attend a well-adver¬ 
tised auction sale, where she made many purchases of rare laces and 
jewelry, placing them in a reticule, which she kept on a bench close by 
her side. While she was engaged in conversation, Lewis stole the bag 
and made his escape. He failed to divide the plunder with the gang, but 
gave it all to his wife, barely escaping their wrath. 

Lewis headed for Princeton, where, he said, he found “empty heads 
and full purses.” He succeeded in fleecing many of the students of all 
the money they had or could obtain. 

His next exploits were in Philadelphia, where he was the leader of a 
band which attempted to decoy Stephen Girard out of the city into the 
country, to keep him in confinement until forced to purchase his free¬ 
dom. They also planned to dig a tunnel from the Dock Street sewer 
to Girard’s banking house, where they intended to reach the bank vaults 
from below. The dangerous illness of Lewis’ daughter caused a delay 
in these plans, his gang drifted apart, and the scheme was abandoned. 

He then drove a team in the United States Army, where he robbed 
officers and men. When he received his pay for his services and for 
his employer’s teams and wagons, he stole the entire proceeds and left 
for Western Pennsylvania, where he was most active and successful in 
his nefarious pursuit. 

H is wife died about this time and his grief was so genuine that he 
almost changed his mode of life, but soon fell in with another gang and 
for some time devoted his attention to making and circulating spurious 
money. He was caught passing bad money and arrested at Bedford 
and sentenced to the penitentiary, from which he was pardoned by Gov¬ 
ernor Findlay. 

Lewis and his band robbed a Mr. McClelland, who was riding from 


DAVID LEWIS, ROBBER 


221 


Pittsburgh to Bedford. . Lewis saved McClelland’s life when Connelly 
insisted on shooting him, saying “Dead men tell no tales.” Lewis was 
again caught and confined in the Bedford jail. He not only escaped, 
but he set free all the convicts who entered in the plan with him, leav¬ 
ing behind “an ordinary thief who had robbed a poor widow. Such a 
thief should remain in jail and pay the price,” wrote Lewis in his 
confession. 

Lewis and Connelly made a trip through York and Cumberland 
Counties robbing wealthy German farmers. A well-laid plot to rob a 
wealthy Mr. Bashore was frustrated through the presence of mind and 
bravery of his wife, who blew a horn to alarm the neighborhood, as 
Lewis confessed, “displaying as much courage as any man and more 
resolution than any woman I had met with.” 

On several occasions he was known to have risked capture, and even 
his life, just to spend a few hours with his mother, whom he dearly loved. 

Lewis learned that a wagon load of merchandise belonging to Ham¬ 
ilton and Page, of Bellefonte, was expected to pass through the Seven 
Mountains. He and his gang quickly planned and successfully executed 
this robbery, and immediately thereafter made a rich haul from the store 
of General James Potter, in Penn’s Valley near the Old Fort. 

Lewis was a shrewd mountaineer and smart as a steel trap, but like 
all such criminals of his daring was sure to meet his fate. Even though 
frequently arrested and confined in jail, none was strong enough to hold 
him. He never served a sentence in a single institution. 

After the robbery of General Potter’s store, Lewis and Connelly 
started for Sinnemahoning, meeting at the house of Samuel Smith, 
where they participated in shooting at a mark, and mingled in the crowd. 
Lewis and Connelly were recognized and their surrender demanded as 
rewards were everywhere offered for their arrest. Connelly opened fire, 
killing one of the captors. 

Lewis, never having taken life, snapped his pistol in the air, but the 
fire was returned in earnest, Lewis being shot in the right arm and Con¬ 
nelly in the hip. The latter was found hiding in a tree top. Lewis and 
Connelly were loaded in canoes and taken down the river to Great 
Island, now Lock Haven, where three physicians attended them. Con¬ 
nelly died that night. Lewis was removed, as soon as his wounds would 
permit to Bellefonte jail, where he died a month later, July 13, 1820. 

Thus a sad commentary in the life of Lewis, the Robber, that the 
only jail from which he failed to escape was the Bellefonte bastile, and 
while there his wounds were of such a nature he could not plan nor did 
he desire to escape, but he often told his jailer he could easily get away 
any hour he pleased. 


222 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Bethlehem Hospital Base During Revolu¬ 
tion, Moved March 27, 1777 

ETHLEHEM was the seat of a general hospital twice during 
the Revolution and during the six years from 1775 to 1781, 
it was a thoroughfare for Continental troops. Heavy baggage 
and munitions of war and General Washington’s private bag¬ 
gage were stored in the town and guarded by 200 Continentals 
under command of Colonel William Polk, of North Carolina, 
while many houses were occupied by American troops and British prison¬ 
ers of war. The Continental Congress found refuge there when on its 
flight from Philadelphia. 

The inhabitants of Bethlehem, therefore, witnessed not only the 
horrors and experienced the discomforts of war, but also its “pomp and 
circumstance,” for at times there were sojourning among them Gen¬ 
erals Washington, Lafayette, Greene, Knox, Sterling, Schuyler, Gates, 
Sullivan, De Kalb, Steuben, Pulaski and Arnold, with members of their 
staffs, and General Charles Lee’s division of the army in command of 
General Sullivan was encamped opposite the town. 

The population of Bethlehem in those stirring days was about 500 
souls, principally Moravians. The “Church Store,” on Market Street, 
was well stocked and spacious; in its cellars were stored supplies for the 
hospital and in the dwelling part sick and wounded soldiers found de¬ 
sirable quarters. 

The dwelling of Thomas Horsfield was nearby. He was a hero of 
the French and Indian War, a colonel of the Provincial forces and a 
magistrate. Many refugees from Philadelphia and New York were 
provided a temporary home by the old veteran. Beyond, to the west, 
resided William Boehler, where Captain Thomas Webb, the founder of 
Methodism in America, and a British prisoner of war with his family 
of seven persons, were comfortably accommodated. 

On what is now Main Street, and north of the “Brethren House,” 
stood the “Family House,” for married people, in which were confined 
more than 200 British prisoners, whose guard of 100 Continentals were 
quartered in the water works building. When they marched for Read¬ 
ing and Lancaster, the surgeons of the hospital occupied the building. 

Farther up the thoroughfares were the farm buildings and dwelling 
of Frederick Boeckel, the farmer general of the Moravian estates, where 
Lafayette, after being wounded at Brandywine, was tenderly nursed to 
convalescence by Dame Barbara Boeckel and her pretty daughter, Liesel. 

The last house overlooking the Valley of the Monocacy was the Sun 
Inn, a hostelry unsurpassed in the Colonies, and surely none other 









HOSPITAL BASE AT BETHLEHEM 


223 

entertained and sheltered so many of the patriots of the American Revo¬ 
lution. 

The Single Brethren’s House now the middle building of the 
Moravian Seminary and College for Women, which has weathered the 
storms of more than 175 years, was twice during the Revolution occu¬ 
pied as a general hospital, the first time from December, 1776, to April, 
1777, and for the last time from September, 1777, to April, 1778. The 
cornerstone of this large building was laid April 1, 1748. 

The Americans were defeated at Long Island in August, 1776, when 
Washington withdrew his troops to New York City, which a few days 
later fell into the hands of the enemy. This loss was quickly followed 
by that of Fort Washington and Fort Lee, when Washington crossed 
the North River into New Jersey, and continued his retreat to Trenton, 
in which he was closely pursued by Cornwallis. It was at this crisis 
that the general hospital, in which more than 1,000 sick and wounded 
were living, was removed from Morristown to Bethlehem. 

On December 3, 1776, Dr. Cornelius Baldwin rode up to the clergy 
house and delivered to Reverend John Ettwein an order from General 
John Warren, general hospital surgeon, which stated that General 
Washington had ordered the General Hospital to Bethlehem and di¬ 
rected the Moravian brethren to put their buildings in condition for the 
reception of the invalids and he doubted not “but you will act upon this 
occasion as becomes men and Christians.” 

Toward evening Drs. William Shippen and John Warren arrived 
and made arrangements with Reverend Ettwein for the reception of 250 
of the sick. During the ensuing two days the invalids, in charge of their 
surgeons, commenced to arrive. Their suffering from exposure and 
improper transportation made them pitiable objects to behold and two 
died before they were removed from the wagons. Food was scarce and 
the Moravians relieved their distress from their own supplies. Some of 
the sick were taken to Easton and Allentown. 

Oh December 7 two deaths occurred and a site for a cemetery was 
selected on the bluff on the west bank of the Monocacy Creek. 

The Moravians constantly attended the sick and Mr. Ettwein vis¬ 
ited the patients daily. In February smallpox was brought to the hos¬ 
pital by some soldiers, but an epidemic was averted. On March 27, 
1777, the hospital was transferred to Philadelphia. 

During the time the hospital was in Bethlehem more than 100 
died, coffins for whom were made by the Moravian carpenters, who also 
dug the graves and served at the burial of the deceased patriots. 

Again when the Continental army failed to defend Philadelphia, the 
hospital was removed to Bethlehem. On September 13, 1777, Wash¬ 
ington ordered all military stores of the army, in 700 wagons to Beth¬ 
lehem. The Church bells of Philadelphia, with the Liberty Bell, were 
also transported to Bethlehem en route to Allentown. Again the 


224 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Moravians were directed to prepare their buildings for hospital use and 
September 20, the sick and wounded began to arrive, among them 
Lafayette and Colonel, later General John Armstrong, of Carlisle. On 
the twenty-second the archives and money of Congress, under an escort, 
arrived. 

On October 7 the wounded from the Battle of Germantown began 
to arrive and in a fortnight 450 patients were being treated. A rain 
lasting six days set in and the suffering was indescribable. The Mora¬ 
vians furnished many blankets and much clothing for the destitute sol¬ 
diers. During December many sick soldiers were brought to Bethlehem 
from hospitals in New Jersey. The loss was enormous due to lack of 
proper facilities with which to treat the patients, and the mortality dur¬ 
ing eight months and ten days was 120. 

Among the surgeons from Pennsylvania were William Shippen, Jr., 
John Morgan, Thomas Bond, Jr., William Smith, Bodo Otto, Aquila 
Wilmot, James Houston, S. Hailing and Francis Allison, Jr. 

On August 28, 1778, the remaining sixty-five patients were removed 
to Lancaster and Yellow Springs, and Bethlehem ceased to be a hos¬ 
pital base during the war. 


Flight of Tory Leaders from Pittsburgh, 
March 28, 1778 

ENERAL EDWARD HAND, the commandant at Fort Pitt, 
had failed in two expeditions, and the resultant effect was 
disastrous to the American cause on the border, especially in 
the spring of 1778. During the previous winter the British, 
under General Howe, had occupied Philadelphia, the capital of 
the colonies; the Continental Congress bad been driven to 
York, and Washington’s Army, reduced to half-naked and half-starved 
condition, had suffered in camp at Valley Forge, so there was not much 
ro win adherents to the cause of liberty among those otherwise inclined. 

Governor Hamilton, the British commander at Detroit, sent many 
agents, red and white, to penetrate the border settlements to organize 
the Tories into effective military units. In February and March, 1778, 
a daring and shrewd British spy visited Pittsburgh and carried on his 
plotting against the colonies almost under the nose of General Hand. 
Most of the Tories of this neighborhood were at the house of Alexander 
McKee, at what is now called McKees Rocks. Another place of as¬ 
sembly was at Redstone, where a British flag flew nearly all of that 
winter. 

Captain Alexander McKee, the Tory leader at Pittsburgh, was an 
educated man of wide influence on the frontier. He had been an Indian 
trader and for twelve years prior to the Revolution had been the King’s 








TORY LEADERS LEAVE PITTSBURGH 


225 


deputy agent for Indian affairs at Fort Pitt. For a short time he had 
been one of the justices of the peace for Westmoreland County, and he 
was intimately acquainted with most of the Indian chiefs. In 1764 he 
received a grant of 1,400 acres of land from Colonel Henry Bouquet, at 
the mouth of Chartier’s Creek, and he divided his time between his 
house in Pittsburgh and his farm at McKees Rocks. 

In the spring of 1776, McKee was discovered to be in correspondence 
with the British officers in Canada, and he was put on his parole not to 
give aid or comfort to the enemies of American liberty, and not to leave 
the vicinity of Pittsburgh without the consent of the Revolutionary 
Committee. 

In February, 1778, General Hand had reason to suspect that McKee 
had resumed his relations and correspondence with the British authori¬ 
ties and ordered the captain to go to York and report himself to the 
Continental Congress. For a time McKee avoided compliance, on plea 
of illness, but unable to further delay, he contrived to escape to Detroit 
and there openly ally himself with the British cause. 

About a year before this a young trader, Matthew Elliott, who 
understood the Shawnee language, had been employed by the Americans 
to carry messages from Fort Pitt to the Shawnee and other Indian tribes 
to the westward, in the interest of peace. On one of his missions he was 
captured by hostile savages and carried to Detroit, where, after a short 
imprisonment, he had been released on parole. 

He returned to Pittsburgh via Quebec, New York and Philadelphia, 
all then in British possession. He had been impressed by the show 
of British power in the East, in contrast to the miserable conditions of 
the American forces, especially along the frontier. He became con¬ 
vinced that the colonists would fail in the Revolution, and on his re¬ 
turn to Pittsburgh got into communication with Captain McKee and 
others of the Tory party. 

Elliott was suspected of having poured into McKee’s ears the wild 
tale that he was to be waylaid and killed on his journey to York. Mc¬ 
Kee heard such a story and believed it, which decided him to escape from 
Fort Pitt and go to Detroit. 

The flight of the Tories took place from Alexander McKee’s house 
during the night of March 28, 1778. General Hand received a hint of 
this move early in the evening and dispatched a squad of soldiers to 
McKee’s house Sunday morning to remove McKee to Fort Pitt. The 
soldiers arrived too late. The members of the little party who had fled 
into Indian land in that rough season were Captain McKee, his cousin, 
Robert Surphlit; Simon Girty, Matthew Elliott, a man of the name 
of Higgins, and two Negro slaves belonging to McKee. 

Simon Girty was a Pennsylvanian, who had been captured by the 
Indians when eleven years old, kept in captivity for three years by the 
Seneca, and afterward employed at Fort Pitt as an interpreter and mes- 


8 


226 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


senger. He had served the American cause faithfully. He then became 
the most notorious renegade and Tory in Pennsylvania. 

The Tories in their flight made their way through the woods to 
the Delaware town Coshocton, where they tarried several days endeavor¬ 
ing to incite the tribe to rise against the colonists. Their efforts were 
thwarted by Chief White Eyes, who declared his friendship for the 
“buckskins” as he called the Americans, and he proved his sincerity 
until his death. 

Chief White Eyes and Captain Pipe, an influential chief, debated 
in the Coshocton council on the advocacy of war, White Eyes pleading 
the cause of peace. The oratory of White Eyes carried the day and 
the seven Tories departed to the Shawnee towns on the Scioto, where 
they were welcomed. Many of the Shawnee were already on the war¬ 
path, and all were eager to hear the arguments of their friend McKee. 
James Girty, a brother of Simon, was then with the Shawnee tribe, hav¬ 
ing been sent from Fort Pitt by General Hand on a futile peace mis¬ 
sion. He had been raised among the Shawnee, was a natural savage 
and at once joined his brother and the other Tories. 

When Governor Hamilton heard of the flight of Captain McKee 
and his companions from Fort Pitt, he dispatched Edward Hazle to the 
Scioto to conduct the renegades safely through the several Indian tribes 
to Detroit. Hamilton, as would be expected, received them cordially 
and gave them commissions in the British service. For sixteen years 
McKee, Elliott and the Girtys were the merciless scourges of the bor¬ 
der. They were the instigators and leaders of many Indian raids, and 
their intimate knowledge of the frontier rendered their operations espe¬ 
cially effective. Long after the close of the Revolution they continued 
their deadly enmity to the American cause and were largely responsible 
for the general Indian war of 1790-94. 

McKee and his associate renegades left behind them at Fort Pitt a 
band of Tories who had planned to blow up the fortress and escape in 
boats at night. In some way the scheme was frustrated just in time, 
probably by the confession of one of the conspirators, and the disaster 
averted. A score of the traitors escaped in boats during the 
night, and fled down the Ohio River. On the following day 
they were pursued and overtaken near the mouth of the Mus¬ 
kingum. Eight of the runaways escaped to the shore and were lost 
in the trackless woods; some were killed in the conflict which then oc¬ 
curred and the others were taken back as prisoners to Fort Pitt. 

Two were shot, another hanged and two were publicly whipped on 
the parade ground of the fort. The punishment of these men was 
almost the last act performed by General Hand before he was relieved 
by General Lachlan McIntosh, but it put an end to the machinations of 
the Tories at Pittsburgh. 


FORT AUGUSTA 


227 


Colonel Clapham Commissioned to Build 
Fort Augusta, March 29,1756 

ROM the moment Captain John Smith beheld the waters of the 
Susquehanna to the present, it has been the main artery for the 
development of Central and Northern Pennsylvania. 

The two great branches of the Susquehanna River join at 
what is now Northumberland, but opposite is a plain, where 
the old Indian town of Shamokin was located, upon which the 
present city of Sunbury was laid out July 4, 1772. 

It was at Shamokin where the Indians established a vice-regal gov¬ 
ernment and installed the noble Shikellamy, the friend of the English 
and foe of intemperance and vice. This was the largest and most im¬ 
portant Indian town south of Tioga Point. It was visited by the Mora¬ 
vian missionaries and the interpreter, Conrad Weiser, tarried there in 
1737 on his way to a council at Onondaga. He and Shikellamy be¬ 
came intimate friends and remained so until the latter’s death, Decem¬ 
ber 17, 1748. 

The erection of a fort at Shamokin was repeatedly urged by friendly 
Indians, especially Andrew Montour and Monakatuatha or the Dela¬ 
ware Half King, at a council at Harris’ Ferry, November 1, 1755. This 
request was favorably considered by Governor Morris, but refused by 
the Assembly. 

After Braddock’s defeat, when the French and Indians began to 
attack the settlers along the frontier, occurred the terrible massacre at 
Penn’s Creek, October 16. Later forty-six terrified settlers fled to 
Shamokin for protection, but the attitude of the Indians caused them 
to leave the following day, and as they traveled south they were fired 
upon from ambush near Mahonoy Creek and four killed. 

The Moravians broke up their mission at Shamokin and soon there¬ 
after the Indians abandoned the town. 

October 31, 1755, a number of inhabitants gathered at John Harris’ 
and signed a petition for a fort at Shamokin as a protection against the 
French and Indians. On the same day a like gathering at Conrad 
Weiser’s sent a similar petition to the provincial authorities. John 
Shikellamy, son of the great vice-gerent, went to Philadelphia and per¬ 
sonally solicited the Governor to build a fort, saying “that such Indians 
as continue true to you want a place to come to and live in security 
against your and their enemies, and to Shamokin, when you erect the 
fort, they will come and bring their wives and children. Brethren, 
hasten the work; our warriors will assist you in building the fort.” 

At a conference held at Carlisle January 17, 1756, this necessity was 









228 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


again brought to the notice of the Governor, who replied that he would 
build a strong house at Shamokin. 

The fear of delay was because the French had for some time real¬ 
ized the importance of the strategic situation of Shamokin and if they 
could gain a foothold there the places below would be easy prey. 

The Governor was determined that the fort should be built and made 
his plans accordingly. He informed the Board of Commissioners April 
15, 1756, that he had on March 29 commissioned Lieutenant Colonel 
William Clapham to recruit a battalion for the purpose. This was the 
third battalion and was known as the Augusta Regiment. Major 
James Burd was second in command and Asher Clayton was commis¬ 
sioned adjutant of the battalion. 

The regiment rendezvoused at Harris’ Ferry, where Governor Mor¬ 
ris attended the recruiting and training in person. On June 12 orders 
were received to march. 

A stockade was built at Halifax, where supplies were stored and a 
garrison maintained. While at this camp Colonel Clapham had a con¬ 
ference with the Iroquois chief, Oghagradisha, assuring him they were 
on their way to Shamokin. 

Sufficient bateaux were built by July 1, when the regiment marched 
from Halifax, and by a tedious march the 400 troops reached Shamokin 
without mishap July 6 and immediately began the construction of the 
fort, which was built from plans drawn by E. Meyer, engineer of the 
British Government. It was called Fort Augusta in honor of the 
daughter of King George II. 

Colonel Clapham pushed the work of construction with dispatch 
and September 23, wrote to Governor Denny, “The fort is now almost 
finished, and a fine one it is.” The construction required less than seven 
weeks upon the main works, but much time was employed in better pro¬ 
tecting the fortress and in adding necessary buildings. 

Much difficulty was experienced in obtaining adequate supplies of 
provisions and ammunition, as the only means of transportation were 
pack horses over a mountainous Indian trail or by bateaux and the lat¬ 
ter was impossible during the severe winters. 

Colonel Clapham was succeeded by Colonel James Burd, who left 
such a fascinating journal of his experiences at that frontier fort. 

Expeditions were sent out from the fort to the Great Island, now 
Lock Haven; to Chinklacamoose, now Clearfield; to Penn’s Creek, to 
Wyoming, and other places. 

The fort faced the main river and was nearly 300 feet square, with 
bastions at the four corners. The total length of the fortification was 
more than 600 feet. A magazine was later built in the south bastion 
and a covered way to the river. This was strongly built with a brick 
arched roof and was reached by a narrow stairway descending into it. 
This is now the surviving structure of that dark and gloomy period in 


SWEDES ON THE DELAWARE 


229 


the State’s history. It is the property of the Commonwealth and it is 
well marked and well kept. 

Fort Augusta was far in advance of any English settlement in the 
Province, holding the only passage by water and blocking the pathway 
along the river by land, to the settlements below. 

The Assembly wanted to dismantle the fort and save the expense 
of the garrison, but no Governor would agree to this plan, as it was 
an actual protection for the inhabitants. 

During the Revolution Fort Augusta again became an important 
place, the headquarters of the Military Department of the Susquehanna. 
Colonel Samuel Hunter, the county lieutenant, mustered and trained 
troops there for the Continental Army. It was here where Colonel 
Thomas Hartley drew his supplies for his expedition against the Indians 
in 1778. 

It was at Fort Augusta where the terrified inhabitants found safety 
in the “Great Runaway,” following the Indian incursions which culmi¬ 
nated in the Wyoming massacre, July 3, 1778. 

The work of dismantling the fort began about 1780, as the ground 
then passed into private hands. Thus this old fort has crumbled into 
ruins, its story unsung, its heroes forgotten. 

But for the wisdom of the Indians this fort would not have been 
built and the horrors of the French and Indian War would have been 
carried to the banks of the Delaware. This fort was where the high 
tide of the Revolution was turned backward and the English and their 
Indian allies forced to turn their faces again toward Canada. It was the 
largest and most important provincial fortification on the frontier of 
this continent. 


Swedes Come to the Delaware—Peter Minuit 
Steps Ashore, March 30, 1638 

AMUEL BLUMMAERT, of Holland, who had business in¬ 
terests in Sweden, directed the attention of the Swedish Chan¬ 
cellor, Axel Oxenstierna, to the possibilities of the copper trade 
with the West Indies. At that time Peter Minuit, who had 
been Governor of New Netherlands, 1526 to 1632, and was 
dissatisfied with his treatment, having been dismissed, offered 
his service to Blummaert, knowing that the latter owned lands on the 
South River, now the Delaware. 

The great Gustavus died in November, 1632, and upon Oxenstierna 
devolved all the burdens of the American scheme. Sweden was poor; 
the times were unpropitious; he was forced to wait five years until prac¬ 
tical plans could be matured. Minuit had suggested the founding of a 








230 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


colony upon the South River to trade with the Indians. A company 
was formed with the exclusive right to trade on that river for twenty 
years and to send goods to Sweden for a period of ten years free of duty. 
The ownership of this company was half Swedish and half Dutch. 

An expedition reached the South River, landing at the mouth of 
Mispillon Creek, which they called “Paradise Point.” Passing on up¬ 
ward they cast anchor at Minquas-kill, where Minuit went ashore 
March 30, 1638, to confer with the Indians. He knew well the story 
of Swanendael and meant to avoid a recurrence. The chief with whom 
he talked was Mattahoorn, the principal sachem of that region and an 
Indian of worthy character, who came often into the early history of 
Pennsylvania before William Penn arrived. Minuit concluded an agree¬ 
ment, obtaining land on which to build a house for “a kettle and other 
articles,” and for ground on which to plant, he was to give half the to¬ 
bacco raised upon it. The land was defined as “within six trees.” 

Minuit had instructions to set up the arms of Sweden and take pos¬ 
session of the country, avoiding New Netherlands, to do no harm to 
the Indians, to name the country New Sweden, to dispose of his cargo 
and then, leaving the sloop, return to Sweden. 

Minuit built Fort Christiana, named in honor of the girl queen at 
Stockholm, five miles below the Dutch Fort Nassau, and left in it when 
he departed twenty-four men. 

Nearly coincident with the arrival of the Swedes at Minquas-kill, 
came a new Director-General of the Dutch at Manhattan, in the person 
of William Kieft, who sailed into that port, March 18, 1638. He was 
disturbed over this Swedish intrusion, and promptly wrote to his com¬ 
pany in Holland and, May 6 addressed a formal letter to Minuit, pro¬ 
testing against his settlement, declaring that both banks of the river 
belonged to the Dutch. 

This claim by the Dutch to the west bank was based on De Vries’ 
adventure at Swanendael. Minuit made no reply, he knew that no 
white man had more than six years been living on the west side of the 
river. So he pushed the work on his fort and built log-houses. Trade 
with the Indians was firmly established. A second treaty with the 
Indians was made, which purchase included land down the river and bay 
and northward as far as the Falls of Trenton. Minuit returned with 
his two vessels, July, 1638. 

The twenty-four persons now comprising the colony at Christiana 
were under command of Mans Kling, with Hendrik Huyghen as com¬ 
missary. This company formed the first permanent settlement by white 
men on the Delaware Bay, or River, on either side. 

Minuit was lost at sea on his return voyage and New Sweden suf¬ 
fered a hard stroke of misfortune. He and De Vries were the ablest 
men ever sent to the South River. 

The colony was in such distress in 1639 that the people thought se- 


SWEDES ON THE DELAWARE 


231 


riously of abandoning the locality and going to Manhattan, but the 
following year another vessel arrived from Sweden with supplies. She 
sailed into Christiana, April 17, 1640. On board were four mares and 
two horses, a number of farming implements, thirty-one barrels of beer, 
and colonists, made up to some extent of deserters from the army and 
people accused of offenses. This vessel soon returned laden with beaver 
skins and other peltry. At this time the Dutch members of the com¬ 
pany sold their interest to the Swedes. 

Peter Hollender, who succeeded Peter Minuit as Governor of the 
Swedes, arrived in April, 1640, and continued in authority until Febru¬ 
ary, 1643. 

Another effort to send colonists to New Sweden originated in 
Utrecht. A charter granted to Hendrik Hooghkamer and others au¬ 
thorized them to start a settlement on the west side of South River 
twenty miles above Fort Christiana. They were to have what land was 
needed, provided they improved it within ten years. They could start 
manufactories and carry on trade. They were given religious liberty 
and were required to support ministers of the Gospel and schoolmasters. 
But they were compelled to submit to the Swedish law and Government 
and pay a tax of three florins a year for each family. 

Under this arrangement the ship Fredenburg sailed from Holland, 
and arrived at Christiana, November 2, 1640. This ship was armed 
with twenty-five cannon and carried fifty Dutch colonists, headed by 
Jost de Bogharat. The Fredenburg took back to Sweden 737 beaver 
skins, 29 bear skins and some other productions of the New World. 

It was a difficult matter to find colonists. At this time there were 
many Finns scattered over Sweden, who lived a somewhat nomadic life. 
They roamed about, burned the forests, and shot deer and other game 
unlawfully. Severe laws were passed to prevent this wantonness, but 
the Finns paid little attention to them, and they refused to return to 
Finland. New Sweden seemed to be the solution and the Government 
of Sweden ordered the capture of these law-breaking Finns. 

Among those engaged in the pursuit of these Finns was Johan Printz, 
who was later Governor of New Sweden. When he caught a Finn, who 
had cut down six apple trees in the King’s orchard, he was given his 
choice between going to New Sweden or being hanged. 

Two vessels were fitted out for the voyage to the New World; one 
of them carried thirty-five colonists, mostly Finns. They set sail in 
November, 1641, and arrived in New Sweden the following April. 
Among these arrivals were Olaf Paullsson, Anders Hansson, Axel Stille, 
Henrich Mattson, Olaf Stille, Mans Swensson, and Per Kock, and 
their names are still borne by families in Pennsylvania. Tobacco soon 
became the main article of commerce sent from New Sweden. 

When the Swedes first arrived with Peter Minuit they built inside 
the fort little cottages of round logs, with low doors and no windows 


232 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


except the loop-holes cut between the logs. The cracks were closed with 
mud or clay. The fireplaces were made of stone, and a bake-oven was 
built within the house. 

In 1640 lands were bought from the Indians on the west side of the 
South River from the Schuylkill as far north as the site of Trenton. 


History of Pennsylvania Railroad Begins 
with Organization of Company 
March 31, 1847 

RIOR to 1809, Oliver Evans, of Philadelphia, urged repeatedly 
in public addresses the construction of a passenger railroad 
from Philadelphia to New York, and in that year attempted 
to form a company for this purpose. 

In 1829 a railroad, sixteen miles long, from Honesdale to 
Carbondale, to carry coal, was completed. 

In 1827 the Mauch Chunk railroad, nine miles long, was built to 
connect coal mines with the Lehigh River; the gauge was three feet 
seven inches, and wooden rails were faced with iron. 

The Baltimore and Ohio finished, in 1829, the first six miles of 
track upon which passengers were carried. 

The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company was incorporated 
by special act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, approved April 4, 1833. 

The charter granted to the company, December 5, 1833, authorized 
it to construct a railroad from Reading to Philadelphia. At Reading 
it was proposed to connect with the Little Schuylkill Navigation and 
Railroad, which had been incorporated in 1827, to build a railroad from 
Tamaqua to Reading. 

Then followed the development of the rails in this country, and the 
first T-rails made in America were rolled at the Montour Mill, in 
Danville, Pa., in 1845. This was also an American invention. The 
first rails, thirty feet in length, were made at the Cambria Iron Works, 
at Johnstown, Pa., in 1856. 

The greatest development of the locomotive was made by the great 
Baldwin plant in Philadelphia. 

Among the several great railroad groups of America is that of the 
Pennsylvania system, and this corporation enjoys the distinction of hav¬ 
ing the greatest number of individual stock holders. 

The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, the most important carrier 
in Pennsylvania and in the Eastern United States, and one of the great¬ 
est and most extensive railroad systems in the entire world, was brought 
into existence by an act of Assembly of Pennsylvania, approved by Gov- 







FIRST RAILROAD ORGANIZED 


233 


ernor Francis R. Shunk, April 13, 1846. Letters patent were issued 
February 15, 1847, and the company organized March 20, but the elec¬ 
tion of officers was held and the actual beginning of this great corpor¬ 
ation dates from March 31, 1847. 

Under the articles of incorporation this company was authorized to 
construct, equip, and operate a line of steam railroad to connect with the 
then known Harrisburg, Portsmouth, Mount Joy and Lancaster Rail¬ 
road, and to run to Pittsburgh or to any point in Allegheny County, or 
to Erie, in Erie County, as its management might deem expedient. 

This charter was not obtained without opposition, as it was under¬ 
stood that the operation of this new railroad would draw from the 
revenues upon which the State system of public works largely depended 
for support. This was undoubtedly true, but the charter was granted 
and the work of construction was carried forward with such vigor that 
in 1850 portions of the line were completed and ready for operation. 

The Erie Canal, devised by DeWitt Clinton, and constructed by 
David Thomas, a Pennsylvanian, had deflected the trade of the Great 
Lakes and the West from Philadelphia to New York, and made the 
latter the leading city of the nation. It was expected that a railroad 
over the mountains would bring this trade back to Philadelphia and 
restore the supremacy of that city. 

In order to make sure that no outside influence should get control, 
the charter provided that all of the directors “shall be citizens and resi¬ 
dents of this Commonwealth.” This part of the plan failed, but the 
leading capitalists of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and elsewhere in the 
State, subscribed liberally to the stock of the company and from the 
beginning the enterprise was well backed with ample funds and equally 
valuable influence. 

Hardly had the original road been opened for traffic before the com¬ 
pany began to extend its lines and enlarge the field of its operations. 

The movement which proved of the greatest benefit to the public, 
and 4:o the company itself, was in 1857, when the Legislature passed an 
act, May 16, directing the line of public works between Philadelphia 
and Pittsburgh to be sold, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Company be¬ 
came the purchaser. 

The purchase price was seven and one-half millions, and ownership 
was obtained for the combined State canal and railroad. The State 
was relieved of a burdensome property, and at the same time these public 
works were placed under the control of a corporation whose methods of 
management must result in great benefit to the people of the State. 

Governor James Pollock caused the sale to be made, June 25, and 
on July 31 following the actual transfer was consummated. 

This transaction fixes the date from which the progressive history of 
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company begins. 

The canals on the Susquehanna and its branches above the mouth 


234 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


of the Juniata, together with the Delaware division, were sold the fol¬ 
lowing year to the Sunbury and Erie Railroad Company, now a part of 
the great Pennsylvania system, and the work of extension did not cease. 

The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, in 1861, leased for 999 years 
the Harrisburg, Portsmouth, Mount Joy and Lancaster road and 
brought it under the Pennsylvania’s management. 

The work of extension has ever kept pace with the opportunity to 
develop this great railroad system until it includes, in whole, or in part, 
more than one hundred lesser lines of road, with its main line, branches 
and spurs. 

The great terminal station in Philadelphia, recently damaged by 
fire, will soon be replaced by one of the finest railroad stations in the 
world, even comparable with the great Pennsylvania Station in New 
York City. 

The greatest corporation in Pennsylvania is the railroad system 
which so gloriously carries the name of the Keystone State into every 
part of the Western Hemisphere. 


Great Indian Council Opened at Harris’ 
Ferry, April 1, 1757 


EPTEMBER 10, 1756, Governor Denny ordered a suspension 
of hostilities against the Indians on the east side of the Sus¬ 
quehanna. A month later Major Parsons wrote from Easton 
that nine Indian men and one Indian woman with four white 
prisoners had arrived at Easton. One of the prisoners was 
Henry Hess, who had been taken prisoner on New Year’s day 
from his father’s plantation in Lower Smithfield, Northampton (now 
Monroe) County. These had been sent by Tedyuskung from Wyoming. 

The Governor sent Conard Weiser to Easton, who met and greeted 
the Indians in his behalf. Weiser concluded his mission by inviting 
Tedyuskung to meet the Governor in Philadelphia, but he declined and 
demanded the Governor convene a council at Easton. 

This attitude incensed the Governor, who refused to humor the 
Indians, and said no treaty should be held outside of Philadelphia. The 
Governor finally yielded and under escort of a heavy guard proceeded 
to Easton. This treaty was formally opened on Monday, November 
8, with a great display of militia and ceremonial pomp. Tedyuskung 
was again the principal speaker for the Indians and he assured the 
Governor that the Delaware were glad to meet again their old friends, 
the English. The council continued nine days, during which Governor 
Denny appears to have conducted himself with much tact and good 
judgment. 

Early in December accounts were received that some of the Indians 
who had been at the Easton treaty had, on their way home, murdered 
certain white settlers on the frontiers—thus making it appear that 
Tedyuskung’s authority over these Indians was very doubtful. 

About the middle of January George Croghan, next to Sir William 
Johnson the most prominent figure among British Indian agents, sent 
Joe Peepy, son of the deceased Shikellamy, and Lewis Montour, son of 
the celebrated Madame Montour, with a message to the Susquehanna 
Indians, inviting them to attend a council, or treaty, at Lancaster. 
Peepy and Montour delivered the message to the Indians assembled in 
council at Tioga when they went to the Ohio to inform the Delaware 
and Shawnee there of the proposed Lancaster meeting. 

Upon their return Peepy and Montour reported to Croghan that 
all the Susquehanna Indians were disposed for peace except the Munsee, 
or Minisink Indians, although the messengers believe that these Indians 
would come down to the treaty with King Tedyuskung. 

On February 18, 1757, Zaccheus, a Delaware Indian, formerly of 

235 





236 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Gnadenhuetten, arrived at Fort Allen and on the following day seven 
Indian women and three children arrived there, all sent from Tioga by 
Tedyuskung to announce to Governor Denny that they intended to 
come in March to Easton to hold a treaty. 

Early in March Tedyuskung with two of his sons, his half-brothers, 
Captain Harris and Sam Evans, squaws and children, in all numbering 
about fifty, arrived at Fort Allen. Captain Arndt, commandant of the 
fort, advised Major Parsons that these Indians had “built cabins about 
sixty perches from the fort, where they live and intend to stay till the 
King comes.” 

About the time these Indians had departed from Wyoming for Fort 
Allen all the Six Nations, Nanticoke and Delaware, who had accom¬ 
panied Tedyuskung there from the Council at Tioga, proceeded down 
the river to Fort Augusta at Shamokin. 

Major James Burd, then in command of the garrison, wrote, March 
21, advising Governor Denny that 150 Six Nations had arrived there. 
“Sent by Sir William Johnson to oblige the Delawares to lay down 
the hatchet, and to be present at the treaty proposed between the Gov¬ 
ernment and the Delawares.” These Indians did not tarry long at Fort 
Augusta, for they arrived at John Harris’ March 29, where they were 
met by George Croghan, who reported there were “about 160 of them— 
men, women and children—part of eight tribes.” A day later they 
were joined by some Conestoga Indians. 

April 1 a formal conference between Croghan and the Indians was 
begun at Harris’ Ferry. Thus this much-discussed council was opened 
at neither Lancaster, where Croghan had suggested it be held, nor at 
Easton, where Tedyuskung said it would be held, but at John Harris’ 
Ferry, now Harrisburg. 

Among the white men present were the Reverend John Elder, of 
the Paxton Presbyterian Church, known as the “Fighting Parson,” 
Captain Thomas McKee, John Harris and Hugh Crawford. Scarouady 
was the principal speaker for the Indians. 

On April 6 it was decided to remove the council-fire to Lancaster, 
and the next day the entire company marched thither, being met on the 
outskirts of Lancaster by a number of the principal inhabitants. 

The conference at Lancaster was delayed by the failure of Governor 
Denny to attend. Smallpox had broken out among the Indians, and 
they were uneasy. At length the Governor reached Lancaster, at¬ 
tended by members of the Provincial Council, the Assembly, the Indian 
Commissioners, Colonel Stanwix of the “Royal Americans,” and a num¬ 
ber of citizens. 

Three days later, May 12, 1757, the conference was formally opened 
in the Lancaster Courthouse. “Little Abe” and Thomas King were the 
chief speakers for the Indians. The former told of the declaration of 
the Delaware at a council where they denied the allegation they were 


FIRST NATIONAL MINT 


237 


women, and further said they acknowledged no authority over them 
among the Six Nations, but would listen to the Seneca. 

Little Abe then advised that the Seneca be invited to a meeting with 
the Delaware and Shawnee at Lancaster or elsewhere. Messengers 
were accordingly sent, who were also instructed to see Tedyuskung and 
inquire as to the reasons for his absence from the Lancaster conference, 
which was that day brought to a close. 

On the 23d all the Indians, in charge of Captain McKee, departed 
from Lancaster and arrived at Fort Augusta June 1. They tarried four 
days, and on the 5th all, except the Delaware, left the fort “in canoes, 
with plenty of flour, rum, etc., sufficient to carry them home.” The 
Delaware started a few days later across the country to Bethlehem. 

Edward Shippen, of Lancaster, in a letter to his son-in-law, Major 
James Burd, at Fort Augusta, dated May 22, 1757, among other inter¬ 
esting things wrote: “We have had many meetings of the Indians 
here, to whom valuable presents have been given by the Governor and 
the Quakers; but as Tedyuskung and the Indians who were expected 
along with him were not come, a very handsome part is reserved for 
them. 

“It appears to me that unless the Militia Act be passed we of this 
borough shall in less than a month become the frontiers.” 

On June 16, 1757, Sir William Johnson held a conference with the 
Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca, of the Six Nations, and made an earnest 
and successful appeal for them to remain loyal to the English. Tedyu¬ 
skung was severely censured for his conduct, and Sir William charged 
the Seneca to bring him around to a sensible understanding. 


First Mint Established in Philadelphia by Act 
of April 2,1792 

HE project of a national mint for the United States was first 
introduced by Robert Morris, of Philadelphia, the patriot and 
financier of the Revolution. 

As the head of the Finance Department, Mr. Morris was 
instructed by Congress to prepare a report on the foreign coins 
then in circulation in the United States. On January 15, 1782, 
he laid before Congress an exposition of the whole subject, and accom¬ 
panying this report, was a plan for American coinage. 

Robert Morris was assisted in his effort to establish a mint by 
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. 

On April 15, 1790, Congress instructed the Secretary of the Treas¬ 
ury, Alexander Hamilton, to prepare and report a proper plan for the 







238 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


establishment of a national mint. This was done at the ensuing session 
of Congress. The act was framed and passed finally March 26, 1792, 
and received the approval of President George Washington April 2, 
1792. 

A lot of ground was purchased on Seventh Street near Arch, and 
appropriations were made for erecting the necessary buildings. An old 
stillhouse, which stood on the lot, had first to be removed. In an account 
book of that time we find an entry on July 31, 1792, of the sale of 
some old material from the stillhouse for seven shillings and sixpence, 
which Mr. Rittenhouse directed “should be laid out for punch in laying 
the foundation stone.” 

David Rittenhouse was the first Director of the Mint, April 14, 
1792, until his health compelled him to resign in June, 1795. 

This building for the United States Mint in Philadelphia was the 
first structure erected in America for public use under authority of the 
Federal Government. It was a brick building, the cornerstone of which 
was laid by David Rittenhouse July 31, 1792. 

In the following October operations were commenced by the coinage 
of the silver half dimes. President Washington mentions this first 
coinage in his address to Congress, November 6, 1792, as follows: 
“There has been a small beginning in the coinage of half dimes, the 
want of small coins in circulation calling the first attention to them.” 

The original purchase of metal for coinage was six pounds of old 
copper at one shilling and three pence per pound, which was coined and 
delivered to the Treasurer in 1793. The first deposit of silver bullion 
was made July 18, 1794, by the Bank of Maryland. This consisted of 
coins of France amounting to $80,715.73The first return of silver 
coins to the Treasurer was made on October 15, 1794. The first de¬ 
posit of gold bullion was made by Moses Brown, a Boston merchant, on 
February 12, 1795, and paid for in silver coins. The first gold coins 
turned into the Treasury were 744 half eagles, on July 31, 1795. 
Eagles were first delivered September 22, when 400 were delivered. 

There were four different currencies or rates, in different parts of the 
Union, and a consequent perplexity, until the passage of the law which 
regulated the coins of the United States. The present system of coins 
is formed upon the principles laid down in the resolution of 1786, by 
which Congress determined the denominations should be dollars (the 
dollar being the unit), dimes or tenths, cents or hundredths, and mills or 
thousandths of a dollar. 

Nothing could be more simple or convenient than this decimal sub¬ 
division. The terms are proper because they express the proportions 
which they are intended to designate. The dollar was wisely chosen, 
as it corresponded with the Spanish coin, with which the colonists had 
long been familiar. 

The mills were imaginary and never coined. The first cents were 


FIRST NATIONAL MINT 


239 

made of copper, round and about an inch in diameter and one-sixth of 
an inch in thickness. 

It is an interesting fact that silver was first coined in money 869 
years before the Christian era. 

Previous to the coinage of silver dollars at the Philadelphia mint, in 
1794, there occurred an amusing incident in Congress, when a member 
from the South bitterly opposed the choice of the eagle, on the ground 
of its being the “king of birds,” and hence neither proper nor suitable 
to represent a nation whose institutions were inimical to monarchial 
forms of government. 

Judge Thatcher playfully in reply suggested that perhaps a goose 
might suit the gentleman, as it was a rather humble and republican 
bird, and would also be serviceable in other respects, as the goslings 
would answer to place on the dimes. 

This answer created considerable merriment, and the irate South¬ 
erner, conceiving the humorous rejoinder as an insult, sent a challenge 
to the Judge who promptly declined it. The bearer, rather astonished, 
asked, “Will you be branded as a coward?” “Certainly, if he pleases,” 
replied Thatcher; “I always was one and he knew it, or he would never 
have risked a challenge.” 

The affair occasioned much mirth, and, in due time, former existing 
cordial relations were restored; the irritable Southerner concluding 
there was nothing to gain fighting one who fired nothing but jokes. 

March 2, 1829, provisions were made by Congress, for extending the 
Mint establishment, the supply of bullion for coinage having increased 
beyond the capacity of the existing accommodations. 

The Mint edifice under this provision was erected at the northwest 
corner of Chestnut and Juniper Streets. The corner-stone was laid 
July 4, 1829, by Samuel Moore, then Director of the Mint. The 
building was occupied in 1833. 

This was among the finest of Philadelphia’s classic structures, and 
it w<is admired by every resident and visitor. The building was of 
marble and of the Grecian style of architecture, the roof being covered 
with copper. Each front on Chestnut Street and Penn Square was 
ornamented with a portico of sixty feet, containing six Ionic columns. 

The present structure on Spring Garden Street is huge and an im¬ 
pressive building, but a disappointment when compared with the beauti¬ 
ful edifice that it supplanted. It was first occupied October 1, 1901, 
and was about three years in building. 

Nearly two-thirds of our coinage comes from the mint at Philadel¬ 
phia, which is the largest and most completely equipped mint in the 
world. The coins for nearly all the South American countries are also 
made in this mint. 

A wonderful collection of coins and medals of all lands can be seen 
by the public in this building. 


240 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Act for Purchase of Erie Triangle Passed 
April 3, 1792 

OR many years after William Penn received the charter for 
Pennsylvania he was engaged in controversies over the bound¬ 
ary line of his Province, and long after his death the several 
proprietaries were concerned with the question. It was not 
until 1774 that the controversy with Maryland was concluded, 
and it was after the Revolution that the armed conflict with 
Connecticut was finally determined by Congress, and the imminent con¬ 
flict with Virginia over the territory west of the Alleghenies was satis¬ 
factorily settled. 

It was not until 1786, after many difficulties between the States of 
Pennsylvania and Virginia, that the western boundary of our State was 
surveyed by extending the Mason and Dixon line to the end of the five 
degrees west from the Delaware River and a meridian drawn from the 
western extremity to the northern limit. 

In 1785 commissioners were appointed on the part of Pennsylvania 
and New York to ascertain the northern boundary of the former from 
the Delaware River westward to the northwest corner. The com¬ 
missioners were David Rittenhouse on the part of Pennsylvania, and 
Samuel Holland on the part of New York. They proceeded to act in 
pursuance of that appointment, and in December, 1786, ascertained and 
fixed the beginning of the forty-third degree of north latitude, erected 
suitable monuments there and near the Delaware River, but were pre¬ 
vented by inclement weather from proceeding further in the survey. 

The next year Andrew Ellicott was appointed a commissioner, on 
the part of Pennsylvania, and James Clinton and Simeon Dewitt on the 
part of New York. In 1787 they completed the running and marking 
of this northern boundary 259 miles and 88 perches from its commence¬ 
ment at the Delaware River, to its termination in Lake Erie, five or six 
miles east of the Ohio State line and marked the whole distance 
throughout by milestones, each one indicating the distance from the 
Delaware River. In 1789 an act of Assembly confirmed the acts of 
the commissioners. 

The Indians being recognized as owners of the soil, the whole was 
purchased from them by different treaties. One at Fort Stanwix ex¬ 
tinguished their title to the lands of Western Pennsylvania and New 
York, excepting the Triangle or Presqu’ Isle lands, which were accident¬ 
ally left out of Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut 
and Virginia and were supposed at different times to belong to each. 

General William Irvine discovered while surveying the Donation 
Lands that Pennsylvania had but a few miles of lake coast and not any 






ERIE TRIANGLE PURCHASE 


241 


harbor, and in consequence of his representations the State of Pennsyl¬ 
vania made propositions for its purchase from Philips and Gorham, the 
reputed owners, in the year 1788. Surveyor General Andrew Ellicott 
surveyed and established lines at the request of the Federal Government, 
but Frederic Saxton accompanied him on behalf of the owners. 

It was finally determined by comparison with the charters of New 
York, Massachusetts and Connecticut just what was the western limit 
of New York. This was found to be twenty miles east of Presqu’ Isle. 

On June 6, 1788, the Board of Treasury was induced to make a 
contract for the sale of this tract described as bounded “on the east by 
New York, on the south by Pennsylvania and on the north and west by 
Lake Erie.” 

On September 4 it was resolved by Congress “that the United States 
do relinquish and transfer to Pennsylvania all their right, title and 
claim to the Government and jurisdiction of the said land forever, and 
it is declared and made known that the laws and public acts of Pennsyl¬ 
vania shall extend over every part of said tract as if the said tract had 
originally been within the charter bounds of the State.” 

By an act of October 2, 1788, the sum of £1200 was appropriated 
to purchase the Indian title to the tract, in fulfillment of the contract to 
sell it to Pennsylvania. 

At the treaty of Fort McIntosh, January 9, 1789, Chief Cornplanter 
and other chiefs of the Six Nations signed a deed in consideration of 
the sum of £1200, ceding the Presqu’ Isle lands to the United States. It 
was then, by a deed dated March 3, 1792, ceded by the United States 
to Pennsylvania. This deed is signed by George Washington, President, 
and Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State. 

In 1790 Surveyor-General Andrew Ellicott made a survey of the 
triangle and found it to contain 202,287 acres. The purchase-money paid 
to the United States, at seventy-five cents an acre, was $151,640.25. 

This purchase having been completed before the passage of the act 
of April 3, 1792, the lands within it except the reservations were sold 
under the provisions of this act. The first settlements in Erie County 
were made under the provisions of that law, and many instances of per¬ 
sonal violence occurred between the contending claimants. The squat¬ 
ters would league together to prevent the legal claimants from depriving 
them of their improvements. 

The settlement of the lands northwest of the Allegheny River, and 
especially the Presqu’ Isle lands, was never cordially acquiesced in by the 
Six Nations, and Cornplanter became very unpopular among his own 
people. It was charged upon him that he and Little Billy had received 
the purchase price both at Fort McIntosh and Philadelphia. Corn- 
planter himself protested to the United States at Buffalo Creek in June, 
1794, against the garrison established by General Anthony Wayne at 
Presqu’ Isle, when he went out against the Miami Indians. 


242 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Reading Railroad Incorporated by Act 
Passed April 4,1833 

HE Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company was incor¬ 
porated by special act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, ap¬ 
proved April 4, 1833. 

The charter granted to the company, December 5, 1833, 
authorized it to construct a railroad from Reading to Phila¬ 
delphia. At Reading it was proposed to connect with the 
Little Schuylkill Navigation and Railroad, which had been incorporated 
in 1827, to build a railroad from Tamaqua to Reading. By a latter 
statute the company was authorized to extend its road from Reading to 
Port Clinton, where connection was made with the Little Schuylkill 
and Navigation and Railroad. 

The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was planned primarily to 
transport anthracite from the Schuylkill region to Philadelphia and in¬ 
termediate points, especially where a number of blast furnaces were then 
operating. 

Anthracite was known to exist in the Schuylkill Valley as early as 
1800, since which time the iron industry had become one of much im¬ 
portance, the first furnace being established on Manatawney Creek, 
near Pottstown, in 1716. Wood and charcoal were first used in smelt¬ 
ing the ore, but the increasing scarcity of these fuels led to experiments, 
which, in 1808, proved that anthracite could be used advantageously 
as furnace fuel. 

Anthracite was first transported by the Schuylkill Canal from the 
vicinity of Pottsville to Philadelphia, and the furnaces in the Schuyl¬ 
kill Valley. The growing need for this new fuel in domestic and fur¬ 
nace use and the limitations of canal transportation led to the 
era of railroad construction between the anthracite regions and tide¬ 
water ports. 

On December 5, 1839, the railroad was opened to traffic from Read¬ 
ing to Philadelphia, and on January 1, 1842, the first locomotive and 
train passed over the entire line between Mount Carbon in Schuylkill 
County, and Philadelphia. On May 17, 1842, the Richmond Branch, 
from the Falls of the Schuylkill to the terminal at Port Richmond, on 
the Delaware, was opened, from which time the Reading has been an 
important railroad. 

In 1853 the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company began 
the construction of the Lebanon Valley Railroad, extending from Read¬ 
ing to Harrisburg. The line was completed in 1858, and merged into 
the Reading Railroad. 

May 8, 1871, the parent company bought the Northern Liberties 







READING RAILROAD INCORPORATED 


243 


and Penn Township Railroad, in Philadelphia, control of which had 
been obtained in 1857. 

In the period between 1859 and 1870, the Philadelphia and Reading 
Railroad Company commenced the systematic extension which has re¬ 
sulted in the development of the present Reading System. In that 
period the company acquired through purchase or lease twenty-six rail¬ 
roads. Between 1870 and 1880, thirteen more were acquired; in the 
next decade nine were added; from 1890 to 1900 eight were acquired 
and since 1900, four more were added, until, at the present time the 
Reading Company, with its affiliated lines operates 1619.15 miles of 
railroad, exclusive of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and 3.63 
miles of road leased jointly by the Reading Company and the Central 
Railroad of New Jersey. 

Forming quite a contrast with the huge high-speed Pacific type loco¬ 
motives used today, are the locomotives used in the early days. At first 
these locomotives in appearance were somewhat grotesque. Their loud 
puffing was alarming, and the twenty-mile speed was terrifying. 

One of these early engines, the Rockett, has been preserved for 
posterity and is on exhibition in the Columbia Avenue Station in Phila¬ 
delphia. 

The Rocket never ran when it rained. On clear days it was capable 
of taking a train at nearly thirty miles per hour. It burned wood as 
fuel but later adopted coal. 

The engineer of the Rocket was also the fireman. When his steam 
was running low he reached over, grabbed a log from the pile along 
the platform, thrust it into the fire box, then again became an engineer. 
There was only one lever, and that was the throttle. All the way 
ahead there was one speed, same in reverse. There were only four 
wheels and no driving rods. There were no brakes on the Rocket. It 
had a kerosene bull’s eye and a pop whistle, and at night when it came 
crashing along at its twenty-mile clip, its bull’s-eye quivering, its stack 
emitting sparks, its whistle popping, it was the marvel of the countryside. 

Of almost equal interest are the stories of the first day coaches and 
the Pullman cars. In the early days the coaches were very narrow, built 
to meet the conditions of the narrow-gauge tracks, as there was a 
row of double seats in one side of the aisle and a row of single seats on 
the other. 

There were first and second class coaches, designated by the figure 1 
and 2 on the sides of the car. Those of the first class were upholstered 
with black hair cloth, while the second-class had only plain wooden 
seats and backs. The windows were small and placed near the roof. 

In the winter the cars were heated with wood stoves. The cars 
were lighted with candles. When a change from one line to another was 
made each passenger picked out his own baggage and attended to its 
loading on the new train. 


244 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


At the dining stations the menu consisted of coffee and ham sand¬ 
wiches and sometimes beef stew. 

The first sleeping cars were the ordinary day coaches changed by 
adding sleeping requirements. They were usually divided into four 
compartments, in each of which three bunks were built against one side 
of the car, while in a corner of the rear end of the car were provided 
water, a towel and a basin. No bedclothes were furnished, and the 
passengers, fully dressed, retired upon rough mattresses with their over¬ 
coats pulled over them for covering. 

Continued patronage by the public of the day coaches, parlor, sleep¬ 
ing and dining cars led, step by step to the facilities for comfortable 
and luxurious travel offered today, where there is nothing left to be 
desired and modern American railroad comfort is supreme. 


Mary Jemison, White Woman of Genesee, 
Captured April 5,1758 

HE thrilling narrative of the life of Mary Jemison, who was 
captured by the Indians April 5, 1758, when only twelve years 
old, and who continued to live among them during her long 
and eventful life, marrying two chiefs of renown, continues to 
this day to be a wondrous story of one of the most remarkable 
captivities suffered at the hands of the Indians by the pioneer 
settlers of this country. 

Mary Jemison, who came to be known as “The White Woman of 
the Genesee,” related her own story of her capture and life among the 
Indians when eighty years old. 

She endured hardship and suffering with astonishing fortitude, and 
amidst all the surrounding of barbaric life she preserved the sensibilities 
of a white woman. The story of the captivity may be briefly told as 
follows: Thomas and Jane Erwin Jemison emigrated from Ireland 
about the year 1746. Mary, the fourth child, was born on shipboard 
during the voyage to America. 

Thomas Jemison removed his family to the then frontier settlements 
of Pennsylvania on a tract of excellent land lying on Marsh Creek, in 
Franklin Township, Adams County. They removed to another place 
near the confluence of Sharps Run and Conewago Creek, a short dis¬ 
tance from their first home. 

A few neighbors had come to live with the Jemison family on ac¬ 
count of the men being with Washington’s army and their fear of the 
Indians. 

One morning Mary returned from an errand to the mill, and a man 
took her horse to his house after a bag of grain. Mary’s father was busy 









MARY JEMISON 


245 


with the chores, her mother was getting breakfast; the two older brothers 
were in the barn, and the little ones with Mary and the neighbor 
woman and her three children in the house. 

Breakfast was not yet ready when they were alarmed by the dis¬ 
charge of a number of guns. On opening the door the man and horse 
lay dead. The Indians captured Mr. Jemison, then rushed into the 
house and made prisoners of Mrs. Jemison, Robert, Matthew, Betsey 
and Mary and the other woman and her three children and then plun¬ 
dered the house. The two brothers in the barn escaped and afterward 
went to Virginia. 

In the attacking party were six Indians and four Frenchmen, and 
after they took everything they wanted and all the food in the house, 
they set out in great haste with their prisoners, keeping them in single 
file, using a whip when any one lagged behind. No food or water was 
given them all that day, and at night, fatigued and hungry, they were 
compelled to lie upon the ground without fire or shelter. In the morn¬ 
ing they were given breakfast from the provisions taken from the Jemi¬ 
son home. 

They were made to march a great distance the second day and at 
night had a meal with bread and meat. 

An Indian removed Mary’s shoes and stockings and put a pair of 
moccasins on her feet which Mrs. Jemison believed meant they in¬ 
tended to spare her life and destroy the other captives. An Indian re¬ 
moved the shoes and stockings from the neighbor boy, and after putting 
moccasins on him, led him and Mary off from the others some distance 
into the woods and there laid down with them for the night. 

That was the last time Mary ever saw her parents, for during the 
night, the Indians murdered in most cruel manner the rest of the cap¬ 
tives and left their bodies in the swamps to be devoured by wild beasts. 

During the next day’s march Mary had to watch them scrape and 
dry the scalps of her parents, brothers and sisters and neighbors. Her 
mother’s hair being red, she could easily distinguish it from the others, 
but she knew them all, and the sight was one which remained with her 
during all her life. 

The boy was given to the French and Mary was given to two 
Shawnee squaws. They started down the Ohio in canoes, toward their 
home at Sciota. Upon arrival at the home of the squaws, Mary was 
given a suit of Indian clothing and formally adopted according to Indian 
custom, replacing a brother of the squaws, who had been killed in war. 
She was given the Indian name Dickewamis, which means pretty girl 
or good thing. She was not allowed to speak English, so soon learned 
the Indian tongue. 

At this time the English had taken Fort Pitt, and as soon as the corn 
was harvested the Indians went to the fort to make peace with the 
British and Mary was taken along. She went with a light heart, feel- 


246 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


ing sure she was to be restored to her brothers. The English asked her 
many questions about herself, and this interest so alarmed her Indian 
sisters that they hurried her away in their canoe. She learned later 
that some white people had come to take her away, but could not find 
her. 

Her Indian sisters made her marry a Delaware Indian named 
Sheninjee. Mary spoke of him as noble, large in stature, elegant in ap¬ 
pearance, generous in conduct, courageous in war, a friend to peace and 
a great lover of justice. Truly a fine tribute for an Indian warrior. 

Her first child died soon after birth, but the fourth year she had a 
son who she named in memory of her father, Thomas Jemison. 

She had many hardships traveling with her child to the Genesee 
country, which was 600 miles through an almost pathless wilderness. 

Her husband died while she was en route to her new home. Several 
times efforts were made to restore her to the English, and on one 
occasion the chiefs determined she should be given up, but she fought 
against it herself and her Indian brother helped her in her effort to re¬ 
main among the Indians. 

Several years after the death of her husband she married Hiokatoo, 
commonly called Gardow, by whom she had four daughters and two 
sons. Her second husband was the most cruel Indian known. 

Mary Jemison continued to live in the German Flats, N. Y., and 
upon the death of Hiokatoo became possessed of much valuable land. 

Two great sorrows were experienced when a feud between her sons 
resulted in John, a wayward fellow, killing Thomas, who was a great 
comfort to his mother and a leader among the Indians, and some years 
later John killed his other brother, Jesse. 

This double grief was almost more than the venerable woman could 
endure and it was not assuaged when John was murdered in a drunken 
quarrel with two Indians. 

She was naturalized April 19, 1817, by which she received a clear 
title to her reservation. In 1823 she disposed of the major portion of 
her real estate holdings, reserving a tract two miles long and one mile 
wide. 

She died September 19, 1833, aged ninety-one years, and was buried 
with Christian service in the cemetery of Seneca Mission Church, Buf¬ 
falo Creek Reservation. Her body was reinterred on March 7, 1874, in 
the Indian Council House Grounds at Letchworth Park, where an 
elegant bronze statue marks the grave of Mary Jemison, “The White 
Woman of the Genesee.” 


JOHN PENN’S STATE TOUR 


247 


Governor Penn Makes Trip Through State, 
Starting April 6,1788 

OLLOWING the last great purchase from the Indians at 
Fort Stanwix, October 23, 1784, the State enjoyed a steady 
flow of immigration. There was an abundance of fertile and 
cheap lands, a desirable climate and low taxes. It was pos¬ 
sible for a foreigner to buy and hold lands with relinquishment 
of their allegiance to the country of their birth. This right 
had been granted for three years from 1787, and was continued for a 
longer period after 1790. 

About this time John Penn, son of Thomas Penn, and a grandson 
of William Penn, and twice governor of the Province, traveled 
through the State to look after some of the Proprietary estates, and 
during his trip from Philadelphia to Carlisle and return he made some 
notes that are replete with interest. 

He set out from Philadelphia on the morning of April 6, 1788, on 
horse back. He passed through the Township of Roxborough, and on 
his way saw two meeting houses filled with people, another proof that 
the Friends were still faithful to their old traditions. 

At a tavern where he alighted he met a hoary-headed guest who 
invited him within, calling him the “honorable proprietor.” That night 
he rested at Brooke’s tavern and very much admired the sign, which 
was a striking likeness of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, painted by George 
Rutter (Ritter), a noted sign painter of that period. He then called 
on Frederick A. Muhlenberg, Speaker of the last Assembly. 

As Penn drew near Reading he was questioned by a person con¬ 
cerning a manor of which he was the owner. This was Penn’s Mount, 
at that time on the eastern limits of the town. Penn thought Reading 
was finely situated. He dined on catfish with Abraham Whitman, the 
only tavern keeper who had not voted against the confirmation of the 
proprietary estate. He visited a ferry, still belonging to him, and from 
there went to a farm “belonging to the proprietors,” which he .deter¬ 
mined to divide and sell in smaller parcels. 

Penn paid a visit to Angelica, the beautiful farm belonging to Gen¬ 
eral Thomas Mifflin, situated a few miles from Reading. A neighbor 
of General Mifflin’s, who attracted Penn’s attention, was “one of the 
marrying Dunkers, who live in their own houses like other countrymen, 
but wear their beards long.” 

Penn tarried here until the 9th, then went to Womelsdorf, passing 
on the way one place that was “remarkable for its European appear¬ 
ance.” He then rode through Lebanon, “a handsome town containing 
some hundred inhabitants.” The horses were “baited” at Millerstown. 






248 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


About sunset Penn caught his first glimpse of the Susquehanna 
“flowing between its wooded and cultivated banks close to the town of 
Harrisburg. 

Penn adds: “Mr. Harris, the owner and founder of the town, in¬ 
formed me that three years ago there was but one house built and 
seemed to possess pride and pleasure in his success. 

“Though the courts are held here generally, Lebanon is infinitely 
larger. The situation of this place is one of the finest I ever saw. One 
good point of view is the tavern, almost close to the river. It is called 
the Compass, and is one of the first public houses in Pennsylvania. The 
room I had is twenty-two feet square and high in proportion.” 

After breakfast on the morning of April 11 Penn and John Harris 
walked to the ferry and had a thrilling experience while ferrying across 
the river, and on account of the high water and swift current they were 
carried far out of their course. 

About two miles west of the river they passed the home of Robert 
Whitehill, the Assemblyman, and about 3 o’clock in the afternoon they 
reached the town of Carlisle. 

The first buildings seen were three or four separate wings, intended 
for magazines originally, but granted by Congress to the trustees of 
Dickinson College for twenty years. The Reverend Charles Nisbet, 
D. D., was then at the head of the institution. 

In the neighborhood of Carlisle Penn had lands in charge of General 
John Armstrong. Colonel Robert Magaw was also his companion 
during his stay in Carlisle. 

After remaining in Carlisle until the 13th Penn commenced his 
return to Philadelphia by rising early in order “to see a cave near Cone- 
doguinet Creek,” in which the water petrifies as it drops from the roof. 
Then he resumed his route and noted the “Yellow Breeches Creek,” 
reaching the Susquehanna, again crossed Harris’ Ferry and then trav¬ 
eled along the eastern bank of the river to Middletown. He was im¬ 
pressed with the scenery and made many comments about both banks 
of the river. He wrote: 

“At Middletown I put up at one More’s, who was a teacher for¬ 
merly at Philadelphia of Latin and Greek. He talked very sensibly, 
chiefly on subjects which discovered him to be a warm Tory and friend 
of passive obedience. Here the Great Swatara joins the Susquehanna, 
and a very fine mill is kept at their confluence by Mr. Frey, a Dutch¬ 
man, to whom I carried a letter from Mr. D. Clymer.” 

“April 14. Before my departure Mr. Frey showed me his excellent 
mill and still more extraordinary millstream, running from one part of 
the Swatara for above a mile till it rejoins it at the mouth. It was 
cut by himself, with great expense and trouble, and is the only work of 
the kind in Pennsylvania. Middletown is in a situation as beautiful as 
it is adapted to trade, and already of respectable size.” 


EDWIN FORREST 


249 


Penn then writes of passing through Elizabethtown, and over Creeks 
Conewago and Chickesalunga, and adds: “As you leave Dauphin for 
Lancaster County the lands improve.” He was told of a farm “said to 
be worth £15 per acre.” 

On his return through Lancaster Penn learned that the country was 
friendly to the new Federal Constitution, the argument being “that mat¬ 
ters could not be worse nor taxes higher.” 

“April 15. I rode alone over to Bluerock and spent a great part of 
the day in examining the grounds, not returning till dusk. The con¬ 
sequence of this ride was the resolution I made of keeping or purchasing 
nearly 200 acres round a spot admirably calculated for a country seat.” 

Penn’s next stop was at the Horse and Groom, next to Nottingham 
Meeting House. To this society William Penn had given forty acres 
as a place of worship. The titles were in dispute, owing to the bound¬ 
ary lines being uncertain between Pennsylvania and Maryland, and the 
grandson, having his eyes wide open to all possibilities, remarked that 
he could gain little information of his “claims to these lands.” 

Continuing his journey Penn reached Wilmington, and after a brief 
visit there returned to Philadelphia. 


Edwin Forrest, the Great American Actor, 
Founded the Home for Actors, 

April 7,1873 

NE of the asylums which has attracted more attention than 
many others is the Edwin Forrest Home for Retired Actors. 

It was founded under the direction of Edwin Forrest, the 
famous tragedian, who by his will, dated April 5, 1866, be¬ 
queathed to his executors, James Oakes of Boston, James 
Lawson of New York, and David Dougherty of Philadelphia, 
all his property, with the exception of annuities to his sisters and some 
personal legacies, in trust for an institution “which they will call the 
Edwin Forrest Home.” He further directed that it should be estab¬ 
lished at his country place called Spring Brook, below Holmesburg, in 
the city of Philadelphia, which he had purchased some years before. 

Mr. Forrest recommended that an application should be made to 
the Legislature for a charter to trustees, with authority to conduct the 
affairs of the institution in accordance with his plans. 

Application was accordingly made, and on April 7, 1873, James 
Oakes of Boston, James Lawson of New York, Daniel Dougherty, 
John W. Forney, James H. Castle, John H. Michener, and the mayor 
of Philadelphia for the time being, were made a body politic by the 











250 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


name of the Edwin Forrest Home, with authority to carry out the 
designs of the donor. 

The estate which Mr. Forrest left was largely in real property, land 
and houses, some of it unproductive and waiting for a market, so that 
there was no product from it. In addition there was a claim on behalf 
of his wife, who had been separated from him for years, which seemed 
to affect his property. She had been divorced in the State of New York, 
where the judge had allowed her alimony, three thousand dollars per 
year, and this claim was thought to be good against Mr. Forrest’s es¬ 
tate during the entire period of her life. 

This condition embarrassed the executors, but a compromise was 
arrived at which released the property, upon payment of a large sum of 
money, by which the aggregate fund for the support of the home was 
considerably diminished. 

The executors were not able to open the home until 1876, when it 
commenced with four inmates, William Lomas, George G. Spear, Mrs. 
Rhoda Wood and Mrs. Burroughs. To these old actors and actresses 
was shortly added Jacob W. Thoman, who had made his first appear¬ 
ance at the Chestnut Street Theater, Philadelphia, in 1834. 

The location of the home was far out in the country and the actors 
who spent their life in the environment of the stage, would prefer to 
spend their declining days near the theatres, so that they could fre¬ 
quently visit them and renew acquaintances and friendships with old 
companions of the mask and wig. 

The mansion was a fine house, and capable of being made comfort¬ 
able. It was of old style, three stories high, skirted by broad pillared 
porticos, tastefully decorated with growing plants. 

The halls and rooms were hung with portraits and works of arts, and 
marble busts of the great characters of earlier days were there in abun¬ 
dance. Many fine oil portraits of Forrest in different roles were among 
the collection of art. Many interesting play-bills of his early per¬ 
formances, and portraits of most of the actors who had won fame before 
the footlights were on the walls. 

The bedrooms were each furnished with high-post bedsteads, and 
old types of bureaus and dressers. 

The library was unique and wonderfully furnished, and the eight 
thousand volumes embraced the classics, treatises upon art, and interest¬ 
ing histories of the stage. In niches of the walls were busts of the 
nation’s great men. Art masterpieces in oil and marble were to be found 
in the old home. 

The farm attached to the fine mansion contains one hundred and 
eleven acres. 

Edwin Forrest was born in Philadelphia, March 9, 1806. He died 
there December 12, 1872. 

His father was Scotch, his mother of German birth. He exhibited 


EDWIN FORREST 


251 


from early age a taste for the stage, and when eleven years old partici¬ 
pated in theatrical representations as a member of an amateur club, 
sometimes performing female roles. 

His first appearance on the regular stage was on November 27, 
1820, in the part of Douglas in Home’s tragedy of that name. 

A protracted professional tour in the west and south ensued, in 
which he won considerable reputation. 

His first great success was achieved May 26, 1826, in the Park 
Theater, New York, as Othello. This led to a long engagement at the 
Bowery Theater, where he enjoyed extraordinary popularity. 

In 1836 he crossed the Atlantic and first appeared as Spartacus in 
Drury Lane Theater, London, October 17. He achieved distinguished 
success, and acquired the friendship of Macready, Kemble, and others. 

In 1837 he married Catherine Norton Sinclair, daughter of John 
Sinclair the singer, and soon afterward returned to the United States, 
where he was welcomed by enthusiastic audiences. 

In 1845 Mr. and Mrs. Forrest returned to London. During this 
visit, which lasted two years, a rupture occurred in the friendly relations 
between Forrest and Macready, and to the zeal with which the friends 
of the former espoused his quarrel was due the disgraceful riot in New 
York, May 10, 1849, during an engagement of Macready at the Astor 
Place Theater. This was accompanied by serious loss of life. 

Soon after Forrest separated from his wife, and between 1853 and 
1860 he retired from professional life, but when he returned to the 
stage he filled the role of Hamlet with all his former acceptance. 

Latterly he suffered considerably from illness, and his last engage¬ 
ment began on February 6, 1871. 

He died of apoplexy, surviving the attack only half an hour. 

He was a man of fine presence, well equipped for his profession, 
naturally frank and engaging. 

A Jarge part of his valuable library and Shakespeare collection, 
which he had spent many years in gathering, was almost entirely de¬ 
stroyed by fire in his house in Philadelphia, January 15, 1873. 


252 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Monument Erected to Colonel Kelly, Revo¬ 
lutionary War Hero, April 8, 1835 

MONUMENT to the memory of Colonel John Kelly was 
erected with impressive ceremonies April 8, 1835, in the Pres¬ 
byterian burial-ground, in the borough of Lewisburg. A com¬ 
pany of cavalry from Northumberland County, one from 
Union, and three infantry companies participated. General 
Abbott Green was grand marshal, with General Robert H. 
Hammond, General Michael Brobst, Colonel Philip Ruhl and Surgeon 
Major Dr. James S. Dougal as aids. 

The parade was formed by the adjutant, Colonel Jackson McFad- 
den, with the citizen militia on the right of line, followed by the veterans 
of the Revolutionary War and those of the War of 1812, and hundreds 
of citizens. 

The most interesting feature of the large procession was a float which 
was drawn by four gray horses, upon which was placed the monument. 
Cavalry on either side acted as a guard of honor. In the carriages were 
the orator, General James Merrill, the clergy, and relatives of the old 
hero in whose honor the celebration was being held. 

Upon its arrival at the ground, after the proper military manoeuver 
was performed, the monument was set by the architects, William 
Hubbard, F. Stoughton, Samuel Hursh and Charles Penny. The 
orator had a subject worthy of his best efforts, for such was Colonel 
John Kelly. 

Colonel Kelly was born in Lancaster County, February, 1744. 
Almost immediately after the purchase from the Indians, November 5, 
1768, he went to Buffalo Valley, in what is now Union County. There 
he endured hardships common to all the settlers who pushed out along 
the frontiers. He was in the prime of manhood, of a robust constitu¬ 
tion, vigorous and muscular, 6 feet 2 inches in height, and almost insen¬ 
sible to fatigue, and so accustomed to dangers that bodily fear was 
foreign to his nature. 

Colonel Kelly served in the Revolutionary War and distinguished 
himself in the battles of Trenton and Princeton. In the course of one 
of the retreats Colonel James Potter sent an order to Major Kelly to 
have a certain bridge cut down to prevent the advance of the British, 
who were then in sight. Kelly sent for an ax, but represented that the 
enterprise would be very hazardous. Still the British advance must be 
stopped and the order was not withdrawn. He said he could not order 
another to do what some would say he was afraid to do himself—he 
would cut down the bridge. 

Before all the logs were cut away he was within range of the British 










COLONEL JOHN KELLY 


253 


fire, and many balls struck the logs. The last log fell sooner than he 
expected and he fell with it into the swollen stream. The American 
soldiers moved off, not believing it possible to assist him to make his 
escape. He, however, reached the shore and joined the troops and 
managed to capture an armed British scout on the way and took him into 
camp a prisoner of war. 

History records the fact that our army was saved by the destruction 
of that bridge, but the manner in which it was done or the person who 
did it is not mentioned. 

After his discharge Major Kelly returned to his farm and family, 
and during the three succeeding years the Indians were troublesome to 
the settlers on the West Branch. He became colonel of the regiment, 
and it was his duty to guard the valley against the incursions of the 
savages. 

When the “Big Runaway” occurred following the Wyoming 
massacre, Colonel Kelly was among the first to return. For at least two 
harvests reapers took their rifles to the field, and some of the company 
watched while others wrought. 

Colonel Kelly had the principal command of scouting parties in the 
valley, and very often he went in person. Many nights he laid on the 
branches of trees without a fire, because it would have indicated his 
position to the enemy. He was skilled in Indian mode of warfare and 
was a terror to their marauding bands. 

So greatly was he feared by the savages that they determined on his 
destruction and, being too cowardly to attack him openly, sought his 
life by stealth. One night he apprehended they were near. He rose 
early next morning and, looking through the crevices of his log house, 
he ascertained that two at least, if not more, were lying with their arms 
so as to shoot him when he should open his door. He fixed his own rifle 
and took his position so that by a string he could open the door and 
watch the Indians. The moment he pulled the door open two balls came 
into the house and the Indians rose to advance. He fired and wounded 
one, when they both retreated. When safe to do so he followed them 
by the blood, but they escaped. 

After the capture and destruction of Fort Freeland, Colonel Kelly 
with a company of men went to the scene of the battle and buried the 
dead. 

For many years Colonel Kelly held the office of Justice of the Peace, 
and, in the administration of justice, he exhibited the same anxiety to do 
right, which had characterized him in his military service. He would at 
any time forego his own fees, and, if the parties were poor, pay the con¬ 
stable’s costs, to procure a compromise. 

While he was a devout Presbyterian he entertained an intense hatred 
for an Indian. When the Presbytery of Northumberland called on 
Colonel Kelly for a contribution to be used to evangelize the savages, 


254 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


he refused to give one cent, but said he would cheerfully subscribe any 
sum required to buy ropes to hang them. 

Toward the end of a long and active life, Colonel Kelly became by 
disease incapable of much motion; and seldom left his home. He died 
February 18, 1832, aged eighty-eight years. He was greatly respected 
by his neighbors and friends, and it is little wonder that a monument 
was unveiled to his memory three years later. 

The spring of 1856 the monument, together with his remains, were 
removed to the new and beautiful cemetery on the western border of 
the Union County seat. 

The old colonel was survived by his wife, seven sons and two 
daughters. One son, James, was the father of United States Senator 
James K. Kelly, of Oregon. 


Captain John Armstrong Murdered in Jack’s 
Narrows April 9, 1744 

OHN ARMSTRONG, a trader among the Indians, residing 
on the Susquehanna above Peter’s Mountain, on the east 
bank of the river, and two of his servants, James Smith and 
Woodward Arnold, were barbarously murdered April 9, 1744, 
by an Indian of the Delaware tribe named Musemeelin in 
Jack’s Narrows, now Huntingdon County. 

The murderer was apprehended and delivered up by his own nation 
and imprisoned at Lancaster, whence he was removed to Philadelphia lest 
he should escape or his trial and execution, if found guilty, produce an 
unfavorable impression on the Indians. This was particularly import¬ 
ant, as a large council was about to convene at Lancaster. 

Governor George Thomas directed that the property of Armstrong 
be returned to his family. He also invited a deputation of the Delaware 
tribe to attend the trial of Musemeelin and to be present at his execu¬ 
tion, if such was to take place. 

Nine of Armstrong’s relatives and neighbors went in search of the 
remains of the murdered men and to gather such evidence as they could 
about the details of the crime. They signed a deposition before James 
Armstrong, one of His Majesty’s justices of the peace for Lancaster 
County, dated “Paxtang, 19th day of April, 1744.” 

These deponents testified that when they learned of the murder they 
met at the house of Joseph Chambers, in Paxtang, and determined to go 
to Shamokin and consult with Shilkellamy, the vicegerent of the Six 
Nations, what they should do concerning the affair. 

Shikellamy sent eight Indians to accompany the deponents. The 
entire party then went to the house of James Berry, on Mahantango 








CAPTAIN “JACK” ARMSTRONG 255 

Creek, which empties into the Susquehanna above the mouth of the 
Juniata. 

On the way to Berry’s three of the Indians ran away, but on the 
morning after their arrival there, the deponents, with the five Indians, 
set out in quest of the bodies. 

They proceeded to the last known sleeping place of John Armstrong 
and his men, and a short distance from this place James Berry picked 
up the shoulder bone of a human being. He showed his find to his 
companions, and the action of the Indians at this time proved to the 
whites that they knew more about the crime than they had made known. 

The party proceeded along a path three miles, heading to the 
Juniata Narrows, to a point where they suspected the crime to have 
been committed. Here the white men directed the Indians to go farther 
down the creek, but they hung back, and actually followed the white 
men. Some eagles or vultures were noticed and then the Indians dis¬ 
appeared. 

At this place a corpse was discovered, which they believed to be 
that of James Smith; three shots were heard at a short distance, and the 
deponents, believing the Indians had fired them to advise the finding 
of another corpse, rushed to the place, but the Indians had run away. 
A quarter of a mile farther down the creek the corpse of Woodward 
Arnold was found lying on a rock. 

The deponents examined the bodies of Arnold and Smith and found 
them to have been most barbarously and inhumanely murdered by being 
gashed with deep cuts on their heads with tomahawks, and other parts 
of their bodies mutilated. The body of Armstrong was believed to have 
been eaten by the savages. 

This deposition was signed by Alexander Armstrong, a brother of 
John, the murdered man, who lived at the mouth of Armstrong’s 
Creek, above the present town of Halifax, Dauphin County; Thomas 
McKee; John Foster, who also lived on the west side of the Susque¬ 
hanna; William Baskins, James Berry, who lived on the east side, near 
the Juniata, and John Watts, James Armstrong and David Denny. 

The atrocity of this outrage was so revolting that a Provincial Coun¬ 
cil was held to take the matter into consideration, and it was finally 
resolved that Conrad Weiser should be sent to Shamokin to make de¬ 
mands, in the name of the Governor, for those concerned in the crime. 

Mr. Weiser arrived at Shamokin, May, 1744, and delivered Gover¬ 
nor Thomas’ message to Allummapees, then the Delaware King, a large 
number of that tribe and in the presence of Shikellamy and a small 
number of the Six Nations. 

Following the presentation of the affidavit, Allummapees replied, 
confessing the guilt of Musemeelin. Shikellamy then arose and entered 
into a full account of the unhappy affair. 

He claimed that Musemeelin owed Armstrong some skins, and that 


256 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Armstrong seized a horse and rifled gun belonging to the Indian in lieu 
of the skins. These were taken by Smith for Armstrong. 

When Musemeelin met Armstrong near the Juniata, he paid all the 
account but twenty shillings and demanded his horse. Armstrong re¬ 
fused to give up the animal, and after a quarrel the Indian went away in 
great anger. 

Some time later Armstrong and his two servants, on their way to 
the Ohio country, passed by the cabin of Musemeelin, and his wife de¬ 
manded the horse of Armstrong, but*by this time he had sold the beast 
to James Berry. 

Upon his return from a hunting trip his wife told Musemeelin of 
her demand to Armstrong. This angered the Indian, who determined 
on revenge. 

Musemeelin engaged two young Indians to go on a hunting trip, 
but he led them to the camp of Armstrong and his men. When they 
arrived at a fire James Smith was sitting there alone. Musemeelin told 
Smith he wanted to speak with him privately, and they went into the 
woods. Musemeelin soon came back laughing, as he had killed Smith 
and shot Arnold, whom he found coming back to the camp. 

The young Indians were terrified, but too afraid of Musemeelin to 
leave him. They soon came across John Armstrong sitting on an old 
log. Musemeelin asked: “Where is my horse?” Armstrong replied: 
“He will come by and by.” “I want him now,” said Musemeelin. 
“You shall have him. Come to the fire and let us smoke and talk to^- 
gether,” said Armstrong. As they proceeded, Armstrong in the advance, 4 
Musemeelin shot him in the back, then tomahawked him. 

Shikellamy further said that the three Indians buried John Arm¬ 
strong and that the others were thrown into the river. 

Jacks Narrows, where this crime was committed, takes it name 
from Captain John (Jack) Armstrong, the victim. 

Musemeelin was not convicted of the crime, but returned to his 
wigwam and was looked upon by his savage people as a hero. 


TORIES OF SINKING VALLEY 


257 


Tories of Sinking Valley Take Oath to King 
April 10,1778 

MONG the tragedies during the Revolutionary war, none seem 
more melancholy than those connected with efforts of the dis¬ 
affected to escape to the enemy. During the winter of 1777-78, 
British agents were busy along the western frontier and as far 
east as Cumberland County, seeking to corrupt the frontier 
settlers, insinuating sentiments of discontent, assuring them 
that the American cause was sure to fail and making glittering promises 
of reward for those who should join the cause of the King. 

One of the agents visited the valleys of the Allegheny Mountains in 
what is now Blair County, but then was a part of Bedford. He was 
successful in deluding a considerable band of ignorant frontiersmen by 
the most despicable methods. 

This rascal held out to these mountaineers a vision of wholesale 
plunder and carnage on the property of their patriot neighbors. His 
appeals were made only to the vicious, who were promised if they would 
organize and join a force of British and Indians coming down the Alle¬ 
gheny Valley in the spring they would be permitted to participate in a 
general onslaught on the settlements and would receive their share of the 
pillage and, in addition to this, they should each receive grants for the 
lands of the rebel neighbors to the extent of 300 acres each, wherever 
they should select. 

One of the men who entered into this despicable plot afterward con¬ 
fessed that it was the design to slaughter the peaceable inhabitants 
without mercy—men, women and children—and seize their property 
and lands. 

In the northern part of Blair County is a deep valley called Sinking 
Spring Valley. It is still a wild and romantic country, but 150 years 
ago was singularly desolate and lonely and seemed a fitting place for 
the meeting of such conspirators as had been enlisted in this cruel Tory 

plot. 

In Sinking Spring Valley the tory band held its gatherings during 
February and March, 1778. Many of the plotters were from the 
frontier settlement of Frankstown, near what is now Hollidaysburg. 
The leader was John Weston, a bold, lawless man, half farmer, half 
hunter, half civilized, who lived with his wife and brother, Richard, in 
a crude mountain cabin. 

The British agent, having thoroughly enlisted Weston in the mur¬ 
derous enterprise, returned up the Allegheny, promising to be at Kittan¬ 
ning about the middle of April, with 300 Indians and white men, there 
to meet his mountain friends and with them swoop down on the other 



9 





258 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


settlements, and make all of his partisans weary under the burden of 
their rich plunder. 

Weston furthered the propaganda and enlisted thirty of his neigh¬ 
bors in the adventure. Alarming intelligence of the Tory plans leaked 
out, reached the larger settlement of Standing Stone, now Huntingdon, 
where it was reported that a thousand Indians and Tories were about 
to fall on the frontier. 

A stockade had been built at Standing Stone, but its garrison never 
consisted of more than a score of green militiamen, and there was a 
general flight of the terrified people from the upper valley of the Juniata 
toward Carlisle and York. 

The band of plotters was joined, about April 1, by a man named 
McKee, of Carlisle. He had been in communication with a British 
officer, who was confined in Carlisle, with other prisoners of war. He 
gave McKee a letter addressed to all British officers, vouching for the 
loyalty of McKee and his associates. This letter was to be used in 
securing protection and a welcome for the Sinking Spring Valley Tories 
when they should meet with the British and Indians on their flight to 
the Allegheny. 

At the appointed time word reached the valley that a large force 
of Indians had gathered at Kittanning. The last meeting of the plotters 
was held April 10, in the forest, and thirty-one took the oath of alleg¬ 
iance and pledged themselves to follow Weston. 

On the following morning, at the break of day they began their 
march over the mountains. In the afternoon of* the second day they 
had come within a few miles of their intended destination, when they 
encountered a band of about 100 Iroquois Indians. The savages burst 
suddenly out of the thicket in full war paint. 

John Weston sprang forward, waving his hand and crying out, 
“Friends! Friends!” The Indians were not in the British conspiracy, 
but were bent on a plundering raid on their own account and regarded 
Weston and his armed companions as a hostile party. 

The Indian chieftain fired at Weston, and the Tory leader fell 
dead. His startled and horrified followers halted in dread astonish¬ 
ment. Another of the savages sprang forward and, before the ignorant 
borderers could recover from their surprise, tore the scalp from Wes¬ 
ton’s head. 

At this point McKee rushed out, holding aloft in one hand a white 
handkerchief and in the other hand the letter from the British officer 
at Carlisle, and called out to the Indians: “Brothers! Brothers!” The 
savages did not respond. Almost as suddenly as they appeared they 
vanished into the undergrowth, leaving the bewildered mountaineers 
alone with their dead and scalped leader. Weston was buried where 
he fell. 

The Tories feared to go forward and even more to return to their 


CAPTAIN JOHN BRADY 


259 


homes. They held a consultation, when some declared their intention 
to return to Bedford County, but others feared arrest and determined 
they would seek safety elsewhere. 

Hard was the fate of this company. Some of them wandered in the 
forests and perished from hunger. Some of them made their way to the 
southward, and reached British posts after great suffering. Five of 
them returned to their homes in Sinking Spring Valley and were seized 
by the aroused frontiersmen and lodged in the log jail at Bedford. 

Richard Weston, brother of the slain leader, was caught near his 
home by a party of settlers going to work in the lead mines there, and 
he was sent under guard to Carlisle. Weston confessed the whole plot, 
but claimed he had been misled by his older brother. He escaped 
from prison before his trial, so his taint of treason was hardly to be 
blamed on his brother. 

The Supreme Executive Council ordered a special court to try the 
prisoners at Bedford. It held two sessions in the fall of 1778 and 
spring of 1779, with General John Armstrong, of Carlisle, as president. 
The court failed to convict any of the defendants on the charge of high 
treason. The leaders were either dead or out of the country, and the 
few men brought before the court seemed to be sufficiently punished 
by their imprisonment and the contempt of their neighbors. 

Those who fled away were tainted with treason and their estates 
were declared forfeited. 


Captain John Brady, Noted Hero, Killed by 
Indians April 11, 1779 

CPTAIN JOHN BRADY was foremost in all the expeditions 
that went out from the West Branch of the Susquehanna set¬ 
tlements, and his untimely death, April 11, 1779, was the 
worst blow ever inflicted upon the distressed settlers. 

John Brady, second son of Hugh and Hannah Brady 
was born in 1733, near Newark, Delaware. He came with his 
parents to Pennsylvania, married Mary Quigley, when he was twenty- 
two years old, and soon thereafter enlisted in the French and Indian 
War. On July 19, 1763, he was commissioned captain and assigned to 
the Second Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by 
Governor John Penn and Liuetenant Colonels Turbutt Francis and 
Asher Clayton. 

The following year his command was with Colonel Henry Bouquet 
on his expedition west of the Ohio, and was actively engaged against 
the Indians who made terrible slaughter in Bedford and Cumberland 
Counties. 







260 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Captain Brady was one of the officers who received land grants from 
the Proprietaries, and, in 1768, he removed his family to Standing 
Stone, now Huntingdon. The following year he changed his residence 
to a site opposite the present town of Lewisburg. He was a land sur¬ 
veyor and his note books furnish much valuable land data. 

In 1776 Brady removed to Muncy Manor, where he built a semi- 
fortified log house, known later as Fort Brady. It was in what is now 
the borough of Muncy, and was a private affair but was classed among 
the provincial fortifications. 

In December, 1775, when Colonel William Plunket made his 
famous expedition to the Wyoming Valley, Captain John Brady was 
one of his ablest assistants. When the Twelfth Regiment of the Con¬ 
tinental Line was organized under command of Colonel William Cooke, 
September 28, 1776, Captain Brady was one of the original captains. 
Two of Captain Brady’s sons married daughters of Colonel Cooke. 

At the Battle of Brandywine the Twelfth was engaged under Gen¬ 
eral John Sullivan and was cut to pieces in the desperate fighting near 
the Birmingham Meeting House. Captain John Brady was among 
those seriously wounded, and his son, John, a lad of only fifteen, who 
had come like David of old, with supplies for the camp and had re¬ 
mained for the battle, was also wounded, and only saved from capture 
by the act of his colonel in throwing the boy upon a horse when the 
troops retreated. So fierce was the fighting that every officer in Cap¬ 
tain Brady’s company was killed or wounded, together with most of his 
men. 

Captain Brady was given a leave of absence while the army was in 
winter quarters at Valley Forge, and during this time was at his home 
at Fort Brady. When the Indians became so troublesome between 
the North and West Branch Valleys, he removed his family to Sun- 
bury, and September 1, 1778 returned to the army. He served for a 
time with Colonel Daniel Brodhead’s regiment at Fort Pitt. 

James Brady, Captain John’s second son, who was himself a militia 
captain, was mortally wounded August 8, 1778, while he was working 
in the field near Fort Muncy. Young Brady survived his frightful 
wound for five days and died at Sunbury in the arms of his mother, an 
heroic pioneer woman. 

Captain John Brady had taken such an active part in the efforts 
of the settlers to subdue the Indian atrocites, and his daring and re¬ 
peated endeavors had so intensified their hatred, that they determined 
his capture above all other efforts. 

April 11, 1779, Captain Brady went up the river some distance to 
procure supplies for those in the fort, and he took with him a wagon, 
team and guard, and was in charge of the party. They secured the 
supplies and were returning in the afternoon, Captain Brady astride 
a fine mare. Within a short distance of the fort, where the road 


CAPTAIN JOHN BRADY 


261 


forked, he was riding a little distance in the rear of the team and guard, 
and engaged in conversation with Peter Smith, who was walking. He 
determined that they would not follow the team, but would take another 
and shorter road to the fort. They rode and walked along together 
until they reached a small run where the same roads again joined. 
Brady observed, “This would be a good place for Indians to secrete 
themselves.” Smith replied “yes.” That instant three rifles cracked 
and Brady fell. 

The mare ran toward Smith, who grabbed her and threw himself 
upon her back and in a few moments reached the fort. 

The people in the fort heard the rifle shots and, seeing Smith on the 
mare coming at full speed, all rushed out to learn the fate of Captain 
Brady. Mrs. Brady led those of the party in reaching Smith’s side. 
Smith told them, “Brady is in heaven or hell or on his way to Tioga,” 
meaning that he was either killed or taken prisoner. Those in the fort 
ran to the spot and soon found the captain lying on the ground, his 
scalp and rifle gone; but the Indians had been in too much haste to 
take his watch or shot-pouch. 

Samuel, known as “Old Sam,” Brady happened to be at the fort 
when Captain John Brady was killed, and it was he who rushed out, 
followed by some of the garrison, and bore his brother’s body into the 

fort. 

Thus perished one of the most skilled and daring Indians fighters, 
on whose sterling qualities and sound judgment the pioneers so much 
depended. 

His remains are interred in the old graveyard near Halls, where a 
heavy granite marker was erected bearing the inscription: 

Captain John Brady 
Fell in defense of our forefathers 
at Wolf Run, April 11, 1779. 

Aged 46 years. 

One hundred years after his death funds for a monument were raised 
by public subscription and $1600 secured, and on October 15, 1879, 
the shaft was unveiled in Muncy cemetery. The oration was delivered 
by the Hon. John Blair Linn, in the presence of an immense concourse 
made up of military and patriotic organizations and thousands of citi¬ 
zens, including several hundred of the Brady family. 


262 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


General Abner Lacock, United States Senator 
and Distinguished Citizen, Died in 
Beaver County, April 12,1837 

N THE Biographical Annals of the Civil Government of the 
United States published in 1876, appears the following brief 
notice of a once prominent citizen of Pennsylvania: 

“Abner Lacock, born in Virginia, in 1770. Without the 
advantage of much early education, he raised himself by his 
talents to eminence as a legislator, statesman and civilian. He 
filled various public stations for a period of nearly forty years; was a 
Representative in Congress from Pennsylvania from 1811 to 1813, and 
United States Senator from 1813 to 1819. He died in Beaver County, 
Pennsylvania, April 12, 1837.” 

A search for further information concerning one of whom so little 
is known by the public, but who was honored with the highest offices 
in the gift of his neighbors and of the whole people of our State, 
reveals many interesting details and important events in the life of this 
man. 

Abner Lacock was popularly known as General Lacock. He was 
born in Cobs Run, near Alexandria, Virginia, July 9, 1770. His father 
was a native of England, and his mother a native of France. The 
father emigrated to Washington County, Pennsylvania, while Abner 
was quite young, and settled on a farm. 

In 1796 Abner removed to the town of Beaver, then in Allegheny 
County, and was one of the first settlers in that neighborhood. 

His public career commenced almost immediately after his settle¬ 
ment at Beaver. On September 19, 1796, he was commissioned by 
Governor Thomas Mifflin a justice of the peace for Pitt Township, 
Allegheny County. This appointment made him the first public of¬ 
ficial within the present limits of Beaver County, which was formed 
out of parts of Allegheny and Washington Counties, March 12, 1800. 

In his first office Lacock evinced such a natural strength of mind 
and sound intelligence that he was elected in 1801, the first Repre¬ 
sentative to the State Legislature from Beaver County, which post he 
filled until 1803, when he was commissioned the first associate judge 
for the new county, but he resigned at the end of the year to again 
enter the Legislature. The first session of court was' held in Abner 
Lacock’s house, February 6, 1804. 

After serving four successive terms in the House, in 1808, he was 
elected to the Senate, representing Allegheny, Beaver and Butler 
Counties in the upper body of the Pennsylvania Legislature with 
marked ability. 





GENERAL ABNER LACOCK 


263 


The War of 1812 with the agitation which preceded it brought 
him into the larger field of national politics. In 1810 he was elected 
by the people of his district as the “War Candidate” to Congress, when 
he showed such qualities of leadership that in 1813 the Legislature of 
his State with great unanimity elected him a Senator of the United 
States. He served in the House during the Twelfth Congress and in 
the Senate in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Congresses. 

General Lacock was a warm friend of Madison and Monroe, and 
a bitter enemy of Andrew Jackson. In his later years he was an 
Adams and Henry Clay Whig. 

On December 18, 1818, a select committee of five members was 
appointed in the Senate of the United States, to investigate the conduct 
of General Andrew Jackson in connection with the Seminole War. Of 
this committee Senator Lacock was chairman, and author of the report 
made February 24, 1819, which severely arraigned Jackson with the 
violation of the Constitution and International Laws. 

This action of the committee made Jackson and his friends furious, 
he threatening members of the committee with personal violence. 
Lacock was unafraid and wrote frequently about Jackson’s boasting 
only in public, and that he should never avoid him a single inch. 

The clash never came, and they left the capital on the same day, 
and in the same public conveyance. 

General Lacock was one of the most active promoters of internal 
improvements in the State of Pennsylvania. Soon after his term in the 
United States Senate had ceased, he entered heartly into the scheme 
for uniting the waters of the Delaware and the Ohio by a State line 
of Canals and railroads. On April 11, 1825, he was appointed one of 
five commissioners to make a complete survey of the route for the con¬ 
templated inprovements. 

On February 25, 1826, the Legislature authorized the commence¬ 
ment of the work on the canal. General Lacock was chosen to super¬ 
vise tlTe construction of the Western division of the canal from Pitts¬ 
burgh to Johnstown. 

The first canal boat built or run west of the Allegheny Mountains 
was named the “General Abner Lacock.” It was built at Apollo by 
Philip Dally. 

Later General Lacock repeatedly served Beaver County in the State 
Legislature, and in 1836 was appointed to survey and construct the 
Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, known as the “cross-cut canal,” con¬ 
necting the Erie division of the Pennsylvania Canal with the Ports¬ 
mouth and Ohio Canal, contracting in its service in that year his last 
illness. 

Besides those named, General Lacock held, or was offered many 
other positions of high public trust, both in this and other states. 

Abner Lacock obtained the title of General in the early part of his 


264 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


public career while serving as an officer of the Pennsylvania militia. 
As early as 1807 he was a brigadier general, commanding a brigade in 
the counties of Beaver and Butler. 

General Lacock was the friend and earnest champion of the com¬ 
mon school system, which when first proposed was very unpopular in 
Pennsylvania. His library was one of the largest in Western Penn¬ 
sylvania, and was partially destroyed by a flood in the Ohio River in 
1832. 

General Lacock was of medium height and well proportioned. He 
was strong and athletic. He was the father of a large family, but there 
are no living male descendants of this distinguished citizen. 

He died at his residence, near Freedom, on Wednesday morning, 
April 12, 1837, after a long and painful illness. 


Family of Richard Bard Captured by Indians 
April 13, 1758 

URING the French and Indian War of 1755-58, the barrier 
of the South Mountain shielded the settlers of York County, 
from the savage incursions that desolated the Cumberland 
Valley and other parts of the frontier of Pennsylvania. Yet 
occasionally a party more daring than the rest would push 
across the mountain and murder or carry defenseless families 
into captivity. 

An affecting instance of this kind was the captivity of Richard Bard, 
which is narrated in detail by his son, the late Archibald Bard, of 
Franklin County. 

Richard Bard owned and resided near a mill, which was later known 
as Marshall’s Mill, on the Carroll tract, in now Adams County. 

On the morning of April 13, 1758, his house was invested by a 
party of nineteen Delaware Indians, who were discovered by a little 
girl named Hannah McBride. She was at the door and when they 
approached she screamed and ran into the house, where were Richard 
Bard and his wife, a child six months old, a bound boy, and a relative 
of the Bards, Lieutenant Thomas Potter, a brother of General James 
Potter. 

The Indians rushed into the house, and one of them, with a large 
cutlass in his grasp, made a blow at Potter, who wrested it from the 
savage. Mr. Bard laid hold of a pistol that hung on the wall and 
snapped it at the breast of one of the Indians, but there being tow in 
the pan it did not fire, but the Indians ran out of the house. 

The savages were numerous and there was no ammunition in the 
Bard home, and fearing a slaughter or being burned alive, those inside 









CAPTURE OF BARD FAMILY 


265 


surrendered, as the Indians promised no harm would befall them. The 
Indians went to a field and made prisoners of Samuel Hunter, Daniel 
McManimy, and a lad named William White, who was coming to 
the mill. 

Having secured the prisoners the Indians plundered the house and 
set fire to the mill. About seventy rods from the house, contrary to 
their promises, they put to death Thomas Potter; and having proceeded 
on the mountain three or four miles, one of the Indians sunk the spear 
of his tomahawk into the breast of the small child, and after repeated 
blows scalped it. 

The prisoners were taken over the mountain past McCord’s fort, 
into the Path Valley, where they encamped for the night. The second 
day the Indians discovered a party of white men in pursuit, on which 
they hastened the pace of their prisoners, under threat of being toma¬ 
hawked. 

When they reached the top of the Tuscarora Mountain, they sat 
down to rest, when an Indian, without any previous warning, sunk a 
tomahawk into the forehead of Samuel Hunter, who was seated next 
to Richard Bard, killed and scalped him. 

Passing over Sideling Hill, and the Allegheny Mountains, by Blair’s 
Gap, they encamped beyond Stony Creek. Here Bard’s head had been 
painted red on one side only, denoting that a council has been held, and 
an equal number were for killing him, and for saving his life, and that 
his fate would be determined at the next council. 

While Mr. and Mrs. Bard were engaged together in plucking a 
turkey, the former told his wife of his design to escape. Some of the 
Indians were asleep, and one was amusing the others by dressing himself 
in Mrs. Bard’s gown. Bard was sent to the spring for water and con¬ 
trived to escape, while his wife kept the Indians amused with the gown. 

The Indians made an unsuccessful search for Bard, and proceeded 
to Fort Duquesne, then twenty miles down the Ohio River to Kus- 
kusky,-in what is now Butler County. 

Here Mrs. Bard and two boys and girls were compelled to run the 
gauntlet, and were beaten in an unmerciful manner. It was at this 
place that Daniel McManimy was put to death. The Indians formed 
themselves into a circle round the prisoner, and beat him with sticks 
and tomahawks, then tied him to a post, and after more torturing he 
was scalped alive, a gun barrel was heated and passed over his body, 
and he was pierced in the body until he was relieved from further tor¬ 
ture by death. 

Mrs. Bard was taken from the other prisoners and led from place 
to place, until she was finally adopted into the tribe by two Indian men, 
to take the place of a deceased sister. 

She was next taken to the headwaters of the Susquehanna, and 
during this journey she suffered much from fatigue and illness. She lay 


266 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


two months in this doleful situation, with none to comfort or sympathize 
with her, a blanket her only covering, and boiled corn her only food. 

She met with a woman who had been in captivity several years and 
was married to an Indian. She told Mrs. Bard that soon as she could 
speak the Delaware tongue she would be obliged to marry one of the 
Indians or be put to death. She then resolved not to learn the lan¬ 
guage. She was kept in captivity two years and five months, during 
which time she was treated with much kindness by her adopted relations. 

Richard Bard suffered extreme hardships in effecting his escape and 
return to his home, traveling over mountains thick with laurel and 
briers and covered with snow. His feet were sore, his clothes wet and 
frozen and he was often exhausted and ready to lie down and perish 
for want of food. His food during a journey of nine days was a few 
buds and four snakes, when he reached Fort Littleton, in now Bedford 
County. 

After this he did but little else than wander from place to place in 
quest of information respecting his wife. He made several perilous 
journeys to Fort Duquesne, in which he narrowly escaped capture 
several times. He at length learned she was at Fort Augusta, at 
Shamokin, and redeemed her. 

Before the Bards departed from Shamokin, Richard Bard requested 
the Indian, who was the adopted brother of his wife, to visit them at 
their home. Accordingly, some time afterwards the Indian paid them 
a visit, when the Bards were living about ten miles from Chambers- 
burg. 

The Indian remained there for some time and one day went to Mc¬ 
Cormack’s tavern and became intoxicated, when he fell into a brawl 
with a rough named Newgen, who stabbed the Indian in the neck. 
Newgen escaped the wrath of the settlers by fleeing the neighborhood. 
The Indian was attended by a physician and recovered, being nursed 
back to health by his adopted sister, Mrs. Richard Bard. 

When he returned to his own people he was put to death on the 
pretext of having, as they said, joined the white people. 


BOUNTY ON INDIAN SCALPS 


267 


Bounties for Scalps of Indians Proclaimed 
April 14,1756 

FTER Braddock’s defeat, the protection of the frontiers of 
Pennsylvania being left to the inhabitants themselves, they 
rapidly formed companies, designated their own officers and 
received commissions from Lieutenant Governor Morris. 

It was thought that the Indians would do no mischief in 
Pennsylvania until they could draw all the others out of the 
province and away from the Susquehanna. But the Delaware and 
Shawnee had been ravaging in the neighborhood of Fort Cumberland 
on both sides of the Potomac. In the middle of October, 1755, oc¬ 
curred the terrible massacres of John Penn’s Creek, at the mouth of 
Mahanoy Creek, and when the Great and Little Coves were destroyed. 
Shortly after occurred the massacres at Tulpehocken and other places. 

When any Indians of the Delaware or Shawnee Nations were dis¬ 
covered they were found in their war paint. These were under the 
command of Chief Shingass. 

These incursions aroused the Quakers, and November 7, 1775, an 
address signed by Anthony Morris and twenty-two other Quakers was 
presented to the Assembly, expressing willingness to contribute toward 
the exigencies of government. But the Assembly and the Executive 
still fought over the tax bill. 

At this juncture Scarouady went to Philadelphia and demanded to 
know if the people of Pennsylvania intended to fight, yes or no. The 
Governor explained to the chieftain how the Assembly and he could 
not agree. 

Scarouady, who had suffered defeat with Braddock and remained 
a firm friend of the English, with many other Indians went to Sham- 
okin to live, or at least hunt, during the ensuing season. 

Governor Morris sent Scarouady to the Six Nations to report the 
conduct of the Delawares. While he was on this mission the Dela¬ 
ware destroyed Gnadenhutten, in Northampton County, and the farm 
houses between that place and Nazareth were burned January 1, 1756. 

Benjamin Franklin, as Commissioner, then marched with several 
companies and built Fort Allen. 

The Delaware, forcing even John Shikellamy to go against the 
English, sent representatives to the Six Nations to justify their conduct, 
but were condemned and ordered to desist. 

When Lieutenant Governor Morris heard this chastisement given 
the Delaware, and seeing that it so far had not deterred the enemy, he 
determined to meet barbarity with barbarity, and gave a hatchet to 
Scarouady, as a declaration of war against the Delaware, and obtained 





268 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


an offer in writing from Commissioners Fox, Hamilton, Morgan, 
Mifflin and Hughes to pay rewards for Indian prisoners. 

Governor Morris issued a proclamation April 14, 1756, offering 
such bounties that he hoped would incite not only the soldiers and more 
venturesome of the inhabitants, but which would also alarm those 
Indians who still remained friendly to the English. 

The proclamation contains the following provisions: 

“For every male Indian enemy above twelve years old, who shall 
be taken prisoner and delivered at any fort, garrisoned by the troops 
in pay of this Province, or at any of the county towns to the keepers 
of the common jail there, the sum of 150 Spanish dollars or pieces of 
eight; for the scalp of every male enemy above the age of twelve years, 
produced to evidence of their being killed the sum of 130 pieces of eight; 
for every female Indian taken prisoner and brought in as aforesaid, and 
for every male Indian prisoner under the age of twelve years, taken 
and brought in as aforesaid, 130 pieces of eight; for the scalp of every 
Indian woman, produced as evidence of their being killed, the sum of 
fifty pieces of eight, and for every English subject that has been killed 
and carried from this Province into captivity that shall be recovered and 
brought in and delivered at the City of Philadelphia, to the Governor 
of this Province, the sum of 130 pieces of eight, but nothing for their 
scalps; and that there shall be paid to every officer or soldier as are or 
shall be in the pay of the Province who shall redeem and deliver any 
English subject carried into captivity as aforesaid, or shall take, bring 
in and produce any enemy prisoner, or scalp as aforesaid, one-half of the 
said several and respective premiums and bounties.” 

This proclamation gave great offense to the Assembly, but not to 
the population, especially those who lived in the counties distant from 
Philadelphia. The times were perilous, and the bounties were abso¬ 
lutely necessary to secure better protection of the borders. To the 
credit of the hardy and brave frontier pioneers of Pennsylvania be it 
said no Indian was wantonly killed for the sake of the reward. 

Robert Morris resigned the office of Lieutenant Governor he had 
held during these stirring years, and on August 20, 1756, William 
Denny arrived from England, and superseded him. Governor Denny 
was well educated and held in high favor at Court. His advent here 
was hailed with joy by the Assembly, who flattered themselves that 
with a change of the executives at this time there would come a change 
of such measures as had caused their enmity with his predecessors. 
Upon his assumption of the office and making known the Proprietary in¬ 
structions, to which he stated he was compelled to adhere, all friendly 
feeling was at an end, and there was a renewal of the old discord. 

Before Governor Morris resigned as Lieutenant Governor he had 
concerted with Colonel John Armstrong an expedition against the 
strong Indian town of Kittanning, on the Allegheny River. 


FIRST THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE 


269 


Theatrical Performances Begun in State 
April 15, 1754 

HE amusements of the young people were for many 
years of the simplest and most innocent kind. Riding, 
swimming and skating afforded pleasant outdoor sport. 

Yearly Meeting, in 1716, adviaed Friends against “going 
to or being in any way concerned in plays, games, lotteries, 
music and dancing.” In 1719 advice was given “that such be 
dealt with as run races, either on horseback or on foot, laying wagers, or 
use any gaming or needless and vain sport and pastimes, for our time 
passeth swiftly away, and our pleasure and delight ought to be in the 
law of the Lord.” 

Various early laws of the Province prohibited stage plays and amuse¬ 
ments, not only bull-baiting, bear-baiting and cock-fighting, but such as 
were neither immoral nor cruel, as bowls, billiards and quoits. 

Macauley said of the Puritans that they opposed bear-baiting “not 
because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the 
spectators.” 

Quaker legislation as to games was, indeed, scarcely 'stricter than 
Henry VIII’s, but Quakerism discountenanced excitement. 

In 1723 a wandering showman arrived in Philadelphia and set up 
a stage just below South Street, where he was outside the jurisdiction 
of the City Corporation. At the desire of the Quaker Assemblymen, 
the Speaker, Joseph Growdon, on March 30, asked Lieutenant Gover¬ 
nor Keith to prohibit any performance. This he declined to do, but 
promised that good order should be kept. 

So the actor issued his playbills and gave what is supposed to have 
been the first entertainment in Pennsylvania that might be called 
theatrical. 

As the man who entertained by his “Comical Humour” in April, 
1724, called himself the audience’s “Old friend Pickle Herring,” he 
may be presumed to have been the owner of both shows. In 1724, he 
introduced the “Roap-Dancing” as “newly arrived.” The rope-walkers 
were a lad of seven years and a woman. There was also a woman who 
would spin around rapidly for a quarter of an hour with seven or eight 
swords pointed at her eyes, mouth and breast. Governor Keith him¬ 
self attended one or more of these performances. 

Small shows now, from time to time, made their appearance. In 
1727, “The Lion, King of Beasts,” was advertised to be exhibited on 
Water Street. 

The Quakers and rigid Presbyterians, who in the early days frowned 
down dancing and other “frivolous amusements,” could not be ex- 







270 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


pected to countenance the introduction of the drama in Philadelphia. 
So when Murray and Kean’s company of Thespians made their ap¬ 
pearance in 1749 they were not permitted to make a long stay, but were 
ordered off as soon as the worthy rulers of the city’s morals realized 
the fact that their entertainments possessed irresistible attractions. So 
Murray and Kean went to New York and for five years the Philadel¬ 
phians did not see a play. 

In August, 1749, mention is made of the tragedy of Cato being 
acted; but January 8, 1750, attention being called to some persons 
having lately taken upon themselves to act plays, and intending “to 
make a frequent practice thereof,” the City Council asked the magis¬ 
trates to suppress the same. 

In the year 1753 Lewis Hallam’s English company, after traveling 
a year in the Southern colonies and performing in various places in 
Virginia and Maryland, went to New York, where they opened their 
theatre in the month of September. The report of the great success of 
their talented actors awakened a desire among the more liberal- 
minded Philadelphians that Hallam should visit the Quaker City. 

On April 15, 1754, they gave their first performance in the large 
brick warehouse of William Plumstead, situated in King or Water 
Street, between Pine and Lombard Streets. This house remained stand¬ 
ing until 1849, when it was pulled down. 

The opening piece was the tragedy of “The Fair Penitent,” fol¬ 
lowed by the farce “Miss in Her Teens.” 

Mr. Rigby spoke a prologue and Mrs. Hallam an epilogue written 
for the occasion, in which, after defending the stage from the accusa¬ 
tion of sinfulness and alluding to the effect produced by the tragedy 
upon the audience, she asked: 

“If then the soul in Virtue’s cause we move 
Why should the friends of Virtue disapprove?” 

This temporary theatre was neatly fitted up and opened to a full 
house. The license was for twenty-four nights but this number was 
extended to thirty, and the theatre closed June 24 after having had a 
brilliant and profitable season. One of the performances was given 
for the benefit of the charity school. 

Hallam’s company came back to Philadelphia in 1759 to occupy a 
permanent theatre erected for them in Southwark, at the corner of 
Cedar (or South) and Vernon Streets, on Society Hill. 

This theatre was opened June 25, 1759, but either because the 
house was too small and not well equipped or because of discouraging 
opposition the company only played in it one season. They remained 
away five years. 

On their return a new house, much larger than the first one, was 


DEATH OF TEDYUSKUNG 


271 


built at the corner of South and Apollo Streets. This new theatre was 
opened November 12, 1766. 

It was in this theatre and by “The American Company” that the 
first play by an American author performed on any regular stage was 
given April 24, 1767. This was “The Prince of Porthia,” by Thomas 
Godfrey, Jr., of Philadelphia. 

The American Company played at this theatre several seasons. The 
theatre remained closed from the beginning of the Revolutionary War 
until it was opened by the British officers during their occupancy of the 

city, 1777-78. 

These amateur performers gave regular plays, the proceeds going to 
widows and orphan children of the soldiers. The ill-fated Major 
Andre and Captain Delaney painted the scenes and other decorations. 
The curtain, representing a waterfall scene, the work of young Andre, 
remained in use until the theatre was destroyed by fire May 9, 1823. 

After the return of the Continental Congress the Legislature of 
Pennsylvania legislated against theatrical performances. No plays 
were given until 1789, when a petition signed by 1900 citizens, asking 
the repeal of the prohibiting provision relating to theatres, was presented 
to the Legislature. The religious community presented a petition 
signed by more than 1000 citizens as a remonstrance against the repeal. 

The restrictive portion of the act was repealed and Hallam and 
Henry opened the Southwark Theatre January 6, 1790, with “The 
Rivals” and “The Critic.” 

The season was unusually brilliant, and the theatre in Philadelphia 
and elsewhere throughout Pennsylvania has since been popular. 


Tedyuskung, Indian Chieftain, Burns to 
Death in Cabin, April 16, 1763 

EDYUSKUNG was made king of the Delaware nation in the 
spring of 1756, and from that date until his untimely death 
this great Indian chieftain exerted a most powerful influence 
throughout the entire Province of Pennsylvania. 

The name is of Munsee dialect, and signifies “the healer,” 
or “one who cures wounds, bruises, etc.” 

He was one of the most famous and crafty of the Delaware chiefs 
during the period of discussion of the Indian claims, following the sale 
of the lands along the Delaware and Susquehanna to the Proprietors of 
Pennsylvania by the Iroquois. 

Tedyuskung was born at the present site of Trenton, N. J., about 
1705, and died April 16, 1763. Nothing is known of his life before the 
time he first appears as an historic character, prior to whichhe was known 
as “Honest John.” 







272 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


When about fifty years old he was chosen chief of the Delaware 
on the Susquehanna, and from that time wielded a potent influence, 
although he occupied a peculiar position. 

Sir William Johnson, of New York, was a zealous friend of the 
Iroquois, while Conrad Weiser and George Croghan, of Pennsylvania, 
were strongly prejudiced against the Delaware and Shawnee. The 
problem which the Provincial Government of Pennsylvania had to solve 
was how to keep peace with the Iroquois and at the same time prevent 
the Delaware and the Shawnee who were then becoming independent of 
the Iroquois, from going over to the French. 

The Delaware were conscious they had been unjustly deprived of 
their lands by the Pennsylvania authorities, aided by the Iroquois. They 
had been driven from the Delaware to the Susquehanna, and many had 
been forced even as far west as the Ohio, and now that France and 
England had commenced to struggle for the possession of that region 
the Delaware felt they were to be again driven from their home. They 
were revolting not only against the English, but against their masters, 
the Iroquois. 

At this critical time, when the border settlements in Western Penn¬ 
sylvania were being ravaged by hostile bands of Delaware and Shawnee, 
and when the English were making preparations for an expedition to 
take Fort Duquesne, Tedyuskung took his stand as a friend of the 
English. 

Christian Frederic Post had been sent on a mission to the Ohio 
Indians, and Conrad Weiser and others were working to retain the 
friendship of these Indians. The many squatters along the Juniata River 
and the illegal sale of land at Wyoming made by the Mohawk to the 
Connecticut settlers complicated the situation and made the work of these 
emissaries much more difficult and trying. Then the Indians who had 
been in conference at Albany in 1754, found when they returned home 
that lands had been sold to the Proprietors which they did not com¬ 
prehend. 

Washington suffered defeat at Fort Necessity and this was followed 
by the terrible Braddock disaster; which with the evil effects of the 
rum traffic among the Indians and the almost total neglect by the 
Province of Pennsylvania had almost entirely alienated them from the 
English cause. 

Then began the several attempts to win them back, but the passage 
of the Scalp Act and the declaration of war against the Delaware 
caused this tribe to rise in rebellion against the Province and also against 
their hated title of “women,” given them by the Iroquois. 

Such was the situation when the great council was called at Easton, 
July, 1756, at which Tedyuskung appeared as the champion of the Dela¬ 
ware. Governor Morris opened the council with a speech, in which 
he warmly welcomed the chief. Tedyuskung replied: “The Delaware 


DEATH OF TEDYUSKUNG 


273 


are no longer the slaves of the Six Nations. I, Tedyuskung, have been 
appointed King over the Five United Nations. What I do here will be 
approved by all. This is a good day. I wish the same good that 
possessed the good old man, William Penn, who was a friend of the 
Indian, may inspire the people of the Province at this time.” 

The first session was followed by a grand feast and reception, during 
which King Tedyuskung and Chief Newcastle were sent to give the 
“big peace halloo” to the Indians and invite them to a larger conference, 
which was held at a later time. 

Tedyuskung left Easton, but loitered about Fort Allen, where he be¬ 
came drunk and disorderly, and so incensed Lieutenant Miller that the 
whole outcome of the peace conference was, for a time, endangered. 

During this drunken spree Tedyuskung was blamed for having deal¬ 
ings with the French, but no evidence was produced to prove the charges; 
yet Governor Morris dispatched Chief Newcastle to Sir William Johh- 
son to learn if the Iroquois had deputized Tedyuskung to act for them. 
This they denied. 

Then followed endless discussions in Provincial Council. Governor 
Morris had been succeeded by Governor Denny, who went to the 
council at Easton, July, 1757, under a heavy guard. Tedyuskung, in 
his opening speech, said: “I am sorry for what our people have done. 
I have gone among our people pleading for peace. If it cost me my life 
I would do it.” 

Tedyuskung demanded a clerk at this Easton Council on threat of 
leaving, and he was assigned such official. While Tedyuskung was drunk 
each night, he appeared at council each morning with a clear head and 
was the equal of any in debate. 

This second Easton council determined upon a general peace and 
Tedyuskung promised to see that their white prisoners were all returned. 
He then went to Fort Allen, where he and his warriors had a drunken 
frolic. Conrad Weiser says of him at this time: “Though he is a 
drunkard and a very irregular man, yet he is a man that can think well, 
and I believe him to be sincere in what he said.” 

A fourth council was held at Easton in October, 1758, when Post 
had returned from his Western mission. Land disputes again became a 
principal topic, and Tedyuskung was discredited by the Iroquois, who 
attempted to destroy his influence with the Provincial Government. 
They even left the council when he spoke, but the old King won out and 
the council finally ended in a treaty of peace. 

In 1762 the Governor offered Tedyuskung £400 as a present if he 
would withdraw his charges of fraud in the “Walking Purchase,” and 
he accepted the bribe. 

After all the dealing with the Governors and councils of Pennsyl¬ 
vania, and his personal controversies with the enemy tribes, this last of 
the chiefs of the eastern Delaware traveled from Philadelphia to his 


274 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


home at Wyoming, and on the night of April 16, 1763, his house was 
set on fire while he lay on his couch in a drunken debauch and he was 
burned to death in the flames. The perpetrators of this crime were 
either Seneca or Mohawk. 

He was the most virile chief of the Delaware nation during the years 
of their subjugation to the Iroquois. His efforts for peace did much to 
win the Ohio region from the French. 

A monument to Tedyuskung has been erected in Fairmount Park, 
Philadelphia. 


Lottery for Union Canal for $400,000 Au¬ 
thorized by Legislature, April 17, 1795 

Y THE act of April 17, 1795, the president and managers of 
the Schuykill and Susquehanna Navigation, and the president 
and managers of the Delaware and Schuykill Canal Navigation, 
were authorized to raise by means of a lottery, a sum of $400,- 
000 for the purpose of completing the works cited in their 
acts of incorporation, under a prohibition that neither of them 
should form the same into capital stock, upon which to declare a dividend 
of profits. 

An Act Passed March 4, 1807, authorized the said companies to 
raise their respective sums separately, subject to the prohibition as to 
dividends. 

The two companies were consolidated by act of April 2, 1811 into a 
corporation known as the Union Canal Company of Pennsylvania. The 
new company was authorized to raise money by loan to complete the 
canal and to use the proceeds of the lotteries already authorized, and by 
the twenty-eighth section of the act authority was given to raise the 
residue of the original sum equal to $340,000 by a lottery. 

By the act of March 29, 1819 the proceeds of the above lottery 
were pledged as a fund for the payment of an annual interest of 6 per 
cent upon the stock of the company. 

By these and subsequent acts it appears that the lottery grants were 
given in the first instance, to the two companies, and afterwards con¬ 
tinued to the Union Canal Company to aid and encourage the construc¬ 
tion and completion of a canal and lock navigation uniting the waters 
of the Susquehanna and Schuylkill. 

In consequence of these lottery grants, individuals were induced to 
invest their funds in the furtherance of the work, and loans to the 
amount of $830,400 were made upon the credit of the capital stock and 
the profits of the lotteries. 

The Union Canal Company entered into contracts for the conduct 






Union canal lottery 


275 


of these lotteries, the last one, October 6, 1824, for five years, which 
expired December 31, 1829. 

There was much sentiment against these lotteries and as there were 
laws in force for suppressing and preventing lotteries, there was objection 
made when the extension of this lottery was brought to the General 
Assembly. The Committee on Ways and Means, February 9, 1828, 
reported that it was inexpedient to resume the lottery grants to the 
Union Canal Company at this time and further resolved, “that the 
committee be instructed to bring in a bill to regulate lottery brokers, 
and to restrain the sale of lottery tickets within this Commonwealth.” 

For more than half a century after the founding of the Province, 
Pennsylvania was dominated by the Quakers, who were constantly op¬ 
posed to all games of chance. At the very first meeting of the Assembly, 
at Chester, in 1682, an act was passed against cards, dice, lotteries, etc. 
This and similar acts were annulled by the English Government. 

Although lotteries were not legally prohibited only one lottery ap¬ 
pears to have been drawn during the next several decades. In 1720 a 
Mr. Reed by means of a lottery of 350 tickets, which were sold for 
twenty shillings each, disposed of a new brick house and several lots in 
Philadelphia. 

In 1730 lotteries were prohibited under a penalty of £100, half of 
which was to go to the Governor, and half to the party bringing suit. 

It seems probable that the Provincial Assembly authorized lotteries 
by special legislation for at least two lotteries had the official sanction of 
the Philadelphia Council; one in 1747, for the fortification of the City, 
the other a year later for street paving. From this time until the 
passage of the anti-lottery act of 1762, lotteries increased in number. 

During this period lotteries were drawn for the college, academy and 
charitable school of Philadelphia, to complete the Episcopal Church, etc. 

The act of 1762 proved to be effective in limiting the number and 
purposes for which lotteries might be established. Between 1762 and 
1796, there were only twenty-three lotteries in Pennsylvania. Of these 
six were private, eight were for public use and nine for the erection of 
church buildings, in which twenty-one churches were concerned. 

With the establishment of the Federal Government the financial 
condition of the country rapidly improved. With the gradual growth of 
population, and rapid development of business, came increased demands 
for new churches, schools, public buildings and improved transportation. 
To meet these public needs the regular revenue was insufficient and to 
avoid an abnormal increase in taxation, petitions were presented to the 
Legislature for the privilege of establishing public or semi-public 
lotteries. 

The Legislature rejected all requests for lotteries, except when some 
important purpose was to be served. Only one lottery was authorized 
in 1790, for the erection of a Jewish synagogue; none then until 1795, 


276 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


when one was granted the Aaronsburg Town Lottery, in now Center 
County, and the other was to aid in opening the canal navigation between 
the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Rivers. 

From 1796 to 1808 inclusive seventy-eight different lotteries were 
authorized. 

The lottery of 1782 for the improvement of roads west of Phila¬ 
delphia was' managed as a state lottery. Others were county, city, 
borough and township schemes. Some were for erection of bridges, 
ferries and even improving creeks. One was for a garden and public 
bath in Philadelphia, one for the pay of soldiers in the French and Indian 
War; hospitals were also included, as were schools. 

Many churches were built by means of lotteries and the newspapers 
of that period carried many advertisements, both from those authorized 
by the Pennsylvania Legislature and those of other States. It is esti¬ 
mated that at least fifty lotteries chartered by other States had agencies 
in Pennsylvania. 

From 1747 to 1883 there were 176 separate lotteries. One single 
lottery, Union Canal lottery, awarded in prizes more than $33,000,000 
between 1811 and December 31, 1833. 

The State became flooded with local and foreign lottery tickets, and 
many memorials were presented to the Legislature against all form of 
lotteries, but they continued to thrive until December 31, 1833, when 
they were abolished by law, Pennsylvania taking the lead of all States in 
banishing lotteries. 

Governor George Wolf said in a message to the General Assembly: 
“A more pernicious, ruinous and demoralizing evil can scarcely be 
imagined.” 


First Northern Camp in Civil War 
Established April 18, 1861 

N APRIL 18, 1861, Camp Curtin was regularly and formally 
established in the northwestern suburbs of Harrisburg. It was 
the first regular camp formed north of the Susquehanna in 
the loyal States, and before the end of the month twenty-five 
regiments were sent to the front from the counties of Penn¬ 
sylvania. 

The willing and prompt response to the call of President Lincoln 
and the appeal of Governor Curtin created immediately the necessity 
for a great rendezvous for the State’s troops. Harrisburg was the logical 
place for such a camp, for it had the advantage of being the seat of 
government and railroad lines extending in all directions. 

The troops began to pour into Harrisburg so suddenly that temporary 





FIRST NORTHERN CIVIL WAR CAMP 


277 

shelter was erected on all public grounds, within three days after the 
President’s call for volunteers. 

Governor Curtin acted promptly in procuring accomodations for the 
troops, and on April 18 requested Captain E. C. Williams to take 
charge of the grounds controlled by the Dauphin County Agricultural 
Society, near the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company on the 
east and less than a quarter of a mile from the Susquehanna on the west. 

It was the original intention to call this rendezvous “Camp Union,” 
but Captain E. C. Williams, Captain J. P. Knipe and others very 
appropriately changed the name in honor of the patriotic and beloved 
Governor of Pennsylvania. 

When the war broke out in all its suddenness, and Washington was 
cut off from the loyal States of the North by the riotous proceedings at 
Baltimore, there was an utter lack of military organization in Pennsyl¬ 
vania. The military system of the State had decayed and aside from 
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, there were very few military companies 
in the State fully armed and equipped. Of these only a few contained 
the minimum number of thirty-two men. But, as the appeal for men 
was disseminated through the towns and villages of the interior counties, 
the officers of such military companies as did exist very promptly rallied 
their men and tendered their services to the Governor. 

Ringgold Light Artillery, Captain McKnight, of Reading; the 
Logan Guards, Captain Selheimer, of Lewistown; the Washington 
Artillery, Captain Wren, and the National Light Infantry, Captain 
McDonald, both of Pottsville, and the Allen Rifles, Captain Yeager, of 
Allentown, were the first to offer their services in an armed and dis¬ 
ciplined condition for immediate action. When the Ringgold Light 
Artillery, numbering one hundred and two men, reached Harrisburg 
and word was sent to the Secretary of War of the presence of so strong 
a company at the State Capital, he at once telegraphed for its immediate 
presence in Washington, but for prudence the order was suppressed. 

On the morning of the 18th, the day Camp Curtin was established, 
a detachment of Company H, Fourth United States Artillery, number¬ 
ing fifty, arrived from the West, in command of Lieutenant Pemberton. 

The five volunteer companies, first to report at Camp Curtin, were 
promptly mustered into the United States service by Captain, afterwards 
Colonel Seneca G. Simmons, of the Seventh United States Infantry, 
and the regulars, mentioned above, and these volunteers departed on the 
same train for Fort McHenry, to assist in the defense of Washington. 

The volunteers marched through Baltimore, then filled with Southern 
sympathizers, ready and eager to obstruct their passage through the 
city. On leaving the cars at Bolton station to march to the Camden 
station, a battalion was formed. As the march began the Baltimore 
police appeared in large force, headed by Marshall Kane, followed by a 
mob, who at once attacked the volunteers and were countenanced by the 


278 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


police sent to give safe conduct through the city. The troops were or¬ 
dered to maintain their discipline. 

When in the center of the city, the regulars under Lieutenant Pember¬ 
ton marched off toward Fort McHenry leaving the volunteers to pursue 
their march to Camden station. This seemed to be a signal to the mob, 
and at once the air was filled with flying missiles, while every species of 
oath and imprecation were flung at the volunteers as they marched 
forward. Not a man made a reply, but steadily, sternly, and un¬ 
dauntedly the five companies of Pennsylvanians moved over the cobble- 
stoned streets of the city. At every step the mob increased, but with 
unblanched faces and martial step the brave men never for one moment 
wavered, marching like veterans as the mob gave way before and around 
them as they forced their passage to the depot. 

The mob believed that a portion of the Logan Guards carried loaded 
guns, because their half-cocked pieces displayed percussion caps, but in 
reality there was not a load of powder and ball in the entire five com¬ 
panies. Nevertheless, the feint of displaying the caps, which was done 
partly as a jest on leaving the cars at Bolton Station, saved the men 
from the bloody attack which was hurled the next day at the force of 
Massachusetts troops passing through the city. As it was, when the 
troops were boarding the cars at Camden station, the infuriated rabble 
who had dogged their steps, hurled bricks, stones, clubs and mud into 
their disorganized ranks, without, fortunately, injuring a single vol¬ 
unteer. 

Attempts were made to throw the cars from the track, to detach the 
locomotive, and even to break the driving mechanism of the engine, all of 
which failed, and the train pulled out of the station amid the demoniac 
yells of the disappointed ruffians whose thirst for blood was now 
aroused to a savage fury. 

The solicitude of Governor Curtin for the safe transportation of 
these troops through Baltimore was intense. He remained at the tele¬ 
graph office in Harrisburg receiving dispatches which depicted the stir¬ 
ring scenes in the streets of Baltimore. When it was finally announced 
that the trains had passed out of reach of their assailants with the men 
safely aboard, he emphatically declared that not another Pennsylvania 
soldier should march through Baltimore unarmed, but fully prepared to 
defend himself. 

At 7 o’clock in the evening of the eighteenth, the five Pennsylvania 
companies reached Washington, the first troops which arrived from any 
State to defend the National Capital. On July 22 Congress adopted a 
resolution commending these Pennsylvania volunteers for the gallantry 
displayed in passing through the Baltimore mob and reaching Washing¬ 
ton so promptly. It is of interest to note that our own Pennsylvanian, 
Galusha A. Grow, was then Speaker of the House of Representatives 
and signed this resolution. 


CAMP CURTIN 


279 


Training of Troops Began at Camp Curtin, 
April 19, 1861 

HEN the First Defenders departed from Camp Curtin and 
were the first troops which arrived at Washington from any 
State to defend the National Capital, the real activities of 
this famous training camp began. 

Beginning on the morning of April 19 every inbound 
train brought troops to Harrisburg, and soon Camp Curtin 
was a hive of activity. 

Eli Seifer, Secretary of the Commonwealth, assumed the discharge 
of certain military functions, such as replying to telegraphic offer of 
troops, etc., but beginning April 19, Captain G. A. C. Seiler, the 
commandant, assumed the responsibilities, and displayed great energy. 
His administration was characterized by earnestness and activity, until 
by exposure and over-work, he contracted a disease from which he died. 
He was succeeded July 31 by Colonel John H. Taggart, of Philadelphia. 

Colonel Taggart was the editor of the Sunday Times, in Phila¬ 
delphia, and when the news of hostilities reached there, he raised a 
company of volunteers called “The Wayne Guards” and marched them 
from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. They arrived at Camp Curtin 
June 7. 

Governor Curtin was not over sanguine that the war was likely to 
be concluded at the first contest so when the responses to the first call 
for volunteers brought enough to make twenty-five regiments instead 
of only the eight asked for, the Governor did not disband them, but 
directed that they preserve their organizations, and immediately applied 
to the Legislature for authority to form a corps of thirteen regiments 
of infantry, one of cavalry, and one of artillery, to be organized and 
equipped by the State, to be subject to the call of the National Govern¬ 
ment if needed, and at all times to be in readiness for immediate service. 

On May 15, the Legislature passed an act authorizing the organiza¬ 
tion of the “Reserve Volunteer Corps of the Commonwealth,” and 
Governor Curtin issued his call for men to compose the corps, and 
apportioned the number that would be received from each county, in 
order that each section of the State and every class of its people should 
be duly represented in it. 

Four camps of instruction were established; one at Easton, under 
command of Colonel William B. Mann, of Philadelphia; one at West 
Chester, under Captain Henry M. Mclntire, of West Chester; one at 
Pittsburgh, under Colonel John W. McLean; and one at Camp Curtin, 
Harrisburg, under Colonel G. A. C. Seiler, of Harrisburg. 








280 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


George A. McCall, a graduate of the West Point Military Academy, 
of the class of 1822, a distinguished soldier in the war with Mexico, 
was appointed a Major General to command the corps. General Mc¬ 
Call immediately organized his staff by appointing Henry J. Biddle, 
Assistant Adjutant General, and Henry Sheets and Eldrige McConkey, 
Aids-de-Camp. Subsequently, Professor Henry Coppee was attached 
to the staff as Inspector General. 

On June 22 two of the regiments were ordered to Cumberland, Md., 
and soon afterward rendered excellent service at New Creek and Pied¬ 
mont, in West Virginia until ordered to the lower Potomac regions. 

On July 22, the day after the disaster at Bull Run, a requisition 
was made on the State for its Reserve Corps, and as quickly as the means 
of transportation could be provided, eleven thousand of these troops, 
fully armed and equipped, were sent to the defenses of Washington, 
and a few days later the regiments were mustered into the United States 
service for three years, or during the war. 

This was the beginning of the Pennsylvania Reserves, an organiza¬ 
tion, which, during the later years of the war, won fame on many 
battlefields, and many of whose members sleep beneath the sod in 
Southern States. Their skill was everywhere recognized, and no others 
were more renowned for bravery. 

Reverend A. S. Williams who gave the historical address on the 
occasion of the dedication of the statue to Governor Curtin on the site 
of Camp Curtin, among other interesting facts said: “When General 
McDowell’s soldiers were defeated at Bull’s Run, the trained Penn¬ 
sylvania Reserve Regiment from Camp Curtin, steadied the Government 
at Washington. When General Lee attempted to invade the North in 
1862, Governor Curtin called for fifty thousand volunteers, and a strong 
reserve was maintained at Camp Curtin ready to march at a moment’s 
notice. 

“During the early months of the war, on one occasion trucks were 
pushed on the tracks of the railroad to the east of the Camp and a 
Brigade of Soldiers stepped on them and was carried by way of Hunting¬ 
don over the Broad Top Railroad to Hopewell; from here they marched 
through Bedford to Cumberland, Md. For two months these soldiers 
protected this community from the harrassing enemy. 

“In June 1863 when the people of the State became apprehensive lest 
Harrisburg and Philadelphia fall into the hands of General Lee, again 
the troops from Camp Curtin met the enemy but a few miles from 
Harrisburg along the Carlisle Pike.” 

Camp Curtin was available and often used as an Army hospital. 

Among the commanders at Camp Curtin besides those above men¬ 
tioned were Colonel Thomas Welsh, of Lancaster; Colonel Charles J. 
Biddle, of Philadelphia; and Colonel James A. Beaver, afterwards Gen¬ 
eral and later Governor of Pennsylvania. 


COSHOCTON DESTROYED 


281 


Governor Curtin, after all, was the leading spirit in this greatest of 
Army Camps and it is appropriate that the words on a bronze tablet 
on his statue should read: “His administration of the Gubernatorial 
office during the dark days of the Republic made an imperishable name 
for his family, and added historic grandeur to the annals of the 
Commonwealth.” 


f 

Colonel Brodhead Destroyed Indian Town 
of Coshocton, April 20, 1781 

OLONEL DANIEL BRODHEAD, the commandant at Fort 
Pitt, had not been able to execute his design to lead a force 
against the Wyandot and Shawnee Indian towns in Ohio. He 
had expected to obtain the help of the Delaware warriors at 
Coshocton for this expedition, but in the spring of 1781, a 
change in the situation impelled him to strike at the Delaware. 

Until December, 1780, the Delaware took no part, as a nation,-, in 
the warfare against the frontiers of Pennsylvania, and the alliance with 
the United States, made by their three principal chiefs in the autumn 
of 1778, was outwardly observed for more than two years. The death 
of their noted chief, White Eyes, which occurred from an attack of 
smallpox, at Pittsburgh, November, 1778, w T as followed by the election 
of Killbuck, or Gelelemand, the celebrated sachem, who proved himself 
to be an unswerving friend of the Americans. Chief Killbuck found 
himself the leader of the minority of his nation, but his influence was 
sufficient to delay the union of the Delaware with the other hostile 
Indian nations. 

The Americans gave no presents to the Indians and had little else 
of value to offer them, while the British, especially those at the Detroit 
post, gave them not only alluring promises but showered many valuable 
presents upon them. It was then only a matter of time until the 
Shawnee, Seneca, Miami, Wyandot and other Indians hostile to the 
Americans could persuade the Delaware to join with them in war 
against the Colonists. Captain Pipe was the principal Delaware chief 
who had long led the war party and finally controlled their determina¬ 
tion to take up the hatchet. 

In February, 1781, a council was held at Coshocton, at which Kill- 
buck was not present, being then on an important mission to Fort Pitt, 
and the Delaware yielded to the pressure and voted to join in warfare 
against the borders of Pennsylvania and Virginia. 

Killbuck was afraid to return to Coshocton, as he learned of threats 
against his life, so he made his home with the Moravians and their 
converted Indians at Salem, on the western branch of the Tuscarawas 







282 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


River, fourteen miles below New Philadelphia. Here he professed 
Christianity and was baptized and received the Christian name William 
Henry, in honor of a distinguished citizen of Lancaster, Pa. He was 
afterward commissioned by the United States Congress and was proud 
to call himself “Colonel Henry.” When he removed his family to Salem 
he took also with him the family of White Eyes and other Delaware 
Indians, including the aged warriors Big Cat and Nonowland. 

Killbuck wrote a long letter to Colonel Brodhead informing him of 
the hostile action of the council at Coshocton. The missionary, the 
Reverend John Heckewelder, who penned this letter, also sent another 
by the same messenger, John Montour, in which he suggested an expedi¬ 
tion against Coshocton. 

Colonel Brodhead at once determined to attack the place and punish 
the Delaware for their perfidy. The Pennsylvania Government gave 
him much assistance and a supply of provisions, but his force of regular 
troops at Fort Pitt had been reduced, from various causes, to about 200 
men. He made a call for assistance to the officers of the border counties, 
but no troops were furnished by them. Colonel David Shepherd, county 
lieutenant of Ohio County, Virginia (now Green*County, Pa.) however, 
sent him a body of excellent volunteers consisting of 134 Virginia 
militiamen, arranged in four companies, under Captains John Ogle, 
Benjamin Royce, Jacob Leffler and William Crawford. These men 
were hardy young farmers from the settlements in Washington County; 
most of them rode their own horses, and cheerfully responded to Colonel 
Shepherd’s call. 

These troops rendezoused at Fort Henry, the stockade at Wheeling, 
where Colonel Brodhead and his command joined them. On Tuesday, 
April 19, the little army of 300 was ferried over the Ohio River and 
marched over the Indian trail for Muskingum River. John Montour, 
Nonowland and Delaware braves joined the Americans to fight their 
own treacherous tribesmen. 

The purpose was to march rapidly and take the village of Coshocton 
by surprise; yet it required ten days to reach that place on account of 
severe weather and unusually heavy rains. A short pause was made at 
Salem, where Colonel Brodhead held a conference with the Reverend 
John Heckewelder. 

He learned there were no Christian Indians at Coshocton. The 
Moravians were to prepare corn and cattle for the soldiers against the 
return march. The missionary then hastened back to Gnadenhuetten 
and Salem to carry the news that the Americans were in the country and 
Killbuck and his warriors again donned the war paint to join the 
Continentals against other savages. 

Although it required ten days to reach the Muskingum, the Delaware 
were taken by surprise. They had no expectation that the Americans 
would act so promptly and, on account of stormy weather, they were 


GERMANTOWN ACADEMY 


283 


careless and kept out no scouts. Then some of the principal chiefs were 
at Detroit, in attendance at a big council with De Peyster, the British 
governor. 

On Friday morning, April 20, during a heavy downpour, the advance 
guard came upon three Indians in the woods, not more than a mile dis¬ 
tant from Coshocton. One of the savages was captured, but the two 
others escaped to the town and gave the alarm. The captured Indian 
said there were not many warriors at home, that a band of forty had 
just returned from a border raid, with scalps and prisoners, but had 
crossed to the farther side of the river, a few miles above the town, to 
enjoy a drunken revel. 

Brodhead hurried forward and dashed into the Indian capital, find¬ 
ing but fifteen warriors there, who made a brave resistance, but every 
one was either killed by rifle ball or tomahawked by an American 
soldier. The mounted men were first in the town and they would not 
accept surrender or suffer the wounded to linger long in agony. No 
harm was done to any of the old men, women or children, of whom 
more than a score were captured. These were removed and every build¬ 
ing in Coshocton set on fire. A great quantity of peltry and other stores 
was taken and forty head of cattle furnished good food for the hungry 
soldiers. 

As a result of the Coshocton campaign the hostile Delaware migrated 
to the headwaters of the Sandusky and other places farther westward, 
while the adherents of Chief Killbuck and those friendly to the Amer¬ 
icans moved to Pittsburgh and erected their rude' wigwams on Smoky 
Island, sometimes called Killbuck Island, at the northern side of the 
junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers. 

Cornerstones Laid for Germantown 
Academy, April 21, 1760 

Y THE year 1760, the French and Indian War had narrowed 
its area and was confined chiefly to Canada. This was then a 
period of development in and about Philadelphia. 

The Germantown Academy was organized January 1, 
1760, and four cornerstones were laid with appropriate cere¬ 
monies, April 21, 1760. 

This ancient and honorable institution was originated in a meeting 
held December 6, 1759, at the house of Daniel Mackinet, when it was 
resolved to start a subscription for erecting a large and commodious 
building near the center of the town for the use of an English and 
High Dutch School, with suitable dwelling houses for the teachers. 
Christopher Meng, Christopher Sower, Baltus Reser, Daniel Machinet, 
John Jones, and Charles Bensell were appointed to solicit and receive 
subscriptions. 








284 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


At the organization meeting held by the contributors, January 1, 
1760, Richard Johnson was appointed treasurer, and Christopher Sower, 
Thomas Rosse, John Jones, Daniel Mackinet, Jacob Rizer, John Bow¬ 
man, Thomas Livezey, David Dreshler, George Absentz, Joseph Gallo¬ 
way, Charles Bensell, Jacob Naglee and Benjamin Engle were chosen 
trustees. 

The trustees purchased a lot from George Bringhurst in Bensell’s 
Lane, subsequently called Schoolhouse Lane. The institution was named 
Germantown Union High School House. 

It was also decided that the school should be free to persons of all 
religious denominations. 

The buildings were completed by the following year, when the school 
was opened in September. 

The schoolhouse was eighty feet long and forty feet wide, two stories 
high, and six schoolrooms, and wings supplying two dwelling houses for 
the use of the masters. 

The Academy is a long-fronted building of rough gray stone topped 
by a quaint little belfry tower, and with small stone houses on either 
side, which balance the pleasing effect. There is a worn stone sill, which 
doubtless is the same upon which Washington stepped when he visited 
the institution. 

Hilarius Becker made his appearance as the German teacher, with 
seventy pupils, and David James Dove as the English teacher, with 
sixty-one pupils and Thomas Pratt was the English usher. 

Although the mass of people used the German language, these num¬ 
bers show that those of the English-speaking tongue were rapidly creep¬ 
ing on them. 

David James Dove was one of the most famous characters in old 
Philadelphia. He had formerly taught grammar sixteeen years at Chi¬ 
chester, England. He was an excellent master and his scholars made 
surprising progress. He was the first English teacher in Franklin’s 
Academy, and then conducted a school of his own in Vidells Alley before 
he became the first English teacher in the new academy at Ger¬ 
mantown. 

He became rather overbearing and also divided too much of his 
time with private scholars, and in 1763 the trustees tried to remove him, 
but he refused to be removed, even though Pelatiah Webster had already 
been appointed as his successor. Dove held possession of the schoolhouse 
and declared he would not retire. Finally Joseph Galloway and Thomas 
Wharton were charged with the duty of dealing with Dove. 

Of course, Dove made way after a time for his successor, but for 
many years he continued to teach a private school in Germantown. 

Dove’s method of reclaiming truants was to send a committee of five 
or six boys in search of them with a lighted lantern and a bell and in 
an odd equipage in broad daylight. The bell was always tinkling as 


GERMANTOWN ACADEMY 285 

they went about the town, and soon they would bring the culprits back 
filled with shame. 

The progress of the academy was most satisfactory, for in 1764 
Greek, Latin and the higher mathematics were taught. In the early 
severities additional ground in the rear of the lot was obtained. 

The rudiments of good manners were taught along with those of 
learning, but it was expressly enjoined that youths of Quaker parentage 
should not be required to take off their hats in saluting the teachers. 

In March, 1761, a lottery scheme was put forth to raise £1125 for 
the use of this school. Another lottery the same year was for the Ger¬ 
mantown Public School. The academy lottery consisted of 6667 tickets 
at $3 to raise $3000. 

As the Revolution approached, and, at last, swept over them, the 
school experienced troubled times; it was difficult even to get a quorum 
of the trustees. 

In July, 1777, a new teacher was appointed because Thomas Dungan, 
the master of the English school, had joined the American army. 

After the Battle of Germantown the academy was used by the 
British as a hospital. Some twenty feet to the east of the back part of 
the grounds six British soldiers, who died of their wounds, were buried 
in what was Dreshler’s lot. 

After the war the revival was slow. In 1784 a charter was obtained 
incorporating it as the “Public School at Germantown,” which was 
amended in 1786. The school was poor, the State could not furnish 
much assistance and contributions were solicited. These and the increase 
in the enrollment kept the Academy forging ahead. In 1808 another 
lottery was held which yielded about $500, but John Bowman, the 
treasurer, refused to receive the money. 

In the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 the Legislature of Pennsylvania 
and the Congress of the United States made proposals for an occupation. 
It was given to Congress, on the rather easy terms of the restoration of 
“104 panes of glass, two window shutters, two door linings, three door 
locks, the steps front and back both of new wood, the hearths to be laid 
with new bricks, sundry patchings and white washing for which repairs 
and no others, the sum of $60 will be allowed out of the rent, which 
is to be $300 for one session.” 

In the yellow fever of 1798 the use of the lower floor and cellar was 
granted to the Banks of North America and Pennsylvania, they agreeing 
as compensation to paint the building and to renew its roof. 

The centennial anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone was 
celebrated with great enthusiasm April 21, 1860, by ringing the bell, 
parade, 100 guns, and in the evening an address by John S. Littell and 
an oration by Sidney George Foster. 

These are only incidents in the career of more than 160 years, and 
the Academy has long been one of the most celebrated in the country. 


286 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Eccentric John Mason’s Leaning Tower on 
Blue Hill Destroyed April 22, 1864 

RAVELERS up and down both branches of the Susquehanna 
River years ago will well remember the leaning tower high up 
on Blue Hill, opposite Northumberland. This peculiar build¬ 
ing hung over a precipice and viewed from the river level, 
looked as if a breath of air would topple it to the rocks below. 
It was built by John Mason, who owned a farm of ninety 
acres of land on the hill, and who, from his eccentricities, came to be 
known as the “Hermit of Blue Hill.” 

The tower, which was built as an observatory, was about sixteen 
by eighteen feet, two stories in height and of octagonal shape. It leaned 
at an angle of about twenty-two degrees and for safety was clamped to 
the rock upon which it was built with strong iron rods. The roof was 
flat, and there was a railing around it for protection of those who had 
courage to go upon it and look down the frightful precipice. 

The view from the roof of “John Mason’s Leaning Tower,” as it 
was called, was one of superlative grandeur. Both the North and 
West Branches of the Susquehanna, as well as the main stream below 
their confluence, the maj’estic hills and pretty towns of Northumberland 
and Sunbury could all be taken in one panoramic view. Blue Hill at 
this point is 301 feet in height, as determined by the engineers who laid 
out the railroad in after years. 

The leaning tower was built very near the spot one now sees, in 
seeking the. profile of old “Shikellamy,” which would be located about 
where the top of the forehead would be seen. The tower was almost 
destroyed by visitors who cut their initials upon everything of wood, 
until it was entirely covered by these characters. 

John Mason built this odd-looking house in 1839. William Henry 
did the carpenter work. It stood there until the spring of 1864—a 
period of twenty-five years—when, on a Sunday afternoon, April 22, it 
was destroyed by a party of railroad men in a spirit of deviltry. They 
loosened its moorings and the curious tower rolled down the rocky 
precipice with a tremendous crash and landed on a raft of logs passing 
down stream. 

Its destruction removed one of the oddest, as well as one of the 
most conspicuous, landmarks along the Susquehanna River. 

There are several stories related of John Mason’s eccentricities and 
the motives which induced him to erect this leaning tower. 

About the time the vandals destroyed the tower a most interesting 
novel was written entitled “Eros and Antiros,” which story was woven 
about this scene and its unusual builder. In fact, John Mason was 






JOHN MASON’S LEANING TOWER 


287 


the hero of the story. The author, being a personal acquaintance, may 
have written from a knowledge of the facts. 

In the story John Mason had been disappointed in a love affair and 
sought this manner to remove himself from the busier world and to 
live and die in seclusion. 

Another version of the eccentric John Mason’s leaning tower is that 
it was his eyrie, where he gathered together a rare collection of queer 
old English books—they sold at 75 cents the bushel-basketful at his sale 
—and here he slung his hammock and here he read his books. 

That story says John Mason’s father was a Quaker, living in 
Philadelphia, an old acquaintance of James Jenkins, Jr., at Turtle Creek, 
opposite the town of Northumberland, at the base of Blue Hill, who said 
to him one day, speaking of his son John, that he was a restless fellow 
and wanted to go to sea, and that it would be the death of his mother. 
“Can’t thee take him out with thee?” Jenkins replied that it was a 
wild place and not likely to suit the taste of one who wanted to go 
sea-faring. 

But John Mason did go up into the wilderness, engaged in the 
mercantile business for a time at Northumberland, then moved his stock 
of merchandise to the western side of the river and opened a store at 
Turtle Creek. 

John Mason never recognized or became intimate with women. One 
evening at the Jenkins home, Mason came in as was his custom from 
the store, about 9 o’clock, and seated himself by the ample fireplace to 
read a book. There was a number of young people in the room, who 
were playing pawns and forfeits. One pretty girl was condemned in a 
whisper, to kiss John Mason. He was apparently paying no attention 
to the others, but, as she slyly approached within reaching distance, he 
raised the tongs between them, saying, “Not one step nearer.” 

Jenkins and he went alternately to Philadelphia to buy goods. 
Mason always walked there and back. He lived to an extreme age and 
was buried on his hill-top. 

So much for that story. It is generally accepted that John Mason 
was of English origin, born in Philadelphia, December 7, 1768, and died 
on the farm of Colonel Meens above the present city of Williamsport, 
April 25, 1849. 

During his life at the Blue Hill home, it is told of him that he was 
a sterling athlete, and could skate to Harrisburg in half a day; that he 
often walked to Williamsport, always carrying an old umbrella. His 
eccentricities were much talked about in his day. 

During the winter following his death his remains were removed by 
friends, on a sled and carried to the scene of his hermit life, and buried 
under the wide spreading branches of a chestnut tree a few yards in the 
rear of his leaning tower. A neat marble tombstone, properly inscribed, 
was erected to mark the place of his burial. 


288 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


This grave has long since been so trampled upon by curious visitors, 
that it was entirely obliberated many years ago. Relic hunters so de¬ 
faced the stone that it was removed to a neighboring farm house for 
preservation. This is all that remains by which to remember John 
Mason, “The Hermit of Blue Hill,” the builder of the “Leaning 
Tower.” 


James Buchanan, Pennsylvania’s Only Presi¬ 
dent, Born April 23, 1791 

AMES BUCHANAN, Pennsylvania’s only President of the 
United States, was born in a little settlement which bore the 
odd name of Stony Batter, near Mercersburg, Franklin County, 
Pa., April 23, 1791. 

Among the Scotch-Irish, whose enterprise brought them to 
America, was James Buchanan, a native of Donegal, Ireland. 
He settled in Franklin County in 1783, where he set up a store, married 
Elizabeth Speer, daughter of a farmer of Adams County, a woman of 
remarkable native intellect, and distinguished for her good sense and rare 
literary taste. 

Many a man has owed his success to his mother. James Buchanan 
said: “My mother was a remarkable woman. The daughter of a 
country farmer, engaged in household employment from early life until 
after my father’s death, she yet found time to read much and to reflect 
on it. What she read once she remembered forever. For her sons she 
was a delightful and instructive companion. I attribute any distinction 
which I may have gained to the blessing which God conferred upon me 
in granting me such a mother.” 

After he was grown a man, James might often be found sitting in 
the kitchen to talk with his mother while she worked. 

In 1798 James Buchanan, the elder, removed to Mercersburg, where 
his son received his academical education and made such progress that 
his parents determined to give him the benefit of a collegiate course. 

He entered Dickinson College at Carlisle at the age of fourteen. 
Here he found that many of the students did very much as they pleased. 
“To be a sober, industrious, plodding youth,” said Buchanan afterwards, 
“was to incur the ridicule of the mass of students.” Pie imitated the 
maj'ority and soon learned that he was not longer desired as a student. 
Knowing his father would not help him out of his plight, he turned to 
the pastor of his church, and by his aid James received another chance 
and made good use of it. He graduated in June, 1809. 

In December, following, he commenced to study law with James 
Hopkins, of Lancaster. He applied himself, “determined” said he, “that 
if severe application would make me a good lawyer, I should not fail. 









JAMES BUCHANAN 


289 


I studied law and nothing but law.” He was admitted to practice 
November 17, 1812, and at once took the first rank in his profession. 
So successful was he, that when but forty years old he had acquired 
means that enabled him to retire from the profession. 

When the British burned the Capitol at Washington and threatened 
Baltimore, James Buchanan displayed his patriotism by enlisting as a 
private in the company commanded by Captain Henry Shipman, which 
marched from Lancaster to the defense of Baltimore and with which 
he served until honorably discharged. 

In October, 1814, he was selected a representative in the Legislature, 
and re-elected. His intention, however, was to return to the practice of 
law and stay out of political office. A sad event changed the current of 
Buchanan’s life. 

A young woman, to whom Buchanan was engaged in early manhood, 
a daughter of the wealthiest family in the county, wrote him a letter of 
dismissal under the spell of jealousy which had been aroused by gossips. 
Pride on both sides kept the two apart until their separation was made 
irrevocable by her sudden death. In grief and horror, the young lover 
wrote to the father of the dead girl, begging the privilege of looking 
upon her remains and of following them to the grave. But the letter 
was returned to him unopened. 

Four and forty years passed, and Buchanan went to his grave without 
ever having taken any other woman to his heart. 

To help him forget his grief, Buchanan accepted the nomination for 
Congress. He did not expect to win but did, and his career thence¬ 
forward became political. He served five terms and at the end of his 
service the Democrats of Pennsylvania brought forward his name for 
the vice presidency. Then President Jackson appointed him Minister to 
Russia. In this position he concluded the first commercial treaty 
between the United States and Russia, securing to our seamen important 
privileges in the Baltic and Black Seas. 

In 1833, on his return to the United States, he was elected United 
States Senator, taking his seat December 15, 1834. 

President Van Buren offered Buchanan the place of Attorney Gen¬ 
eral, but it was declined. When Polk became President, the post of 
Secretary of State was offered and accepted. The most pressing question 
Buchanan had before him was the northern boundary of the Oregon 
Territory. Buchanan closed this transaction with Great Britain in 
1846, and completed our boundary line to the Pacific. 

At the close of Polk’s Administration, Buchanan retired to private 
life at his country home, called Wheatland, just outside of Lancaster. 
A niece and nephew were taken into his home and raised as his own 
children. 

When Pierce became President, on March 4, 1853, Buchanan was 
sent as United States Minister to England. On his return from this 


10 


290 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


mission he was nominated and elected to the presidency, and inaugurated 
March 4, 1857. 

Buchanan clung to the idea that freedom rather than slavery was 
to blame for all the trouble. He believed that since this Government 
had permitted slavery when the Union was formed, the Nation had no 
right to interfere with it in States already in the Union. 

When South Carolina seceded he was within ten weeks of the end 
of his term, with a hostile Congress in front of him and behind him a 
country as resolute as himself. 

Buchanan lived quietly at Wheatland and saw the Rebellion begin 
and triumphantly end. 

Whatever the writers of history may say concerning the wisdom of 
Buchanan’s political ideas, no one can deny the honesty of his character. 
No President could have been more careful to set a good example to 
others. He considered that his time belonged to the Nation. When 
presented with gifts of any value, he at once returned them to the 
sender. 

In his travels he paid his own fare, and never used a pass even when 
out of office. “When I cannot afford to pay my way,” he declared, “I 
will stay at home.” 

His niece, Harriet Lane, while “Mistress of the White House,” took 
a trip to West Point on a Government vessel which had been named 
after her. Her uncle wrote to her that national vessels should not be 
employed on pleasure excursions, and that he would put a stop to the 
practice. 

James Buchanan died at Wheatland, June 1, 1868. 


News of Revolution Reached Philadelphia by 
Messenger, April 24, 1775 

T 5 O’CLOCK in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 24, 1775, 
an express rider came galloping into Philadelphia from Tren¬ 
ton, with the greatest possible haste, excitement in his looks 
and on his lips. The rider hurried up to the City Tavern, 
where the people crowded in eagerness to learn of his mission. 
Members of the Committee of Correspondence were in the 
crowd and to these the rider delivered his dispatch. It was a brief and 
hurried message, but it had come a long route and it was big with the 
fate of a nation. 

It was a dispatch from Watertown, dated April 19, announcing that 
General Gage’s men had marched out of Boston the night before, 
crossed to Cambridge, fired on and killed the militia at Lexington, 
destroyed a store at Concord, were now on the retreat and hotly pur¬ 
sued. Many were killed on both sides and the country was rising. 







NEWS OF REVOLUTION ARRIVES 


291 


The message had come by way of Worchester, where it was vised 
by the town clerk. It then went to Brookline, Thursday, 20th, and 
was forwarded at 4 o’clock in the afternoon from Norwich; at 7 
that evening it was expressed from New London. 

The committee at Lynn received, copied and started the rider with 
it at 1 o’clock Friday morning. It came to Saybrook before sun-up. At 
breakfast time another messenger took it up to Killingworth. At 8 
o’clock it was at East Guilford; at 10 in Guilford, and at noon in 
Brandford. It was sent from New Haven with further details on Sat¬ 
urday, and dispatched from the New York committee rooms 4 o’clock 
Sunday afternoon. It reached New Brunswick at 2 o’clock Monday 
morning, Princeton at 6 o’clock in the evening and Trenton at 9 o’clock 
Tuesday morning. It was indorsed: “Rec’d the above p. express and 
forwarded the same to the Committee of Philadelphia.” 

Thus was the news of the actual opening battle of the Revolution 
carried by express riders from Watertown to Philadelphia, which had 
been selected as the seat of Government for the Thirteen Colonies. 

Two days later another express came into Philadelphia bringing 
fuller particulars of “the Battle of Lexington,” as that memorable fight 
has since been called. 

The news of Lexington arrived too late in the day to spread at 
once over the city. But next morning every man, woman and child 
knew it, and, borne by intense patriotic feeling the people assembled in 
public meeting, as if by common consent at the State House. 

There were 8000 persons present, and all seemed to be actuated 
with but a single purpose. The Committee of Correspondence took 
charge of the meeting and its authority was recognized and accepted. 

Only one resolution was proposed and adopted, to “associate to¬ 
gether, to defend with arms their property, liberty and lives against 
all attempts to deprive them of it,” and then, with impatience and eager¬ 
ness, to action. The time for words was passed. The time for organi¬ 
zation* arming, drilling and marching had coihe. 

The enrollment began at this meeting. The committee besought all 
who had arms to let them know, so that they might be purchased and 
secured. The associates availed themselves of their existing organiza¬ 
tion to turn themselves forthwith into military companies. 

It was agreed that two troops of light horse, two companies of rifle¬ 
men and two companies of artillery, with brass and iron field pieces, 
should be formed immediately. 

Drilling was started at once, and the progress was so marked that 
the companies were ready to parade by May 10, when they turned out 
to receive Continental Congress, and also to honor John Hancock. 

The foot company and riflemen turned out to meet the Southern 
delegates to Congress at Gray’s Ferry. The officers of all the com¬ 
panies mounted, went out to meet the Eastern delegates and Hancock. 


292 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The associators’ organization was officered as follows: First Bat¬ 
talion, John Dickinson, colonel; John Chevalier, lieutenant colonel; 
Jacob Morgan and William Coates, majors. Second Battalion, Daniel 
Roderdeau, colonel; Joseph Reed, lieutenant colonel; John Cox and 
John Bayard, majors. Third Battalion, John Cadwallader, colonel; 
John Nixon, lieutenant colonel; Thomas Mifflin and Samuel Merideth, 
majors. 

Peter Markoe was captain of the light horse, Joseph Cowperthwait 
of the Quaker Blues, James Biddle, Benjamin Loxley, Thomas Proctor 
and Joseph Moulder, were officers of the artillery, and Richard Peters, 
Tench Francis, William Bradford and Lambert Cadwallader were in 
command of the Greens. John Shee, John Wilcocks, Thomas Willing, 
Francis Gurney and others were of the staff. 

The battalions, mustering 1500 men, all uniformed and equipped, 
and 500 artillerymen and troops of horse, gave a drill early in June 
in the presence of the “honorable members of the Continental Congress 
and several thousand spectators.” 

The troops were reviewed by General Washington on June 20 and 
next day he set out for Boston escorted across New Jersey by the cavalry 
troop. 

On June 23, the associators listened to an eloquent sermon by the 
Reverend Dr. William Smith. 

They petitioned the Assembly, setting forth a full and detailed ac¬ 
count of their organization into companies, etc., and asked that they be 
put into service at once. Neither the Governor nor the Council had the 
power or funds to comply, and even the Congress had no direct author¬ 
ity as yet to raise an army. 

Franklin had returned from England May 5, and the next morning 
he was elected to Congress. But his work on the Committee of Safety 
is really the history of the defense of Philadelphia during the first 
year of the war. 

It was late in June before the Committee of Safety was given 
power to employ the associators, and the city and counties were called 
upon to provide arms and equipment, the House agreeing to pay for 
the service of the troops. 

A committee was named whose duty it was to call troops into the 
service as necessity demanded and to provide for the defense of this 
Province against insurrections and invasion. 

The Committee of Safety met July 3. Franklin was unanimously 
chosen president, and William Govett, clerk. It proceeded to business 
with energy and dispatch. 


FRAME OF GOVERNMENT 


293 


Frame of Government Written by William 
Penn, April 25,1682 

ENN’S remarkable frame of Government, dated April 25, 
1682, was so far in advance of the age that, as Bancroft says, 
“its essential principles remain to this day without change.” 
Another competent critic has said that in it was “the germ if 
not the development of every valuable improvement in Gov¬ 
ernment or legislation which has been introduced into the po¬ 
litical systems of more modern epochs.” 

The government was to consist of the Governor, a Provincial Coun¬ 
cil, and a General Assembly. These bodies, which were to make laws, 
create courts, choose officers and transact public affairs, were to be 
elected by the freemen by ballot. By freemen, were meant hot only 
handholders, but “every inhabitant, artificer, or other resident that pays 
scot or lot to the Government.” Penn believed that “any government 
is free to the people under it, whatever be the frame, where the laws 
rule and the people are a party to those laws, and more than this is 
tyranny, oligarchy or confusion.” 

The “Frame of Government” and the “Laws Agreed Upon in Eng¬ 
land” were the final products of all Penn’s best thinking and confer¬ 
ences, and were brought with him to the Colony. Though changed in 
form many times, they shaped all future Constitutions of Pennsylvania, 
of other States and even the Federal Union. 

This frame was published by Penn, together with certain laws 
agreed on between himself and the purchasers under him, entitled “The 
Frame of the Government of the Province of Pennsylvania, in America; 
together with certain laws, agreed upon in England by the Governor 
and divers of the Free Men of the aforesaid Province. To be further 
Explained and Confirmed there, by the First Provincial Council and 
General Assembly that shall be held, if they seem meet.” 

James Claypoole called it in one of his letters, “the fundamentals 
for government.” In effect it was the first Constitution of Pennsyl¬ 
vania. It was the work of William Penn and reflects precisely some of 
the brightest and some of the much less bright traits of his genius and 
character. 

The “preface” or preamble to this Constitution is curious, for it is 
written as if Penn felt that the eyes of the court were upon him. The 
first two paragraphs form a simple excursus upon the doctrine of the 
law and the transgressor as expounded in St. Paul’s Epistle to the 
Romans: “For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, 
sold under the sin,” etc. From this Penn derives “the divine right of 





294 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


government,” the object of government being two-fold, to terrify evil¬ 
doers and to cherish those who do well “which gives government a life 
beyond corruption (i: e., divine right), and makes it as durable in the 
world as good men should be.” Hence Penn thought that government 
seemed like a part of religion itself, a thing sacred in its institution 
and end. 

“They weakly err,” continues Penn, “that think there is no other 
use of government than correction; which is the coarsest part of it. 
* * * Men side with their passions against their reason, and their 
sinister interests have so strong a bias upon their minds that they lean 
to them against the good of the things they know.” 

The form, he concludes, does not matter much after all, “Any gov¬ 
ernment is free to the people under it (whatever be the frame) where 
the laws rule and the people are a party to these laws.” Good men are 
to be preferred even above good laws. The frame of laws now pub¬ 
lished, Penn adds, “has been carefully contrived to secure the people 
from abuse of power.” 

In the Constitution which follows the preamble, Penn begins by 
confirming to the freemen of the province all the liberties, franchises 
and properties secured to them by the patent of King Charles II. 

After stating how the government was to be organized, he directed 
that the council of seventy-two members, was to be elected at once, 
one-third of the members to go out, and their successors elected each 
year, and after the first seven years those going out each year shall not 
be returned within a year. Two-thirds of the members constituted a 
quorum on all important matters, but twenty-four would suffice on 
minor questions. 

The Governor was to preside and to have three votes. All bills 
should be prepared and proposed by the Council for presentation to the 
General Assembly, which body, on the ninth day should pass or defeat 
such measures as presented. 

To be sure the Provincial Council also was an elective body, but the 
difference was in the fact that it was meant to consist of the Gover¬ 
nor’s friends; it was an aristocratic body, and therefore not entirely 
representative. 

Aside from this fatal defect there is much to praise in Penn’s Con¬ 
stitution and something to wonder at, as being so far in advance of his 
age. 

Besides carefully defining and limiting the executive functions of 
the Governor and Council a wholesome and liberal provision was made 
for education, public schools, inventions and useful scientific discoveries. 

The Constitution could not be altered without the consent of the 
Governor and six-sevenths of the Council and the General Assembly, 
which rule, if enforced, would have perpetuated any Constitution, how¬ 
ever bad. 


INDIANS CAPTURE JAMES McKNIGHT 


295 


On May 15, 1682, Penn’s code of laws, passed in England, to be 
altered or amended in Pennsylvania, was promulgated. It consisted of 
forty statutes, the first of which declared the character or Constitution, 
which has just been analyzed to be “fundamental in the Government 
itself.” 

Regulations as to taxes, trials, prisons and marriage were clearly 
set forth in the code. It was also arranged that every child of twelve 
should be taught some useful trade. Members of the Council and Gen¬ 
eral Assembly, as well as Judges, were to be professing Christians. 
Every one was to be allowed to worship God according to the dictates of 
his own conscience and this not as a mere matter of toleration, but be¬ 
cause it was an inherent right. 

The penalty of death was to be inflicted sparingly; some 200 of¬ 
fenses which were named as capital by English law were to be punished 
in a lighter manner. 

During Penn’s absence there was clashing, dissension and tumult. 
If he could have kept his hand in person on the Government for a 
generation there would have been a wonderful difference in the results 
attained. 


Indians Captured James McKnight, Assem¬ 
blyman, April 26, 1779 

N THE spring of 1779 conditions along the frontier became 
more serious than in any time past. The Indians were more 
active and destroyed growing crops and burned the homes and 
outbuildings of the settlers, whom they murdered or took away 
in captivity. 

The condition was so alarming it was reported to the Su¬ 
preme Executive Council. One such letter, dated “Fort Augusta 27th 
April, 1779” written by Colonel Samuel Hunter, was in part: “I am 
really sorry to inform you of our present Disturbances; not a day, but 
there is some of the Enemy makes their appearances on our Frontiers. 
On Sunday last, there was a party of Savages attact’d the inhabitants 
that lived near Fort Jenkins, and had taken two or three familys pris¬ 
oners, but the Garrison being appris’d of it, about thirty men turned 
out of the Fort and Rescued the Prisoners; the Irldians collecting Them¬ 
selves in a body drov6 our men under Cover of the Fort, with the loss 
of three men kill’d & four Badly Wounded; they burned several houses 
near the Fort, kill’d cattle, & drove off a number of Horses. 

“Yesterday there was another party of Indians, about thirty or forty, 
kill’d and took seven of our militia, that was stationed at a little Fort 
near Muncy Hill, call’d Fort Freeland; there was two or three of the 
inhabitants taken prisoners; among the latter is James McKnight, Esqr., 










296 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


one of our Assemblymen; the same day a party of thirteen of the in¬ 
habitants that went to hunt their Horses, about four or five miles from 
Fort Muncy was fired upon by a large party of Indians, and all taken 
or kill’d except one man. Captain Walker, of the Continental Troops, 
who commands at that post turned out with thirty-four men to the 
place he heard the firing, and found four men kill’d and scalped and 
supposes they Captured ye Remaind’r. 

“This is the way our Frontiers is harrassed by a cruel Savage 
Enemy, so that they cannot get any Spring crops in to induce them to 
stay in the County. I am afraid in a very short time we shall have no 
inhabitants above this place unless when General Hand arrives here he 
may order some of the Troops at Wyoming down on our Frontiers, all 
Col."Hartley’s Regiment, our two month’s men, and what militia we 
can turn out, is very inadequate to guard our Country. 

“I am certain everything is doing for our relief but afraid it will be 
too late for this County, as its impossible to prevail on the inhabitants 
to make a stand, upon account of their Women and Childer. 

“Our case is Really deplorable and alarming, and our County on 
ye Eve of breaking up, as I am informed at the time I am writing 
this by two or three expresses that there is nothing to be seen but 
Desolation, fire & smoke, as the inhabitants is collected at particular 
places, the Enemy burns all their Houses that they have evacuated.” 
The bearer of this important letter was James Hepburn. 

It is a matter of interest that the James McKnight captured at Fort 
Freeland had secured 300 acres of land, April 3, 1769, in what is now 
Union County, where he brought his family. In 1774 they purchased 
three tracts of land “contiguous to and bounded on each other,” on 
Limestone Run, in Turbut Township, Northumberland County. 

In 1776 William McKnight was chosen a member of the Com¬ 
mittee of Safety, and was a most zealous and active patriot. 

Both he and his wife perished at the hands of the Indians, when they 
attempted to make a trip from Fort Freeland, where they had sought 
refuge from the savages. Their only son, James, carried their bodies 
from Fort Freeland to the graveyard now known as Chillisquaque, and 
there buried them himself. 

James McKnight had three sisters. He married Elizabeth Gillen, 
and was regarded as a man of great courage and rectitude. In 1778 he 
was elected to the General Assembly, but did not long survive to 
enjoy the honor. 

The McKnight family had frequent and terrible experiences with 
the Indians. In the autumn of 1778 Mrs. James McKnight and Mrs. 
Margaret Wilson Durham, each with an infant in her arms, started on 
horseback from Fort Freeland to go to Northumberland. Near the 
mouth of Warrior Run, about two miles from the fort, they were fired 
upon by a band of Indians, lying in ambush. Mrs. Durham’s child was 


S.S. SUSQUEHANNA’S FATAL TRIP 


297 


killed in her arms, and she fell from her horse. An Indian rushed out 
of the bushes, scalped her and fled. 

Alexander Guffy and two companions named Peter and Ellis Wil¬ 
liams rushed to the scene of the shooting and when they approached 
Mrs. Durham, whom they supposed dead, they were greatly surprised 
to see her rise up and piteously call for water. With the loss of her 
scalp she presented a horrible appearance. Guffy ran to the river and 
brought water in his hat. They then bound up her head, as best they 
could, and placed her in a canoe and hastily paddled down stream 
fifteen miles to Sunbury, where Colonel William Plunket, also a dis¬ 
tinguished physician, dressed her wounded head, and she recovered. She 
died in 1829, aged seventy-four years. 

Mrs. McKnight escaped unhurt from the surprise attack. The 
shots frightened the horse she was riding, it turned and ran back to the 
fort. Mrs. McKnight came near losing her child, when the horse 
wheeled and the child fell from her arms, but she caught it by the 
foot and held to it until the fort was reached. 

Two sons of Mrs. McKnight, who were accompanying the party 
on foot, attempted to escape by hiding under the bank of the river, but 
were taken by the Indians. 

James Durham, husband of Margaret, was taken at the same time. 
The three prisoners survived their captivity in Canada, and returned to 
their homes at the close of the Revolution in 1783. 

On the eventful day that the little stockade was next attacked, 
April 26, 1779, Hon. James McKnight, was captured by the Indians. 

William McKnight and his wife and James and his wife are in¬ 
terred in the old Chillisquaque burying ground. 


Steam Boat Susquehanna, in Effort to 
Navigate River, Starts Fatal Trip, 

April 27, 1826 

S r 1VEN before the advent of canals or railroads the enterprising 
merchants of Baltimore sensed the importance of facilitating 
the commerce along the great Susquehanna River. 

They believed it would materially enhance their volume 
of business, especially in lumber, iron, grain, and whiskey, if 
^ 1 the river would be freed of such obstructions as impeded or 

hindered navigation. 

Large sums of money were expended in removing rocky channels 
in the river below Columbia, so as to admit the passage of arks and 
rafts down stream, on their way to tide water. A canal had been 
constructed from Port Deposit, northward, in order that the returning 









298 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


craft might avoid the shoals and dangerous reefs along the first ten 
miles above tide water. 

Yet in spite of all these improvements no satisfactory way had been 
found which would return to the producers of the Susquehanna Valley 
such articles of commerce and merchandise as they would naturally 
require in return for the raw products of the forest, field and mine. 

The authorities of Pennsylvania were also awake to the situation, 
as were the citizens. Several attempts had been made to have com¬ 
plete surveys of the river and estimates of the cost of the work re¬ 
quired to make the great river navigable. 

To Baltimore, more than to Pennsylvania, belongs the credit of an 
actual attempt to establish steamboat navigation. 

In 1825 a small steamboat, named the Susquehanna, was built in 
Baltimore and, when launched, was towed up to Port Deposit. 

The Harrisburg Chronicle said: 

“The Susquehanna was expected at Columbia on Sunday night, 
Tuesday’s reports were, that she had not got to Columbia. Eye¬ 
witnesses to her progress put the matter to rest on Wednesday; they 
had seen her a short distance above the head of the Maryland Canal, 
with a posse of men tugging at the ropes, and when they had tugged 
nine miles gave up the job. So ended all the romance about the Sus¬ 
quehanna. She drew too much water (22 inches) for the purpose 
and started at the wrong point. Watermen say that the crookedness 
of the channel, with the rapidity of the current, makes it utterly im¬ 
possible for a steamboat to ascend the falls between the head of the 
canal and Columbia.” 

The Chronicle article says further: “We have a report that Mr. 
Winchester, of Baltimore, has contracted for the building of a steam¬ 
boat at York Haven. We also learn that the York Company are 
making great progress with the sheet-iron steamboat, and that she will 
be launched about the 4th of July.” 

This sheetiron boat was called the Codorus, and early in April 
of the next year ascended the river as far as Binghamton, after which 
she returned to York Haven. Her captain, a Mr. Eiger, reported that 
navigation of the Susquehanna by steam was impracticable. 

Either the original Susquehanna renamed or another steamboat 
built by the Baltmore promoters, and named Susquehanna and Balti¬ 
more was put on the river and operation above Conewago Falls by 
Captain Cornwell, an experienced river pilot. 

She was accompanied on her trial trip on this portion of the river 
by a board of Commissioners of the State of Maryland, Messrs. Pat¬ 
terson, Ellicott and Morris, three distinguished citizens of Baltimore. 
Capt. Cornwell had already in March made several successful trips as 
far up as Northumberland and Danville on the North Branch and to 
Milton on the West Branch, returning to York Haven without accident. 


S.S. SUSQUEHANNA’S FATAL TRIP 


299 


April 17, 1826, the boat started from York Haven, having in tow 
a large keel boat capable of carrying a thousand bushels of wheat, and 
proceeded on her fatal trip, arriving at the Nescopeck Falls at 4 
o’clock on May 3. At these falls there was an outer and an artificial 
inner channel of shallow water for the accommodation of rafts and 
arks. Capt. Cornwell decided after consulting with other river men 
on board, to try first the main, or deep water channel, and the cap¬ 
tain argued that if the boat would not stem it, that he could then drop 
back and try the other one. The boat made a halt in a small eddy 
below the falls on the east side of the river and some of the passengers 
went ashore; this was the case with the Maryland Commissioners. 

The boat was directed into the main channel, and had proceeded 
perhaps two-thirds of the distance through the falls, when she ceased 
to make further progress, the engine was stopped and she was per¬ 
mitted to drift back to the foot of the rapid, where she struck upon a 
wall dividing the artificial from the main channel, and at that instant 
one of her boilers exploded. 

The scene was as awful as the imagination can picture. Two of 
the passengers on board, named John Turk and Heber Whitmarsh, 
raftmen from Chenango, N.Y., were instantly killed; William Camp, 
a merchant from Owego, was fatally scalded by escaping steam. Dave 
Rose, of Chenango, N. Y., was fatally injured. Quincy Maynard, the 
engineer, as stated in the account published in the Danville Watch¬ 
man, one week after the occurrence, was not expected to recover. 
Christian Brobst, of Catawissa and Jeremiah Miller, of Juniata, were 
seriously injured. Messrs. Woodside, Colt and Underwood, of Dan¬ 
ville, were more or less injured, as were Messrs. Barton, Hurley, Fos¬ 
ter and Colonel Paxton, of Catawissa, and Benjamin Edwards, of 
Braintrim, Luzerne County. 

It was said by somebody on board that at the time of the explosion, 
a passenger was holding down the lever of the safety valve, but why 
this should be done after the boat had ceased her efforts to pull 
through is difficult to conjecture. Thus ended the second attempt to 
navigate the Susquehanna by steam power. 


300 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Shawnee Indians Murder Conestoga Tribes¬ 
men April 28, 1728 

WO Shawnee Indians cruelly murdered a man and a woman 
of the Conestoga tribe, April 28, 1728. John Wright, of 
Hempfield, wrote from Lancaster, May 2, advising James 
Logan of this murder, and that the Conestoga have demanded 
of the Shawnee the surrender of the murderers. He further 
wrote that some Shawnee had brought the Shawnee mur¬ 
derers as far as Peter Chartier’s house, but there the party engaged in 
a drinking bout and through the connivance of Chartier the two mur¬ 
derers escaped. 

Chartier was an Indian trader among the Shawnee and was himself 
a half-blood Shawnee. He had traded for a time on the Pequea Creek 
and at Paxtang. Later he settled at the Shawnee town on the west side 
of the Susquehanna, at the mouth of the Yellow Breeches Creek, the 
present site of New Cumberland. He later removed on the Cone- 
maugh, then to the Allegheny, about 1734. 

The action upon the part of Chartier incensed the Conestoga so 
much that they threatened to wipe out the whole section of the 
Shawnee. 

John Wright further states in his letter, “Yesterday there came 
seventeen or eighteen of the young men, commanded by Tilehausey, all 
Conestoga Indians, painted for war, all armed. We inquired which 
way they were going. They would not tell us, but said they or some 
of them were going to war, and that there were some Canoy to go 
along with them. But we hearing the above report, are apt to think 
that they are going against the Shawnee.” 

Almost contemporary with this murder, the whites along the Schuyl¬ 
kill had their safety threatened from another quarter. Kakowwatchy, 
head of the Shawnee at Pechoquealon, claimed to have heard that the 
Flatheads, or Catawba from Carolina, had entered Pennsylvania to 
strike the Indians along the Susquehanna. He sent eleven warriors 
to ascertain the truth of this incursion of the Southern Indians, and 
as they approached the neighborhood of the Durham Iron Works, at 
Manatawny, their provisions failing, forced the inhabitants to give them 
victuals and drink. 

The people did not know these Indians and believing the chief of 
the band to be a Spanish Indian, caused great alarm. 

Families left their plantations, and the women and children were 
in great danger from exposure, as the weather was cold. About twenty 
white men took arms, approached the band, and soon a battle was in 
progress. The whites said that the Indians refused a parley and fired 






SHAWNEE MURDER CONESTOGA 


301 


first, wounding several of the inhabitants. The red men made off into 
the woods and were not seen again. Their leader was wounded, but 
escaped. 

The identity of this band was not known until ten days later, May 
20, when the Lieutenant Governor Patrick Gordon was waited upon 
by John Smith and Nicholas Schonhoven, two Indian traders from 
Pechoquealon, who delivered to him a verbal message from Kakow- 
watchy, which was an explanation of the unfortunate affair, and for 
which the chief sent his regrets, and asked the Governor for a return 
of the gun which the wounded leader had lost. 

The Lieutenant Governor, accompanied by many other citizens of 
Philadelphia went to the troubled district, and personally pleaded with 
those who had fled from their plantations to return. So excited were 
the whites that they seemed ready to kill any red man or woman. 

On May 20, an Indian man, two women and two girls, appeared 
at John Roberts, at Cucussea, then in Chester County. Their neighbors 
fearing danger, rallied to their defense, and shot the man and one of 
the women, beat out the brains of the other woman, and wounded the 
girls. Their excuse was that the Indian had put an arrow into his bow. 

The Provincial authorities were fearful that revenge upon the 
people might be attempted, so the two neighbors who committed the 
atrocity were arrested and sent to Chester for trial, and notice of the 
affair was sent to Sassoonan, Opekasset, and Manawhyhickon, with a 
request that they bring their people to a treaty, arranged to be held at 
Conestoga with Chief Civility and the Indians there. 

The Pennsylvania Government did not leave all to displomacy. 
John Pawling, Marcus Hulings and Mordecai Lincoln (a relative of 
President Abraham Lincoln) were commissioned to gather the inhabi¬ 
tants and to put them in a posture to defend themselves. 

Having forwarded to Kakowwatchy the watchcoats, belts and toma¬ 
hawks dropped by the eleven warriors, and having sent a present, to¬ 
gether with a request that he warn his Indians to be more cautious in 
the future, Governor Gordon expressed a wish to see Kakowwatchy 
alt Durham, then went to Conestoga, and met Civility, Tawenne and 
other Conestoga, some Delaware and three Shawnee chiefs. 

Gordon began by reminding the Indians of the links in the chain 
of friendship and that neither the Indians nor Christians would be¬ 
lieve ill reports of each other without investigation of the facts. The 
Governor then made them presents of watchcoats, duffels, blankets, 
shirts, gunpowder, lead, flints and knives. 

The Governor then told them of the recent murders, and of the 
intention to punish those who killed the Indians, if found guilty. The 
chiefs, in turn, declared that they had no cause of complaint. 

Sassoonan, or Allummapees, the head of the Delaware, and his 
nephew, Opekasset, and some other chiefs, including the great Shikel- 


302 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


lamy, vicegerent of the Six Nations, met with Governor Gordon at 
Molatton, and from there went to Philadelphia, where a great council 
was held June 4, 1728, which was concluded most satisfactorily for all 
concerned. _ 

Christian Post, Moravian Missionary and 
Messenger, Died April 29, 1785 

HRISTIAN FREDERIC POST, who has been denomi- 
nated “the great Moravian peace-maker,” was a simple un¬ 
educated missionary of the Moravian Church. He was born 
in Polish Prussia, in 1710, and at an early age came under 
the influence of the Moravians. He emigrated to this country 
as a member of the “Sea Congregation,” which arrived on the 
Catherine, at New London, Conn., May 30, 1742. Post, with the other 
members, joined the congregation at Bethlehem, Pa., three weeks later. 

From that time until his death, at Germantown, April 29, 1785, 
he performed many hazardous missions for his church and the Provincial 
Government of Pennsylvania, and many times was in imminent peril. 
The first several years of his residence in Pennsylvania he was employed 
as a Moravian missionary, but afterwards was almost constantly per¬ 
forming important services for the Province in its Indian dealings. 

Some of the journals of Post, which appear in the Archives of 
Pennsylvania, and have been republished elsewhere, are valuable for the 
intimate history of the peoples and the country through which he 
traveled. One of the editors who republished his journals, wrote as 
follows concerning the missionary and mediator: “Antiquarians and 
historians have alike admired the sublime courage of the man and the 
heroic patriotism which made him capable of advancing into the heart of 
a hostile territory, into the very hands of a cruel and treacherous foe. 
But aside from Post’s supreme religious faith, he had a shrewd knowl¬ 
edge of Indian customs, and knew that in the character of an ambassador 
requested by the Western tribes his mission would be a source of pro¬ 
tection. Therefore, even under the very walls of Fort Dusquesne, he 
trusted not in vain to Indian good faith.” 

When Conrad Weiser visited Shikellamy at Shamokin, May, 1743, 
he wrote: “As I saw their old men seated on rude benches and on the 
ground listening with decorous gravity and rapt attention to Post, I 
fancied I saw before me a congregation of primitive Christians.” 

In 1743 Post was married to a converted Indian woman, and en¬ 
deared himself to all the Indians. But all was not smooth, for the 
Brethren were persecuted and humbled before their converts. Post, who 
had been on a journey to the Iroquois country, in March, 1745, was 
arrested at Canajoharie and sent to New York, where he was imprisoned 





CHRISTIAN FREDERIC POST 


303 


for weeks, on a trumped-up charge of abetting Indian raids. He was 
released April 10. 

In 1758 it became a matter of importance with Governor Denny 
and Sir William Johnson, that a treaty of peace be secured with the 
Western Indians. Post was selected to convey to them the white belt of 
peace and reconciliation. Tedyuskung,- the Delaware king, protested 
against his going, declaring he would never return alive, but the bold 
and confident Christian said it was a mission of peace, that God would 
protect him, and that he must go. 

On July 15, 1758, Post departed from Philadelphia with five Indian 
guides. He carried with him copies of the treaties made with Tedyus¬ 
kung, belts of wampum and messages from the Governor. He made his 
trip by way of Bethlehem, Shamokin, Great Island, Chinclamoose, etc. 

It was a perilous journey. Twice he got lost in the woods, and 
one of his guides strayed away and could not be found. Without food 
and drenched with rain, night after night he slept on the cold, wet 
ground. He was frequently very near the French. Finally he arrived 
at King Beaver’s, who ruled over the Delaware in the West. These 
Indians remembered him when he preached the gospel at Wyoming, and 
were glad to see him. They gave him a public dinner, to which they 
invited the surounding tribes. 

The French sent spies to watch him and to induce him to go to 
Fort Duquesne. Post refused to be trapped, but instead succeeded in 
making arrangements for kindling a great council-fire at Easton in 
October following. 

Post now set out on his return and had not proceeded far when he 
heard the thunder of nineteen cannon discharged at the fort. Under 
the very mouths of these guns he had, singly and alone, with the full 
knowledge of the French, laid a plan which rent asunder the alliance 
between them and their Indian allies. 

Post succeeded in his mission, and the French at the fort, finding 
themselves abandoned by their allies, fired it and fled, as the invalid 
general, John Forbes, and his army made their appearance. 

Frank Cowan, poet of Southwestern Pennsylvania, tells the story 
in one of his songs, of which the following is a verse: 

“The Head of Iron from his couch, 

Gave courage and command, 

Which Washington, Bouquet and Grant 
Repeated to the band; 

Till Hark! the Highlanders began 
With their chieftain’s word to swell, 

‘Tonight, I shall sup and drain my cup 
In Fort Du Quense—or Hell!’ 

But the Man of Prayer, and not of boast, 

Had spoken first, in Frederic Post.” 


304 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Again, in 1761, he proceeded to the Muskingum and built the first 
white man’s house within the present State of Ohio. He had made 
previous trips into this country, and always succeeded in persuading the 
Shawnee and Delaware to “bury the hatchet” and desert the French. 
He did this with a heavy reward upon his scalp, and while his every 
footstep was surrounded with danger. 

In 1762 the Reverend John G. B. Heckewelder, the Moravian 
missionary and writer, especially among the Delaware, was an assistant 
to Post. 

Toward the close of his eventful life Post retired from the Moravian 
sect and entered the Protestant Episcopal Church. He died at German¬ 
town on April 29, 1785, and on May 1 his remains were interred in the 
“Lower graveyard of that place, the Reverend William White, ther* 
rector of Christ Church,” conducting the funeral service. 


Veterans of French and Indian Wars 
Organize April 30, 1765 

S EARLY as 1764 officers of the First and Second Battalions 
of Pennsylvania who had served under Colonel Henry Bouquet 
during the French and Indian War tarried at Bedford on their 
way home and formed an association. The purpose of this 
organization was that they be awarded the land to which they 
were entitled for service rendered. 

This association held another and more important meeting at Car¬ 
lisle, April 30, 1765, when they elected officers and renewed their 
application to the proprietaries and asked for 24,000 acres of land along 
the West Branch of the Susquehanna. 

In this formal application they stated their object was “to embody 
themselves on some good land at some distance from the inhabited part 
of the Province, where by their industry they might procure a comfort¬ 
able subsistance for themselves and by their arms, union and increase 
become a powerful barrier to the Province.” 

These officers knew that the Proprietaries had not that much land 
to award them and that they had not yet purchased the West Branch 
lands from the Indians, but at this meeting they adopted a strong 
resolution calling upon them to make such a purchase. 

Following the French and Indian War the lawless white men had 
been encroaching upon Indian lands, provoked hostilities and murdered 
many innocent Indians. The situation became so acute that General 
Gage offered troops to assist Governor Penn in removing and punishing 
these intruders. 

Governor Penn appealed to the Assembly for help. In the discus- 






VETERANS ORGANIZE FOR LAND GRANTS 305 


sion of this important matter it was learned from George Croghan, 
Sir William Johnson and others that the Indians designed a northern 
confederacy, and were determined to avenge this intrusion and the 
murder of the Conestoga Indians at Lancaster. 

The Assembly agreed to pass a boundary bill. They also sent a 
message to the Indians promising to punish those responsible for the 
Conestoga massacre, and urged a conference at which a boundary line 
could be established. They also appropriated £3000 as a present to 
appease the Indians. 

During the following spring several conferences were held, the 
largest being at Fort Pitt, where many chiefs and warriors of the Six 
Nations were present; in all 1103 men, women and children. The 
explanations were satisfactory and the presents and cash joyously 
received. 

But it is quite probable that another savage war was averted by the 
intervention of Sir William Johnson, who, at this critical period, sug¬ 
gested a great council be held at Fort Stanwix, where this vital question 
could be definitely decided. This council was held in October, 1768, 
with Governor Penn present in person, as well as the principal chiefs 
of the tribes which had grievances to air. 

The council, in the treaty of November 5, 1768, settled the boundary 
dispute and the Indians sold to the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania most 
of the central and western end of the State, excepting a small strip along 
Lake Erie. The consideration was $10,000. 

Now that the Proprietaries had purchased the land desired by the 
association, on February 3, 1769, it was ordered by the Board of 
Property “that Colonel Francis and the officers of the First and Second 
Battalions of the Pennsylvania Regiment be allowed to take up 24,000 
acres, to be divided among them in district surveys on the waters of the 
West Branch of the Susquehanna, to be seated with a family for each 
300 acres, within two years from the time of the survey, paying £5 per 
hundred and one penny sterling per acre.” 

Near the close of February many of the officers met at Fort Augusta 
and agreed to take the land proposed by the Proprietaries, and that one 
of the tracts should be surveyed on the West Branch, adjoining Andrew 
Montour’s place at Chillisquaque Creek, and one in Buffalo Valley. 
It was also agreed that Captains Plunket, Brady, Piper and Lieutenant 
Askey should accompany William Scull to the eastern side of the river 
as they made the surveys. 

These surveys were promptly made and another meeting was held at 
Fort Augusta, when it was determined that the third tract of 8000 
acres should be surveyed on Bald Eagle Creek. Captains Hunter, Brady 
and Piper were appointed to accompany Charles Lukens as he made 
the survey. 

May 16, 1769, the officers met at Harris Ferry, where Messrs. 


306 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Maclay, Scull and Lukens laid before them the drafts of their respective 
surveys. They agreed that Colonel Turbutt Francis should receive his 
share, 2075 acres, surveyed to him in one tract. Accordingly he selected 
land upon which the town of Milton is now the center. 

Lots were then drawn by the other officers for the choice of lands. 
Captain William Hendricks, Captain William Plunket, Captain John 
Brady, Captain John Kern, Lieutenant Dr. Thomas Wiggins, Captain 
Conrad Bucher, Captain William Irvine and Lieutenants Askey, Stewart 
and McAllister took land in Buffalo Valley. 

Ensign A. Stein, Lieutenant Daniel Hunsicker, Captain William 
Piper, Lieutenant James Hayes, Captain Samuel Hunter, Captain 
Nicholas Hausegger took lands above Chillisquaque Creek. Major John 
Philip de Haas was the principal officer to be awarded land on the Bald 
Eagle, and near him were Lieutenant James Hays and Thomas Wig- 
gans, Ensign William McMeen, Lieutenant Hunsicker, Captain Timo¬ 
thy Green, Captain John Brady, Captain James Irvine and Captain 
William Plunket. 

Colonel Francis acquired by purchase land from Chillisquaque Creek 
to and including the present town of Northumberland, and then owned 
a continuous strip from the North Branch to a point near Watsontown, 
a distance of eighteen miles along the West Branch. This made him 
one of the most extensive land owners of that time. 

By these awards the West Branch Valley was permanently settled 
by these distinguished officers or their kin, and many ol the families 
resident there today are descendants of these sturdy patriots. 


British Foragers Massacre Americans at 
Crooked Billet, May 1, 1778 

ITH the exception of occasional depredations committed by the 
British foraging parties during the winter of 1777-78, all was 
quiet on the Delaware. The vigilance of Generals James 
Potter and John Lacey greatly restrained these forays. In the 
meantime General Washington, with the aid of Baron von 
Steuben and other foreign officers in the Continental army, 
transformed the band of American patriots into a well-disciplined, well- 
drilled and confident army. 

General Wayne’s command was encamped during the whole winter 
and spring at Mount Joy, in Mongomery County, and materially assisted 
in securing supplies of provisions for the army at Valley Forge. 

When Washington withdrew from Whitemarsh, he was anxious that 
the upper part of the Delaware-Schuylkill peninsula should be well 
guarded. A thousand Pennsylvania militia were placed under command 
of General John Lacey, January 9, 1778. Lacey established his head¬ 
quarters at the Crooked Billet Tavern, Bucks County, now called 
Hatboro, about twenty-five miles north of Philadelphia. 

The country nearer Philadelphia, where the British were encamped, 
was thus open to the Queen’s Rangers and James’ and Hovenden’s 
Loyalists, who foraged and ravaged as they pleased. There was intense 
hatred between these Tories and the Continentals. 

The British continually employed troops to forage and plunder, and 
while Lacey was himself in Bucks County, he could do nothing to save 
it from their ravages. But his energy and enterprise, even with his 
small forces, enabled him to reduce the supplies of Philadelphia so 
materially that the attempt was made to destroy his command, and 
an expedition was sent against him. 

The party was under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrombie, 
comprising light infantry, cavalry and Simcoe’s Rangers, and started 
on May 1, 1778. Simcoe was to get in Lacey’s rear and a party was 
to be placed in ambush, while the mounted infantry and cavalry ad¬ 
vanced along the road. 

Lacey’s officers and patrols were negligent, and his force was com¬ 
pletely surprised and surrounded on all sides. They retreated fighting, 
but without their baggage, and finally got away with a loss of twenty-six 
killed, eight or ten wounded, and fifty-eight missing. 

The British, as at Paoli, bayoneted many of the American troops 
after they were so seriously wounded they could be of no further effect 
against them; others of the wounded were thrown in among some buck- 

307 









308 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


wheat straw, which was then set on fire, and they were roasted to death. 
The bodies of many of the killed among the Americans were then thrown 
into the burning straw. The famous scoundrels who committed these 
atrocities were the Tory soldiers of Simcoe’s Rangers. The British loss 
was nominal. 

Among the American slain in this massacre was Captain John 
Downey, who had been a schoolmaster in Philadelphia and a gallant 
volunteer at Trenton and Princeton. He had surveyed the Delaware 
River for the Committee of Safety, and was acting as commissary to 
General Lacey’s brigade. He was bayoneted and mutilated while lying 
wounded and a prisoner at the Crooked Billet. 

A monument was erected in December, 1861, to the victims of 
Lacey’s command in this fight, on the battlefield at Platboro. The sur¬ 
prise was a legitimate act of war, but the massacre after surrender was 
a barbarous atrocity. 

The Supreme Executive Council of the State, and the Assembly in 
session at Lancaster, and the Continental Congress at York had been 
principally engaged in legislating for the interests of the army, preparing 
for the ensuing campaign. The Assembly passed the “act for the at¬ 
tainder of divers traitors,” among whom were specially mentioned Joseph 
Galloway, Andrew Allen, Reverend Jacob Duche, John Biddle, John 
Allen, William Allen, James Rankin, of York County, Gilbert Hicks, of 
Bucks County, Samuel Shoemaker, late of Penn’s Council, John Potts, 
Nathaniel Vernon, ex-Sheriff of Chester County, Christian Fouts, form¬ 
erly lieutenant-colonel in Lancaster militia, Reynold Keen and John 
Biddle, latter two of Berks County. Reverend Duche had made the 
prayer at the opening of the first Continental Congress and since had 
been chaplain to Congress, but had prayed for the King. 

Joseph Galloway’s estate was worth in excess of £40,000 sterling, 
and his handsome home on the southeast corner of Sixth and High 
Streets in Philadelphia, was appropriated by the State of Pennsylvania 
as a residence for the President of the Supreme Excutive Council, who 
was the chief executive officer of the State. This house was afterwards 
sold to Robert Morris. 

Through the influence and negotiations of Benjamin Franklin 
Silas Deane and Arthur Lee, Commissioners sent to Paris by Congress, 
France had now openly espoused the American cause. The joyful news 
reached Congress sitting at York, May 2, 1778. 

On May 7, Lord Howe was superseded by Sir Henry Clinton. 
Previous to the British commander’s departure, a magnificent fete 
called the “Mischianza,” was held May 18 in his honor. 

On the following day, Lafayette with 2500 men and eight cannon 
crossed the Schuylkill to Barren Hill. Howe, with 5700 under Clin¬ 
ton and Knyphausen, supported by Grant in his rear, with 5,300 troops, 
marched to overwhelm this important post of the American army. 


SQUAW CAMPAIGN 


309 


Lafayette escaped by Matson’s Ford. Four days later, May 24, Howe 
embarked for England. 

The same day a council of war was held under Sir Henry Clinton, 
and it was resolved to evacuate the city, which event occurred on June 
19. This movement had been delayed owing to the arrival on June 6, 
of three British Commissioners to negotiate peace and a reconcilia¬ 
tion. It was too late. 

Among other intrigues, it is stated, the Commissioners secretly of¬ 
fered to General Joseph Reed, then delegate to Congress, and after¬ 
wards President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, 
£10,000 sterling, with the best office in the Colonies to promote their 
plans. General Reed promptly replied: “I am not worth purchasing, 
but such as I am, the King of Great Britain is not rich enough to do 
it.” 

Upon occupation of Philadelphia, General Benedict Arnold was or¬ 
dered by General Washington to take command of the city, and “pre¬ 
vent the disorders which were expected upon the evacuation of the 
place and return of the Whigs after being so long kept out of their 
property.” 


General Edward Hand Relieved of Com¬ 
mand Following Squaw Cam¬ 
paign May 2, 1778 

OR some time General Washington had believed that the per¬ 
manent safety of the western section of Pennsylvania could 
only be secured by carrying on a successful war, in an aggres¬ 
sive manner, against the enemy in their own country. That 
determination was strengthened by the Commissioners of Con¬ 
gress, who met in Pittsburgh late in 1777, and learned first 
handed of the barbarous warfare carried on against the western frontier 
by the British under Henry Hamilton, then Governor of Detroit, with 
the assistance of their Indian allies. 

During October and November, 1777, while General Edward Hand, 
then commandant at Fort Pitt, was trying to recruit his army for the 
invasion of the Indian country, many raids were made in Westmore¬ 
land County. Eleven men were killed and scalped near Palmer s 
Fort, in Ligonier Valley, and a few days later four children were killed 
within sight of the fort. Three men were killed and a woman captured 
within a few miles of Ligonier. A band of Indians, led by a Canadian, 
made a fierce attack on Fort Wallace, near Blairsville, but the Cana¬ 
dian was killed and the savages repulsed. These maurauders were pur¬ 
sued by a party of rangers led by Captain James Smith and overtaken 






310 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


near Kittanning, where five redskins were killed and scalped. The 
snows of winter prevented other ravages. 

During the Christmas holidays General Hand learned that the Brit¬ 
ish had built a magazine where Cleveland now stands and had stored 
arms, ammunition, clothing and provisions in it for the use of the In¬ 
dians in the spring. He immediately planned an expedition for the 
destruction of the magazine. His call for troops required each man to 
be mounted and provided with food for a short campaign. He promised 
to provide the arn^ and ammunition. 

The general proposed, as a special inducement to enlist, that all 
plunder would be sold and the cash proceeds divided among the force. 
February 15, about 500 horsemen were at Pittsburgh ready for the 
adventure, and this considerable force caused General Hand to be 
sanguine for its success. 

The expedition followed the old Indian trail which descended the 
Ohio River to the Beaver and then ascended that stream and the Ma¬ 
honing toward the Cuyahoga. The snow on the ground was soon 
melted by heavy rains and the marching was made difficult. 

By the time the Mahoning was reached that stream was almost 
impassable, even some of the level lands were covered with water for 
wide stretches. The horsemen grumbled and Hand too was so dis¬ 
couraged that he was about to give up the expedition and return, 
when the foot-prints of some Indians were discovered on the high 
ground. 

The tracks led to a small village, where a sudden attack was made, 
but the place contained only one old man, some squaws and children. 
The warriors were away on a hunt. The startled savages scattered 
and all escaped except the old man and one woman, who were shot 
and a woman taken prisoner. 

This affair took place about where Edenburg is, in Lawrence 
County. The Indian told her captors that ten Wolf, or Munsee, In¬ 
dians were making salt ten miles farther up the Mahoning. Hand 
dispatched a detachment after these savages and he went into camp 
under uncomfortable conditions. 

The reported Munsee proved to be four squaws and a boy. The 
soldiers killed three of the squaws and the boy, the other squaw was 
taken prisoner. One of the soldiers was wounded here and another 
drowned during the march. 

The weather conditions made further campaigns impossible and 
General Hand led his dispirited and hungry men back to Fort Pitt. 
The trophies were two Indian women. His formidable force had slain 
one old man, four women and a boy. On his arrival at Fort Pitt his 
work was generally derided by the frontiersmen and his expedition was 
dubbed the Squaw Campaign. 

This finished General Hand as an Indian fighter. He asked Gen- 


SQUAW CAMPAIGN 


311 


eral Washington to relieve him and May 2, 1778, Congress voted his 
recall and commissioned General Lachlan McIntosh to succeed him. 

General Edward Hand won distinction in other directions. He 
was born at Elzduffs, Kings County, Ireland, December 31, 1744. 

In 1767 he was appointed by George III surgeon of the 18th Royal 
Irish Regiment of foot, and sailed with the regiment from Cork on 
May 20 of the same year, arriving in Philadelphia July 11. 

He served with this regiment at Fort Pitt and returning to Phila¬ 
delphia in 1774, resigned his commission, receiving a regular discharge 
from the British service. In the same year he went to Lancaster and 
began the practice of his profession. 

He joined the First Battalion of Pennsylvania Riflemen as lieuten¬ 
ant-colonel at the outbreak of the Revolution and served in the siege of 
Boston. He was promoted to colonel in 1776, and led his regiment in 
the Battle of Long Island, and also at Trenton. In April, 1777, he 
was appointed brigadier-general; and in this capacity served in com¬ 
mand of the Western Department until relieved May 2, 1778; in 
October following he succeeded General Stark in command at Albany. 

In the successful expedition against the Six Nations Indians in 
1779, led by General John Sullivan, General Hand was an active par¬ 
ticipant. 

Near the close of 1780, General Hand succeeded General Scammel 
as adjutant-general. He was an intimate friend of General Washing¬ 
ton and had his full confidence during the entire struggle of the colonies. 
He was one of the original members of the Order of the Cincinnati. 

In 1785 General Hand was elected to the Assembly; then he was 
a member of Congress and assisted in the formation of the Constitu¬ 
tion of Pennsylvania in 1789, when the second Constitution of the State 
was written, and adopted the following year. 

General Hand died at Rockford, Lancaster County, September 3, 
1802. 



312 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Evangelist Whitefield Bought Site for Negro 
School at Nazareth May 3, 1740 

HE Reverend George Whitefield was an exceeding earnest 
worker for the good of souls. He came to America and 
spent much of his time in Georgia, where he preached effec¬ 
tively and established an orphan house and school near 
Savannah, laying the first brick himself for the building, 
March 25, 1740. He named it “Bethesda”—a house of 
mercy. It afterward became eminently useful. 

Whitefield undertook to found a school for Negroes in Pennsylvania, 
and with it a settlement for persons converted in England by his 
preaching and subjected to annoyance on that account. 

An agreement for a site was made with William Allen, May 3, 
1740, when 5000 acres of land were purchased, situated at the Forks 
of the Delaware, the consideration being £2200. The title was made 
to Whitefield and then assigned to his friend William Seward, who 
was a man of considerable wealth, as security for Seward’s advancing 
the purchase money. 

Two days afterward Whitefield preached in the morning at the 
German settlement on the Skippack Creek to about 5000 persons, and 
in the evening, after riding twelve miles to Henry Antes’, he preached 
to about 3000. The Moravian Boehler followed with an address in 
German. 

During this same day Whitefield offered to hire as builders the 
Moravians who had arrived from Savannah on the sloop with him. 

Whitefield and the Moravians then visited the ground, when the 
latter, by the cast of the lot, according to their custom, felt directed to 
engage in the enterprise. 

Seward, several days after the purchase of the site was made, sailed 
from Philadelphia for England, partly to convert some securities into 
cash and also to solicit further contributions. He was accidentally hit 
on the head while at Caerleon, Wales, from the effect of which blow 
he died a few days later, October 22, 1740. 

The Moravians arrived in that part of Northampton County, which 
is now within the limits of Upper and Lower Nazareth and Bethle¬ 
hem Townships, and there commenced to erect a large stone house 
which Whitefield proposed to use as the school for Negroes. This tract 
its proprietor named Nazareth. 

Here the Moravians worked for the remainder of the year and by 
their efforts had built two houses. But at this time there arose a dis¬ 
pute between Whitefield and those employed on the buildings. It is 
believed Whitefield disapproved of Boehler’s doctrinal opinions and, 





REVEREND GEORGE WHITEFIELD 


313 


unable in an argument conducted in Latin to convince him, discharged 
the workmen. 

The Moravians were allowed to stay on the property for some time 
by Allen’s agent, but the whole project failed, largely through Seward’s 
death. Whitefield again secured the title and cheerfully assigned it to 
the Moravians. 

The Moravian workmen were compelled to seek a new home. This 
they found when their Bishop, David Nitcshmann, secured a tract of 
5000 acres at the confluence of the Monocacy Creek and the Delaware 
River, on which, in March, 1741, they began to build Bethlehem. This 
eventually became the principal settlement of the Moravians in the 
province. 

George Whitefield was born in Gloucester, England, December 16, 
1714, and entered Oxford in 1732. He was a religious enthusiast in 
very early life, fasting twice a week for thirty-six hours and while an 
undergraduate became a member of the “Holy Club,” in which the 
denomination of Methodists took its rise. 

Whitefield became intimately associated in religious matters with 
John and Charles Wesley. He was made deacon by the Bishop of 
Gloucester on Sunday, June 20, 1736, two,weeks before his graduation, 
and attracted attention even by his first sermon; he drew such crowds 
in London and Bristol that people hung upon the rails of the organ 
loft and climbed in the windows. 

The Wesleys accompanied Oglethorpe to Georgia in 1736 and the 
following year John Wesley invited Whitefield to join him in his work 
in America. He came in May, 1738, and after laboring for months 
as a missionary in the colony of Georgia he returned to England and 
was ordained priest at Oxford, Sunday, January 14, 1739. On his way 
a second time to Georgia he first visited Pennsylvania. 

Whitefield and his friend, William Seward, arrived in Philadelphia 
in the evening of Friday, November 2, 1739, on horseback from Lewes, 
where they had disembarked. 

He read prayers and assisted at Christ Church in the services of the 
following Sunday, and preached there in the afternoon and every day 
for the rest of the week with increasing congregations. He dined at 
Thomas Penn’s, and was visited by the ministers of the Presbyterian 
and Baptist Churches and by many Quakers. He preached twice to 
more than three thousand persons. 

He made a trip to New York, and on his return preached from 
the yard of the Reverend William Tennent’s church on the Neshaminy 
to about three thousand, and from the porch window of the Presbyte¬ 
rian Church at Abington, and again several times at Christ Church. 

When Whitefield was to preach his farewell sermon in the afternoon 
of November 28, the church not being large enough for those expected 
he adjourned to the fields, and preached to 10,000. Twenty gentlemen 


314 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


on horseback accompanied him out of town. At Chester he spoke 
from a balcony to 5000, of whom one-fifth had come from Philadelphia. 

He was energetically philanthropic. His main purpose in going 
back to Georgia was to carry on his work among the poor orphans. 

On Boston Common he preached to 20,000 at one time, and was 
distinctly heard. 

Although he was active in the establishment of the Methodist de¬ 
nomination, he disagreed with Wesley on points of doctrine, and was 
finally an evangelist without the discipline of any denomination. 

Whitefield crossed the ocean many times, and made tours from 
Georgia to New Hampshire. In September, 1769, he started on his 
seventh tour there, and the day before his death he preached two hours 
at Exeter, N. H., and the same evening preached in the open air at 
Newburyport, Mass. He died of asthma the next day, September 30, 
1770, and was buried under the pulpit of the Federal Street Church 
in that town. 


Trial of Five Mollie Maguires for Murder 
of B. F. Yost Begun at Pottsville 
May 4, 1876 

N MAY 4, 1876, James Carroll, Thomas Duffy, James 
Roarty, Hugh McGehan, and James Boyle, were placed on 
trial in Schuylkill County Court at Pottsville, for the murder 
of Benjamin F. Yost, of Tamaqua. 

The details of this revolting crime and the apprehension 
of the Mollie Maguires are of interest as they reveal the ter¬ 
rible horrors experienced in the anthracite coal fields during the reign 
of this lawless organization. 

James McParlan, the Pinkerton detective, who joined the Mollies 
under the alias of James McKenna, and successfully brought their 
leaders to the gallows, was working on the Gomer James murder out¬ 
rage, when he learned that the next victim was to be an excellent and 
competent policeman of Tamaqua, of the name of Benjamin F. Yost. 

McParlan had been unable to learn sufficient of their designs to get 
a warning to Yost, as he had so frequently done in other cases. 

Yost had experienced considerable trouble with the Mollies, espe¬ 
cially as he had several times arrested James Kerrigan, their local 
leader, for drunkenness. Barney McCarron, the other member of the 
Tamaqua police force, had also come in for his share of their ill-will, 
but, from his German parentage, Yost was the more intensely hated. 
Yost had been threatened several times but was a fearless man, a veteran 
of the Civil War, where he displayed conspicuous valor on many bat¬ 
tlefields, and a policeman who served his community with fidelity. 








TRIAL OF MOLLIE MAGUIRES 


315 


About midnight of July 5, 1875, the two policemen in passing Car- 
roll’s saloon, noted that the place was still open, went inside and saw 
Kerrigan and another man drinking. 

The policemen proceeded with their duties, and extinguished the 
street lamps on their route. They arrived at Yost’s residence about two 
o’clock and partook of a lunch, preparatory to finishing up the night’s 
work. 

The two officers parted at Yost’s front gate, and Mrs. Yost, looking 
out of her bedroom window, saw her husband place a small ladder 
against a lamp post a short distance from their home, and step upon 
the rungs, but he never reached the light. 

The woman saw two flashes from a pistol; heard the two loud re¬ 
ports and saw her husband fall from the ladder. She ran down the 
stairs and into the street, and met the wounded man, staggering and 
weak with loss of blood, clinging to the fence, looking toward his once 
happy home. 

Yost lived long enough to say that his murderers were two Irish¬ 
men who had been in Carroll’s saloon that evening. He exonerated 
Kerrigan of the crime, saying one was larger and the other smaller 
than he. He did not see Kerrigan. 

Yost died at nine o’clock that morning; he was then thirty-three 
years of age. 

McParlan was soon on the trail of the Mollies who committed this 
cruel murder, and Captain Linden, another Pinkerton operative, was 
also active on the case. 

McParlan was at this time under suspicion by the Mollies of being 
a detective and his work was the most dangerous any man was ever 
called upon to perform, but he was a hero. 

He now affected the role of a drunken man and while sleeping off 
his debauch listened to a conversation which gave him a clue; he then 
fell in with Carroll, engaged his wife in conversation and soon learned 
much of importance. 

The next day he learned the names of two of the men who had 
killed Yost, Hugh McGehan and James Boyle, both of Summit Hill. 

The following day he went to Coaldale and visited James Roarty, 
head of the Mollie branch there, ostensibly to see another person. Here 
they had a drinking bout, and Roarty told too much, and he was Mollie 
number three. 

Two days later McParlan was back in Tamaqua and lounging 
about Carroll’s saloon where he got more information from Roarty and 
Carroll. He then learned that Thomas Duffy was an actor in the 
crime. 

Sunday, July 26, McParlan and Carroll spent some time together, 
when the latter related the conversation he had had with some detec¬ 
tives (which McParlan had sent there), and boasted about loaning 


316 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


his pistol to the man who did the job. This made Carroll number four. 

Soon afterwards Duffy bragged to McParlan of the part he had 
taken and the fifth Mollie was trapped. 

All that was then needed was to gather his evidence so that it could 
be used against these criminals, and for this purpose Captain Linden 
was most valuable. 

Kerrigan took McParlan to the scene of the murder and enacted 
the crime for his friend’s benefit, and soon after this incident the detec¬ 
tive learned that McGehan fired the two shots which killed Yost. 

This is the same James Kerrigan who turned State’s evidence in 
the great trial of Mollies at Mauch Chunk, January 18, 1876, which 
resulted in the conviction of Kerrigan, Michael J. Doyle, and Edward 
Kelly for the murder of John P. Jones. Kerrigan’s evidence was the 
most stunning blow the Mollies had thus far received, but they knew 
not the heavier blows which were to fall on their villainous heads. 

The great trial of Thomas Munley and Charles McAllister for 
the murder of Thomas Sanger and William Uren, which was held at 
Pottsville, June, 1876, brought the great Franklin B. Gowen into the 
case, and the testimony of McParlan, the Pinkerton detective. Con¬ 
viction followed. 

Then May 4, when the five Mollies were placed on trial at Potts¬ 
ville for the murder of Yost. Judges C. L. Pershing, D. B. Green 
and T. H. Walker presided. 

A juror was taken sick and died, and the second trial was begun 
July 6, each of the Mollies was found guilty of murder in the first 
degree, and each was hanged in the Pottsville jail yard, the warrants 
being signed by Governor Hartranft, May 21, 1877, the executions 
being held June 21, the day eight Mollies expiated their crimes. 


French and Indian Wars—Lieutenant 
Governor Thomas Resigned 
May 5, 1747 

OINCIDENT with the announcement in the Assembly of 
the death of John Penn, one of the Proprietors, was the resig¬ 
nation of Lieutenant Governor Sir George Thomas, May 5, 
1747, on account of ill-health. 

On the departure of Governor Thomas, the executive 
functions again devolved on the Provincial Council, of which 
Anthony Palmer was president; he served until the arrival of James 
Hamilton, son of Andrew Hamilton, former Speaker of the Assembly, 
as Lieutenant Governor, November 23, 1749. 

The harvests of the years 1750 to 1752 were so abundant that an 








FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 


317 


extract of the time is interesting: “The years 1751 and 1752 have 
been so fruitful in wheat and other grain that men in wanton care¬ 
lessness sought ’to waste the supply: for the precious wheat which might 
have supported many poor, they used to fatten hogs, which afterward 
they consumed in their sumptuousness. Besides, distilleries were erected 
everywhere, and thus this great blessing was turned into strong drink, 
which gave rise to much disorder. 

These years of plenty were followed by three years of scarcity, 1753- 
1755, and on the heels of it came the terrible Indian hostilities. 

The progress of the white population toward the West alarmed and 
irritated the Indians. The new settlers did not suffer the delays of the 
land office, nor did they pay for their lands, but in search for richer soils 
sought homes in regions where the Indian title had not been extin¬ 
guished. Some of these settlements were commenced prior to 1740, and 
rapidly increased, despite the complaints of the Indians, the laws of the 
Province or the several proclamations of the Governor. 

An alarming crisis was now at hand. The French in the neighbor¬ 
hood of the Great Lakes were sedulously applying themselves to seduce 
the Indians from their allegiance to the English. The Shawnee had 
already joined the French cause; the Delaware only waited for an op¬ 
portunity to avenge their wrongs; and of the Six'Nations, the Onondaga, 
Cayuga and Seneca were wavering and listening to overtures from the 
agents of both the English and French. 

To keep the Indians in favor of the province required much cun¬ 
ning displomacy and many expensive presents. In the midst of this 
alarming condition the old flame of civil dissension burst out with in¬ 
creased fury. The presents so frequently procured for the Indians, the 
erection of a chain of forts along the frontier and the maintenance of 
a military force drew too heavily upon the provincial purse, which never 
was burdened with any great surplus. . 

The Assembly urged that the Proprietary estates be taxed, as well 
as those of humble individuals. The Proprietaries, as would be ex¬ 
pected, refused to be taxed and pleaded prerogative, charter and law; 
the Assembly in turn pleaded equity, common danger, common benefit 
and at common expense. 

The Proprietaries offered bounties in lands not yet acquired from 
the Indians by treaty or purchase, and in addition proposed the issuing 
of more paper money. The Assembly was not satisfied; they wanted 
something more tangible. They passed laws laying taxes and granting 
supplies, but the Proprietaries opposed the conditions. They were will¬ 
ing to aid the Assembly in taxing the people, but not the Proprietaries. 
Here were sown the germs of the Revolution, though not fully matured 
until twenty years later. 

During those frivolous disputes in the Assembly the frontiers 
were left fully exposed. The pacific principles, too, of the Quakers, 


318 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Dunkards, Mennonites and Schwenckfelders came in to complicate the 
strife, but as the danger increased they prudently kept aloof from public 
office, leaving the management of the war to sects less scrupulous. The 
pulpit and the press were deeply involved, and the inhabitants divided 
into opposing factions upon this question. 

The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was scarcely regarded more seriously 
than a truce by the French in America. In their eagerness to extend 
their territories and connect their northern possessions with Louisiana, 
they projected a line of forts and military posts from one to the other 
along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. They explored and occupied 
the land upon the latter stream, buried in many places leaden plates, by 
which they claimed possession of those lands. 

The French established themselves at Presqu’ Isle and extended 
themselves southward; they erected a fort at Au Boeuf and another at 
the mouth of French Creek, which they called Fort Machault. 

Virginia was much interested in this foothold gained by the French 
along the Ohio, for they claimed the territory of Pennsylvania west of 
the Allegheny Mountains as part of their dominion. 

The English Government having learned that the French claimed 
right to the Ohio River country by virtue of the discovery of La Salle, 
made sixty years previous, remonstrated with the Court of Versailles, 
but without avail, and resolved to oppose force with force. 

The first move made by the English was to present a solid front by 
combining the efforts of all the colonies. To this end a conference was 
called at Albany in July, 1754, to which the Six Nations were invited. 
Governor Hamilton could not attend this conference, and John Penn 
and Richard Peters, of the Council, and Isaac Norris and Benjamin 
Franklin, of the Assembly, were commissioned to represent the Province 
of Pennsylvania. They carried with them £500 as the provincial 
present to the Indians. 

The results of this confederated council were not satisfactory, but 
the Pennsylvania Commissioners obtained a great part of the land in the 
province, to which the Indian title was not extinct, comprising the 
lands lying southwest of a line beginning one mile above the mouth of 
Penns Creek, in what is now Snyder County, and running northwest 
by west “to the western boundary of the State.” 

The Shawnee, Delaware and Munsee Indians, on the Susquehanna, 
Juniata, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, thus found their lands “sold from 
under their feet,” which the Six Nations had guaranteed to them on 
their removal from the Eastern waters. This proved of great dissatis¬ 
faction to these Indians and had not a little part in causing their 
alienation from the English interest. 


BUILDING OF BRADDOCK ROAD 


319 


Work Begun on Building Braddock Road 
Over Alleghenies May 6, 1755 

REPARATORY to the ill-fated expedition of General Brad¬ 
dock, which precipitated the forays of the French and Indians 
upon the unprotected frontiers of Pennsylvania, was the letter 
to Governor Morris, of Pennsylvania, asking to have a road 
cut so that there might be communication between Philadelphia 
and the Three Forks of the Youghiogheny, both for the 
security of retreat and to facilitate the transport of provisions. These 
English officers were unacquainted with American geography, and at 
best the maps used by them were by no means accurate. 

Governor Morris in response advised Sir John St. Clair, deputy 
quartermaster general, that there was a very good wagon road from 
Philadelphia to the mouth of the Conococheague, but only a horse path 
through the mountains by which the Indian traders carried their goods, 
and that there would be great difficulty in making a wagon road that 
way. He also gently intimated that the distance was much greater than 
the English officers realized. 

Governor Morris, with the sanction of the Assembly, sent George 
Croghan, John Armstrong, James Burd, William Buchanan and Adam 
Hoopes as commissioners to explore the country west of the “Great Vir¬ 
ginia Road,” as the road through the Cumberland Valley was called, 
and to survey and lay out such roads as were most direct and com¬ 
modious. No better men could have been chosen. They were acquainted 
with the country, and Armstrong was the best surveyor on the frontier. 

These commissioners projected a road from McDowell s Mill, in 
present Tranklin County, to within eighteen miles of the Three Forks, 
where they found too many French and Indians scouting and hunting 
to venture farther. The length of projected road so far as it was 
surveyed was sixty-nine miles. 

The commissioners could not effect a meeting with Sir John until 
April 16. When they showed him the drafts he raved like a wild man, 
and the commissioners, believing they had done their part well, were 
abashed by their unusual reception. 

Sir John told them it was too late to build this road now, and 
instead of marching to the Ohio they would march into Cumberland 
County. Not a soldier should handle an ax, but by fire and sword 
General Braddock would compel the inhabitants to build it. He would 
kill all the cattle and drive away the horses, burn the houses, and if the 
French defeated the army by the delays of the Province, he would, with 
his sword drawn, pass through it and treat the inhabitants as a parcel 
of traitors to his master. He even avowed his purpose to shake Mr. 






320 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Penn’s Proprietaryship” by representing Pennsylvania as a disaffected 
province. 

Braddock was constantly complaining of the failure of Pennsylvania 
and Virginia. He spoke slightingly of the provincial contingent and 
scoffed at danger from the Indians. “These savages,” he said to Frank¬ 
lin, “may indeed be a formidable enemy to raw American militia, but 
upon the King’s regular and disciplined troops, sir, it is impossible they 
should make an impression.” 

Governor Morris early in May sent Secretary Peters to expedite the 
work of the road-makers by his presence. Neither General Braddock 
nor Sir John had any distinct idea of the obstacles to road-building over 
the Pennsylvania mountains or of the difficulties which confronted Gov¬ 
ernor Morris in a work of such magnitude, who lacked both money and 
men for the undertaking. 

This road, which afterward received the name of Braddock’s Road, 
passed beyond McDowell’s Mill, around Parnell’s and Jordan’s Knobs 
into Path Valley, into Cowan’s Gap, past Burnt Cabins and Sugar 
Cabins to Sideling Hill. From the latter point the road extended to 
the crossing of the Juniata, thence to Raystown (now Bedford), and it 
then went over the Alleghenies to the Great Crossing, three miles from 
Turkey’s Foot. 

The entire expense of making the road was to be paid by the 
Province. Advertisements were broadcasted in Cumberland, York and 
Lancaster Counties for laborers. James Wright and John Smith con¬ 
tracted to supply the workmen with provisions. 

Ground was broken May 6, 1755, when only ten men reported for 
work under command of James Burd. By the 15th there were seventy 
men at work and by the end of the month 120. 

Mr. Burd was in sole charge of the work at the outset, the other 
commissioners being too busy—Croghan with the Indian contingent 
ordered by Braddock, Armstrong with complications growing out of the 
purchase of 1754 and Buchanan and Hoopes with their private affairs. 

The road was built thirty feet wide for about ten miles, when it was 
determined to make it twenty feet, and parts requiring digging or 
quarrying only ten feet. 

Twenty days were required to make the road from Anthony Thomp¬ 
son’s to Sideling Hill, a distance of nineteen miles. William Smith was 
commissioned to assist Mr. Burd and reported May 28. 

Much of the money required for the work was supplied by Joseph 
Armstrong and Samuel Smith, members of the Assembly from Cumber¬ 
land County, from their private purse, for the Legislature held its 
pursestrings with a tight grip. The workmen at times suffered for the 
want of bread and liquor. 

By June 16, Mr. Burd wrote from “Alloqueepy’s Town,” thirty-four 
and a half miles from Thompson’s, that he expected to finish the work 


COLONEL GEORGE CROGHAN 321 

there the next day, and join the advance division, under Smith, at 
Raystown. 

The Indians menaced the work at this time and Braddock, who at 
first refused aid, sent 100 men, under Captain Hogg, as a guard. The 
soldiers came none too soon. 

As Braddock penetrated the Alleghenies, Indian ravages began in his 
rear. True to their character, the savages spared neither sex nor age. 
The soldiers deserted and the workmen were unprotected and in constant 
danger. 

By July 5 the road was completed to the eastern base of the 
Alleghenies. 

On the day that Braddock’s body was buried at Great Meadows, 
John Armstrong wrote to him from Carlisle to say that the new road 
would soon be completed. It was too late. Braddock had no further 
need for a road, except a spot for a burial place in that great highway 
over which he had marched to defeat with so much military pomp. 


George Croghan, King of Traders, Sent on 
Mission to Logstown May 7, 1751 

EORGE CROGHAN and Andrew Montour were sent, May 
7, 1751, to Logstown to carry a Provincial present to the 
Indians. While there the wily Irishman met Joncaire, the 
French Indian agent, but succeeded in outwitting him in 
diplomacy; and the chiefs ordered the French from their lands 
and reasserted their friendship for the English. At this time 
the Indians requested Croghan to ask Governor Hamilton to build a 
strong house on the Ohio River for the protection of their wives and 
children in event they should be obliged to engage in war. 

George Croghan, next to Sir William Johnson, was the most promi¬ 
nent figure among British-Indian agents during the period of the later 
French wars and the conspiracy of Pontiac, from 1746 until the Revolu¬ 
tionary War, when he unfortunately cast his lot with the British. 

He was born in Ireland and educated at Dublin, and emigrated to 
America in 1741. He settled in Pennsylvania near John Harris’ Ferry, 
now Harrisburg. He became an Indian trader in 1744, and was made 
a Councilor of the Six Nations at Onondaga in 1746. 

Croghan first appears in the official correspondence of Pennsylvania 
as writing to Secretary Richard Peters, May 26, 1747, that he had just 
returned from the woods, bringing a letter, a French scalp, and some 
wampum, for the Governor from a party of the Six Nations Indians 
having their dwelling on the borders of Lake Erie, who had formerly 
been in the French interest; and who now, thanks to Croghan’s diplo¬ 
macy, had declared against the French. 



li 





322 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Croghan went to Logstown in April, 1748, with a message and 
present from Pennsylvania Council to the Ohio Indians. Conrad Weiser 
carried a larger present to these same Indians, and on his trip lodged in 
Croghan’s storehouse in Logstown. 

In 1750, Croghan accompanied Secretary Peters and other officials 
on a trip among the settlers in Path, Tuscarora, Juniata and Aughwick 
Valleys warning them off, burning their cabins and confining some of 
the intruders in prison. 

At the great Shawnee Council at Logstown, he, Andrew Montour 
and Christopher Gist were present and Croghan boldly announced, to 
the Indians that the French had offered a large sum of money to any one 
who would bring them the bodies or scalps of Croghan or Montour. So 
the mission to Logstown, May 7, 1751, when the French-Indian Agent 
was present, was a most unusual moment to the intrepid Croghan, and 
his almost equally celebrated companion, Andrew Montour. 

Croghan succeeded in making a treaty between the Indians and Vir¬ 
ginia Commissioners. He was again at Logstown, May 7, 1753, in 
company with William Trent, Robert Callender and other traders, when 
a messenger arrived with the news that the French were on Lake Erie 
in large force, with brass cannon, on their way to the Ohio. Croghan 
held a conference with Scarouady, the Half King, on May 12; and then 
attended an important council between Pennsylvania Commissioners and 
chiefs of the Six Nations, Shawnee, Delaware, Wyandot and Twightwee 
at Carlisle in October, 1753. About this time he was compelled, by 
impending bankruptcy and fear of being imprisoned for debt, to remove 
to the Indian country, and he built a house at Aughwick Old Town, 
near the Juniata. 

Croghan accompanied George Washington and his little army on the 
march from Fort Necessity to Redstone. When he returned to Augh¬ 
wick he kept Governor Morris informed of the movements of the French 
and their Indian allies. 

Croghan attended the important Indian conferences at Easton, 
Harris’ Ferry, Lancaster, Onondaga, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other 
places, and always faithfully represented the English cause. He and 
Weiser were the most active agents at Easton, June, 1762, when King 
Tedyuskung retracted his charges of fraud and forgery in land transac¬ 
tions made against the Proprietaries by him at Easton six years before. 

He was commissioned captain and served with Braddock, when he 
commanded a company of Indians. He resigned his commission in 
spring of 1756 and joined his fortunes with those of Sir William John¬ 
son in the Mohawk Valley. He was appointed a deputy in the Indian 
service, with the rank of colonel. 

December 1, 1763, he sailed for England to confer with the ministry 
about some boundary lines, but he was shipwrecked off the coast of 
France and did not reach his desination until February, 1764. 


COLONEL GEORGE CROGHAN 


323 


Croghan made an affidavit while in London which relates much of 
his early movements. He also presented to the Lords of Trade an 
interesting Memorial on Indian Affairs in America. 

He returned to Pennsylvania in October, 1764, and was induced to 
continue as Deputy Indian Agent in the Western Department. 

Croghan was sent by General Gage to Illinois for the purpose of 
making peace with the Indians. He embarked from Fort Pitt, May 15, 
1765, and experienced a hazardous trip during which his party was 
attacked by hostile Indians. He being severely wounded and taken 
prisoner, was carried to what is now Lafayette, Indiana, where he was 
recognized by some chiefs with whom he had previous dealings, and in 
spite of the fact that the French demanded his execution, Croghan was 
liberated, July 18. He set off that day for the Illinois country. On 
the way he met Pontiac and other chiefs, and effected the treaty he had 
been sent to make. 

Colonel Croghan kept journals of all his trips and these are both 
interesting and valuable. They reveal many exciting adventures and 
some very harrowing experiences. 

Croghan mortgaged his Otsego tract of land to William Franklin, 
son of Benjamin, and lost it under foreclosure in 1773. This became 
the home of James Fennimore Cooper, now Cooperstown, N. Y. 

In the controversy between Pennsylvania and Virginia for the terri¬ 
tory which lies west of the Laurel Hills, Croghan was a partisan of 
Virginia, and one of those who stirred up the most trouble. 

At the beginning of the Revolution Colonel Croghan embarked in 
the patriot cause, being elected chairman of the Committee of Safety of 
Augusta County, May 16, 1775. He later became an object of 
suspicion. 

June 15, 1778, he was declared by Pennsylvania a public enemy, and 
his office of Indian Agent was conferred upon Colonel George Morgan. 
He continued, however, to reside in Pennsylvania, and died at Passyunk, 
in the summer of 1782. His will is dated June 12, 1782. 

Colonel Croghan married a Mohawk Indian, and their daughter, 
Catherine, became the third wife of Joseph Brant, the celebrated Mo¬ 
hawk chieftain of the Revolutionary period. 


324 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Pennsylvania Navy Meets British in Action, 
May 8, 1776 

r ^j lHE Committee of Safety, which organized July 3, 1775, early 
in the following year, had a survey made of the Delaware 
River, with a view to its more extensive fortification. Leave 
was obtained from New Jersey to construct works on that side 
of the river; a permanent fort was determined upon at Billings- 

— port; the fort at Fort Island was hurried to completion; it was 
decided to fortify Liberty Island, and additions were made to the 
chevaux-de-frise. To the naval flotilla were added the floating battery 
Arnold, the ship-of-war Montgomery, the fireship Aetna and some 
guardboats for Philadelphia harbor. This naval force soon had a chance 
to show its mettle. 

On May 6 news came to Philadelphia by express from Fort Penn 
that two warships, a schooner and three tenders were coming up the 
river. The Committee of Safety ordered the gunboat flotilla and the 
Montgomery and Aetna, under command of Commodore Andrew Cald¬ 
well and Captain James Reed, to attack the enemy. His vessels were 
the Roebuck, forty-eight guns, under command of Captain Hammond, 
and the sloop-of-war Liverpool, twenty-eight guns, under command of 
Captain Bellew, and their tenders. 

Captain Proctor, in command of the fort at Fort Island, volunteered 
for the fight with 100 of his men and served on board the Hornet. The 
Montgomery, the Continental ship Reprisal, under command of Captain 
Wickes, and the battery Arnold, under Captain Samuel Davidson, re¬ 
mained near the chevaux-de-frise, in a line with the forts. The other 
boats went down the river to the mouth of Christiana Creek, coming up 
with the enemy on the afternoon of May 8. 

Fire was immediately opened on both sides and was maintained with 
much spirit until dark. The Roebuck ran ashore and careened; the 
Liverpool came to anchor to protect her and the provincial boats with¬ 
drew to obtain more ammunition. 

During this engagement, the Continental schooner Wasp, with 
Captain Alexander, which had been previously chased into Wilmington, 
came out and captured an English brig belonging to the squadron. The 
fireship was not brought into use, and before morning the Roebuck was 
again afloat. 

The attack was renewed at 5 o’clock in the morning when the British 
ships retired, being closely pursued as far as New Castle by the Phila¬ 
delphia navy. 

The officers of the flotilla complained grievously of the supplies fur¬ 
nished them by the Committee of Safety as being defective in quality 



PENNSYLVANIA NAVY MEETS BRITISH 325 


and deficient in quantity; the powder was so bad that the men had to 
cut up their clothes and equipments to make the cartridges serviceable. 
There were also other defects, so that the officers threw the whole blame 
of their failure to destroy or capture the enemy vessels upon the com¬ 
mittee. The Assembly investigated, however, and exonerated the com¬ 
mittee. 

The American loss was one killed and two wounded. The British 
lost one killed and five wounded. So it was quite probable this engage¬ 
ment was fought at long range. Members of the Provincial Navy, 
however, brought up some splinters from the enemy’s ships to exhibit 
at the Coffee House as trophies of the fight. The Roebuck and the 
Liverpool returned to their stations at Cape May, depending upon New 
Jersey, instead of Pennsylvania, for poultry and fresh povisions. 

This engagement served a valuable purpose. Congress and the Pro¬ 
vincial Assembly were certainly admonished to increase their navies. 
The Committee of Safety added to the galleys and other vessels, sloops, 
schooners, guard boats and also firerafts. This added force was com¬ 
posed of 743 men. Samuel Davidson was appointed to succeed Com¬ 
modore Caldwell, as commander of the flotilla, soon after the fight, but 
on account of much opposition from other officers, never took up the 
command. 

The Committee of Safety organized a system of privateers and letters 
of marque at this time, with the sanction of Congress. They created a 
Court of Admiralty, of which George Ross, of Lancaster, was judge; 
Matthew Clarkson, marshal, and Andrew Robinson, register. 

Before July there had also been commissioned the brigs Hancock and 
Congress, and the sloop Chance, under Captains Wingate Newman, John 
Kaye, and James Robertson. As early as May the Congress and Chance 
had taken three valuable ships from Jamaica bound for London, with 
large cargoes of rum, sugar and molasses, 22,420 “pieces of eight,” 187 
ounces of plate and a fine turtle, intended as a present to Lord North. The 
President of the Continental Congress received and enjoyed this turtle. 

It is also of interest to our Province to note that the activities of the 
young navy resulted in other important prizes. The privateer Congress 
captured the schooner Thistle; the privateer Franklin, of Philadelphia, 
took a British storeship with seventy-five tons of gunpowder and 1000 
stands of arms; the ship Lexington, under Captain John Barry, of Phila¬ 
delphia, captured the Edward; the Wasp took the schooner Betsy. In 
the meantime the British Roebuck and Liverpool, with their tenders, 
made many captures of vessels about the Delaware Capes, chasing others 
ashore. But the record of the young American Navy was glorious and 
certainly a fine beginning for the brilliant successes which were to follow. 

Thus we find that the Committee of Safety constructed the Pennsyl¬ 
vania State Navy three months before Congress proposed a Continental 
navy. 


326 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


By August, 1776, the fleet numbered twenty-seven vessels, with Cap¬ 
tain Thomas Reed as commodore, the first officer of that title in America. 
Another distinguished officer was Nicholas Biddle. 

Three months after the State Navy was begun the Continental Con¬ 
gress took action for the construction of a Continental navy, which was 
also fitted out in Philadelphia. When the Congress of the United States 
established the Navy Department in 1798, the first navy yard was located 
in Philadelphia, where ship building had been an established enterprise 
since 1683. The city is today famous for the quality and quantity of 
ships built for this and other nations of the world. 


Bishop John Heyl Vincent, Founder of 
Chautauqua, Died May 9, 1920 

ENERAL GRANT once introduced Bishop J. H. Vincent to 
President Lincoln and said: “Dr. Vincent was my pastor at 
Galena (Illinois), and I do not think I missed one of his ser¬ 
mons while I lived there.” 

This same Bishop Vincent, of good old Pennsylvania stock 
and many years a resident of Pennsylvania, was the founder 
of the Chautauqua Assembly, next only to the public-school system in 
bringing to the masses of the people some share of their inheritance in 
the world’s great creations in art and literature. This is the work of a 
man—a great teacher and educator and university preacher—who did 
not himself have a college education. 

In 1772 the Vincent family, consisting of John Vincent and wife, 
their sons, Cornelius and Peter; their sons-in-law, Timothy Williams 
and Samuel Gould, removed from Essex County, N. J., and settled in 
Northumberland County, Pa., near the present town of Milton. 

When the Indians became hostile during the Revolutionary War the 
early settlers along the West branch of the Susquehanna erected 
stockade forts at central points, into which the women and children of 
the neighborhood were gathered for protection at the approach of danger. 
In one of these forts, known as Fort Freeland, situated on Warrior Run, 
were gathered the Vincents, the Himrods, the Miles, the McKnights| 
the Boyds, the Kings, the Littles and others. 

June 21, 1779, a party of Indians approached stealthily and fired 
upon six men hoeing corn in a field near the fort. They killed Isaac 
Vincent and James Miles and took Michael Freeland and Benjamin Vin¬ 
cent prisoners. 

July 28, 1779, 200 British under Captain John McDonald and 300 
Seneca Indians, under Chief Hiokatoo attacked the fort and compelled 
it to capitulate, the conditions of surrender being that all the men over 










BISHOP JOHN HEYL VINCENT 


327 


seventeen should become prisoners of war, and the women and children 
and the aged should be set at liberty. Under this capitulation, Cornelius 
Vincent and his sons, Daniel and Bethuel, with their neighbors, were 
marched across the country to the Lakes, then to Quebec, where they 
remained prisoners till the close of the war. 

The aged John Vincent and wife, with the wife and younger children 
of Cornelius, wended their way back on foot to New Jersey and were 
scattered among their friends until the return of the captives. 

Soon after their return from captivity Cornelius Vincent and his wife 
and their sons, Daniel and Bethuel, returned to the West Branch Valley 
and resumed the settlement they had been obliged to abandon. Daniel 
built and owned a large mill on Warrior Run. Bethuel built a large 
hotel in Milton, and became its most prominent citizen. Bethuel Vin¬ 
cent was postmaster at Milton, June 29, 1803 to February 22, 1822, 
and again July 13, 1822 to June 23, 1829. 

Cornelius Vincent died in Milton, July 16, 1812. Daniel Vincent 
died near his mills, January 26, 1826, and Betheul died at his home in 
Milton, April 30, 1837. 

Betheul Vincent, born June 3, 1762, married Martha Himrod, 
January 1, 1788. They were the parents of nine children, of whom 
John Himrod, born April 20, 1798, was the youngest of the four sons. 

John Himrod married Mary Raser, a native of Philadelphia, who 
died at Chillisquaque, Pa., February 16, 1852. They were old-fashioned 
Methodists, and parents of Bishop Vincent. 

During a short residence in Tuscaloosa, Ala., John Heyl Vincent, 
the subject of this sketch, was born February 23, 1832. The parents 
soon moved back to their Pennsylvania home, where John H. attended 
the schools at Milton and Lewisburg. He began to preach at eighteen 
years and studied for awhile at Wesleyan Institute, Newark, N. J. 

Reverend John Heyl Vincent joined the New Jersey Conference in 
1853. Was ordained deacon, 1855; elder, in 1857. Transferred to 
Rock River, Ill. Conference, he became pastor at Galena in 1857, and 
General U. S. Grant was one of his parishioners. He then preached 
elsewhere and in Chicago. 

A trip to the old world in 1862, contributed an important part to his 
intellectual training. He visited Egypt, Palestine, Greece, Italy and 
other countries. 

In 1866 he was elected general agent of the Methodist Episcopal 
Sunday School Union and in 1868, corresponding secretary of the Sunday 
School Union and Tract Society, with residence in New York City. A 
complete series of his books forms an encyclopedia of modern Sunday 
School literature. 

This work culminated in 1874, in the Chautauqua Sunday School 
Assembly, from which he founded, in 1878, the Chautauqua Literary 
and Scientific Circle and was its Chancellor until his death. 


328 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


He was made resident bishop at Zurich, Switzerland, 1900, and 
placed in charge of European work of the Methodist Church. 

Bishop Vincent became preacher to Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Wel¬ 
lesley and other universities and colleges, and was the recipient of many 
honorary degrees. 

In speaking of his great work at Chautauqua he remarked: “I do not 
expect to make a second Harvard and Yale out of Chautauqua, but I 
do want to give the people of this generation such a taste of what it is to 
be intelligent that they will see to it that their children have the best 
education the country can give.” 

Bishop Vincent died in Chicago, May 9, 1920, aged 88 years. 

Bishop Vincent’s son, Hon. George Edgar Vincent, a distinguished 
educator and powerful orator, is president of the Rockefeller Foundation. 

Pennsylvania may well be proud to claim the ancestors of Bishop 
Vincent, the founder of Chautauqua, as their own. 


Long Standing Boundary Line Dispute Be¬ 
tween Maryland and Pennsylvania Pro¬ 
prietaries Signed May 10, 1732 

N THE boundary dispute between Pennsylvania and Maryland 
Lord Baltimore had observations taken of the latitude of 
New Castle, Delaware, which showed that town to be 
39° 39' 30", which would place the end of the fortieth degree 
many miles to the north, and its beginning far beyond the 
reach of the radius of twelve miles as called for by Lord Chief 
Justice North, of England. 

A degree of latitude is a band about sixty-nine and a half miles wide, 
extending around the earth parallel to the equator. 

Lord North, William Penn, Lord Baltimore, and others, in the 
absence of better knowledge, simply assumed that the degrees on the 
maps were all too far south, which was only a guess, but in fact they 
were nearly correct. 

Penn obtained his charter and sent William Markham, his cousin 
and deputy, to the Delaware to take an observation of the latitude, and 
he was to meet Lord Baltimore, or his agents, and settle the boundaries. 

This meeting was held in Upland, now Chester, in latter part of the 
year 1681. The observation was taken, and it became manifest that 
an absurd mistake in latitude was revealed, and that the fortieth degree, 
the southern boundary of Pennsylvania was twelve miles farther to the 
North. Lord Baltimore already knew that the end of the fortieth 
degree was many miles north of its position on Captain John Smith’s 





MARYLAND-PENNSYLVANIA BOUNDARY FIXED 329 


map, and he renewed his old claim that his province of Maryland ex¬ 
tended to the fortieth degree complete. Thus began the controversy 
which lasted twenty years. 

This claim carried the northern boundary of Maryland far into 
Penn’s province, just north of Philadelphia, and if successfully defended 
would have cut from the southern part of our State all the territory 
south of a line running through Philadelphia, Dowingtown, just south 
of Lancaster, and north of York, Bedford, Somerset, Connellsville, 
Brownsville, and the village of West Finley in Washington County. 

But Penn had a strong case to defend his territorial limits, his charter 
expressly defined the southern limit of Pennsylvania, as on the beginning 
of the fortieth degree, which would make its southern limit reach nearly 
to the City of Washington, and would have cut off from Lord Balti¬ 
more’s province much more territory than he was trying to cut from 
Penn’s. Penn also possessed the later grant from the Crown, and 
in such a dispute, where the limits overlapped, it would be taken to have 
annulled the older. 

Penn was willing to yield his stronger position and compromise, 
all he demanded was that the line be placed where it was supposed to 
be when his charter was granted. The mistake in latitude made Penn’s 
boundary on the Delaware ridiculous, for the circle of twelve miles from 
New Castle could not possibly touch the beginning of the fortieth degree, 
which was forty miles to the south of it. 

It would have been unfortunate to obstruct the settlement of this 
country by putting claims in which both seemed to be justified, but 
Penn did even more than expected. He offered to purchase from Balti¬ 
more sufficient land to give Pennsylvania a harbor at the head of the 
Chesapeake. At another personal interview with Baltimore at West 
River he suggested a compromise even more favorable to Maryland, 
by suggesting that additional territory should be given Baltimore to 
make up the loss of the increased length of a degree, which was recently 
ascertained to be 69^4 instead of 60 miles. This would have placed 
the northern line of Maryland about seven miles north of the head of 
the Chesapeake. 

Lord Baltimore refused all compromises offered by William Penn. 
He fancied he could obtain great acquisitions of territory, and was deter¬ 
mined his province should consist of the present Maryland, Delaware 
and the southern strip of Pennsylvania above described. 

The controversy was thrown in the privy council. The case was 
argued for two years, the council finally deciding that Baltimore’s 
charter did not give him a title to Delaware, because at the time of 
granting the charter that region had been in possession of the Dutch, 
and they ordered Baltimore and Penn to divide Delaware equally 
between them by a north and south line, midway between the Chesapeake 
and the Delaware. The decision of the council was confined to the 


330 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


controversy between Delaware and Maryland, and nothing was said 
about the disputed boundary of the 40° between Maryland and Pennsyl¬ 
vania and it remained unsettled. 

This condition proved a great hardship, the inhabitants on the border, 
uncertain of their position, refused to pay taxes to either government, 
and the sheriffs of adjoining counties carried on a warfare of petty 
annoyance. This gave the rougher and lawless men an excuse for 
fighting. One of the most notable of these was Thomas Cresap. He 
caused so much trouble in the southern counties that when he was 
arrested and carried to Philadelphia, which he called a pretty Maryland 
town, his exploits were known as the Cresap War. 

William Penn died July 30, 1718, leaving the question as unsettled 
as it was in 1682. Charles Calvert, the fifth Lord Baltimore, was now 
the proprietor of Maryland, and the first of the family to show much 
cleverness. 

He went to Penn’s widow and admitted he had no just claim to the 
title of Delaware, and suggested that no more land should be granted 
near either of the disputed borders by either government for eighteen 
months, within which time they could settle all difficulties. This 
agreement was signed in February, 1723, and long after the eighteen 
months had passed into history, the agreement was faithfully observed 
by Hannah Penn, and after her death by her children. Baltimore also 
observed it. 

William Penn’s widow died in 1726, and her young sons did not 
immediately mark the boundary, and Baltimore now assumed the role 
of an injured person, and in 1731 petitioned the Crown to compel the 
Proprietors of Pennsylvania to join with him in settling the boundaries. 
He applied to John and Thomas Penn to meet with him and sign 
an agreement of sttlement, which they agreed to do, and they also 
accepted the terms proposed in it by Baltimore and the articles were 
signed May 10, 1732. 

The southern boundary of Pennsylvania was fixed about seven miles 
north of the head of Chesapeake, and the same as William Penn had 
offered Baltimore in their interview at West River. By this agree¬ 
ment Lord Baltimore received more than had ever belonged to him. 

A map was prepared, and attached to the agreement, on which the 
boundaries were plainly marked. This map was prepared by Baltimore, 
and the Penns accepted it as correct. 


CAPTAIN STEPHEN CHAMBERS 


331 


Captain Stephen Chambers Fatally Wounded 
in Duel with Dr. Rieger May 11, 1789 

N MAY, 1789, there was a brilliant banquet given at the public 
house of Colonel Mathias Slough, on the southeast corner of 
Penn Square and South Queen Street, Lancaster. This social 
function was attended by a large number of officers and soldiers 
who had fought in the Revolutionary War, among whom were 
Captain Stephen Chambers and Surgeon Jacob Rieger. 

Captain Chambers was neatly dressed in his military uniform, and 
in personal appearance was one of the finest-looking officers of that 
period. Dr. Rieger was quite the opposite, rather diminutive in stature, 
unshaven and otherwise very untidy. 

During the progress of the banquet Captain Chambers made some 
disparaging remark about Dr. Rieger, which the latter overheard and 
deemed insulting. The result was a challenge to a duel, which was as 
promptly accepted. 

The parties immediately named their seconds, who fixed the fol¬ 
lowing Monday evening, May 11, as the time. The parties met accord¬ 
ing to arrangement on the outskirts of Lancaster, and after the necessary 
details were concluded the antagonists faced each other, and at the com¬ 
mand of fire neither shot took effect. The seconds, at this point, made 
an earnest effort to reconcile the principals, Captain Chambers and his 
seconds being in a mood to offer such terms as they believed to be 
proper and satisfactory, but Dr. Rieger would not consent to any terms 
of reconciliation. 

They took their places and on the command of fire Captain Chambers 
snapped his pistol without discharging, but Dr. Rieger sent a ball crash¬ 
ing through both legs of Captain Chambers. His wounds bled freely, 
and for two days it was thought they were not dangerous; mortification, 
however, set in and he died in great agony on Saturday morning fol¬ 
lowing, May 16. 

Thus perished one of the noblest patriots and most brilliant legal 
minds of the bar, an event which agitated the public mind for years after¬ 
ward as an unwarranted and cold-blooded murder. 

Judge John Joseph Henry married Chambers’ sister, Jane, and was 
the attorney for his executors. 

Captain Chambers was a native of Ireland, being born there in 1750. 
He came to Pennsylvania prior to the Revolution, and settled at Lan¬ 
caster. He studied law and as soon as he was admitted to practice 
in 1773, he removed to Sunbury, where he became the first resident 
attorney of Northumberland County. Fithian, in his journal under 







332 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

date July 20, 1775, met him at Sunbury, “a lawyer, serious, civil and 
social.” 

At the outset of the Revolution he entered the service. He was 
appointed first lieutenant of the Twelfth Regiment of the Continental 
Line, October 16, 1776, and promoted to captain in 1777. 

He was chosen to the General Assembly from Northumberland 
County, October 2, 1778, and while in attendance thereon was admitted 
to the Philadelphia bar, March 6, 1779. In 1779 he was a member of 
the Republican Society of Philadelphia, whose object was the revision 
of the Constitution of 1776. 

In the fall of 1780 he returned to his former home in Lancaster and 
soon attained a large and lucrative practice, owned several farms and 
also became interested in the iron business. He represented Lancaster 
County in the Council of Censors, 1783 and 1784. He also was one 
of the original members of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati. 

He was a delegate to the convention November 29, 1787, which 
ratified, on the part of Pennsylvania, the Federal Constitution. In the 
debate he took a most aggressive part, frequently becoming very personal 
in his attack upon members of the opposite side, especially toward Wil¬ 
liam Findlay. Captain Chambers voted with his comrades in arms, 
and on the side of the adoption of the Federal Constitution. 

It is a matter of interest that Captain Chambers was among the 
distinguished patriots who were in the house of James Wilson, in 
Philadelphia, when the mob made a disgraceful attack against it, October 
4, 1779. Captain Chambers appeared with James Wilson, and others, 
before Supreme Executive Council, October 19, 1779, and was bound 
over to appear at the next term of court, in the sum of £5000. George 
Clymer and Samuel Caldwell becoming his surities in the sum of 
£2,500 each. 

The evening of the day of the riot at “Fort Wilson,” Captain 
Chambers attended the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge 
of Ancient York Masons and was installed Worshipful Master of 
Lodge No. 22, which was constituted at Northumberland the following 
month. 

At the constitution of Lodge No. 22, about the middle of November, 
1779, Chambers became its first Worshipful Master, and the warrant 
for that body was produced and presented by him at “his own proper 
cost and charges.” 

In July, 1785, he became the warrant Worshipful Master of Lodge 
No. 43, at Lancaster, and both of these ancient lodges are still at labor, 
the former, Lodge No. 22, now at Sunbury. 

Dr. Joseph Rieger was the surgeon of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regi¬ 
ment, commanded by Colonel Samuel Hiles. He was commissioned 
March 22, 1776. He was a highly respected physician of Lancaster. 
He died there in 1795. 


WAR OF 1812 BEGINS 


333 


War of 1812 Began in Pennsylvania with 
Message of Governor Snyder 
May 12, 1812 

HE inhabitants of the infant Nation believed that Great Britain 
had wantonly trampled on their rights, and on May 12, 1812, 
Governor Simon Snyder expressed the feelings of the people 
in his call for Pennsylvania’s quota of 14,000 militia, when he 
stated that for thirty years we had lived at peace with all the 
nations of the earth, while the storm of war had been deso¬ 
lating many countries of the civilized world, and that all means which 
wisdom and patience could devise had been in vain resorted to in the 
hope of preserving peace. 

“The cup of patience, of humiliation and long suffering,” declared 
the Governor, “had been filled to overflowing; and the indignant arm 
of an injured people must be raised to dash it to the earth and grasp the 
avenging sword. If ever a nation had justifiable cause for war, that 
nation is the United States. If ever a people had motives to fight, we 
are that people. It would give the Governor inexpressible satisfaction if 
Pennsylvania would volunteer her quota.” 

Such was the enthusiasm of the hour that in response to the Gover¬ 
nor’s call three times as many troops tendered their services as were 
required. The disappointment of some was so great that money was 
freely offered to secure a place among those accepted by the authorities. 

General William Reed, the Adjutant General of the State, speedily 
organized this force, which was formed into two divisions, four brigades 
and twenty-two regiments. The first, or Philadelphia division, was 
commanded by Major General Isaac Morrell and the second, from 
Pittsburgh and vicinity, by Major General Adamson Tannehill. 

The differences which had so long existed between the United States 
and Great Britain finally resulted in war, which was declared by Con¬ 
gress June 18, 1812. Every Representative, but two from Pennsylvania 
and both the Senators, voted in favor of a declaration and the people at 
home proved in demonstrative terms that they approved their vote. 

In July a general alarm prevailed in Erie and vicinity, in consequence, 
of the appearance of a British-Indian force on the opposite side of the 
lake. 

On July 15 the sixteenth division of Pennsylvania militia was or¬ 
ganized under General Kelso. Four thousand men called for by the 
President rendezvoused at Meadville and Pittsburgh looking to a move¬ 
ment on Canada. 

Soon the 2000 men at Meadville were ordered to Western New 









334 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


York, where they participated in the battles along the Canadian border. 
After the unsuccessful efforts of General Dearborn and Wilkinson, the 
rank of major general was conferred upon Jacob Brown, of Bucks 
County, and he was given the command of the Northern Department. 

General Brown at Ogdensburg, October 4, 1812, defeated the 
British, and won a signal victory, May 29, when he took Sackett’s 
Harbor, which he retained until the close of the war. General Brown 
also won a brilliant victory at Fort Erie, which is on the Canadian shore, 
opposite Buffalo, N. Y., on July 3, 1814. 

Winfield Scott, later the successful commander in the war with 
Mexico, was an officer under General Brown. He won the brilliant 
and important engagement at Chippewa, under directions of General 
Brown. Captain Thomas Biddle, of Philadelphia, commanded one of 
the three batteries of artillery engaged. 

General Brown then won the severe battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25, 
in which 2600 Americans defeated 7000 British, and captured one of 
their batteries. In this engagement General Brown was twice wounded, 
Major Daniel McFarland was killed, Captain Biddle and Colonel Hugh 
Brady, of Northumberland County, afterward a distinguished general 
of the United States Army, were severely wounded. 

General Brown defended Fort Erie against two attacks and at the 
close of the campaign was honored by the State of New York with a 
gift of gold and a decorated sword, “in testimony of the high sense they 
entertained of his valor and skill in defeating the British forces, superior 
in number.” Congress gave him the thanks of the Nation and a gold 
medal, and he was made Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the 
United States. He died February 24, 1828, from the effects of wounds 
received at Lundy’s Lane. 

Other Pennsylvanians who were heroes in this war included Gen¬ 
eral Thomas Bodley and Colonel William Carroll, a native of Pitts¬ 
burgh, who afterward served as Governor of Tennessee from 1821 to 
1827, and again from 1830 to 1835. 

The defense of Philadelphia was chiefly maintained by volunteers 
from Pennsylvania. One camp was established at Shell Pot, north of 
Wilmington, where the “Philadelphia Blues” under Captain Lewis Rush 
formed a part of the command. He was promoted and Lieutenant 
Henry Myers succeeded him as captain of the Blues, or “Bucktails,” as 
they were more generally called. 

In the summer of 1814, Governor Snyder ordered out troops to 
serve for the defense of Delaware and the Elk River. A camp was 
established near Wilmington, called Camp Dupont, and was under the 
command of General Thomas Cadwalader, of Philadelphia. The 
infantry regiment was commanded by Colonel Clement C. Biddle, and a, 
battalion of artillery was there under command of Colonel Prevost. 
Another camp was formed near Marcus Hook, called Camp Gaines. 


LIEUTENANT COLONEL ANTES 


335 


General Snyder commanded this brigade. In this camp were Colonel 
William Duane and others. The First or old “City Troop,” commanded 
then by Captain Charles Ross, was in Camp Gaines. 

Another camp of 5000 troops was established at York under Major 
General Nathaniel Watson. When General Ross attempted the capture 
of Baltimore these Pennsylvanians marched there and aided in repelling 
the enemy. 

An important event of this war was the blockade of the Delaware 
River in March, 1813, by the British fleet under Commodore Sir John 
P. Beresford. 

The closing scenes of the war were enacted in the regions north and 
south of Pennsylvania, and the State was not seriously threatened with 
invasion. 

On August 24, 1814, Washington fell into the enemy’s hands, the 
city pillaged and the Capitol burned. 

Just as Robert Morris was the financier of the Revolution, so 
Stephen Girard also of Philadelphia, was the financier of the War of 
1812. The Government needed $5,000,000 and offered high interest, 
but only $200,000 was subscribed, when Girard stepped into the sc^ne 
and subscribed the balance. He staked his whole fortune in his trust 
of his adopted country, which none other would do, and saved the Nation 
from a humiliating defeat. He also took Treasury bills at their face 
value, and his example shamed other creditors, who then accepted the 
money of the Government. 


Lieutenant Colonel Antes, Soldier and Fron¬ 
tiersman, Died May 13, 1820 

IEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN HENRY ANTES died 
at his stockaded home, long known as Antes’ Fort, May 13, 
1820, aged eighty-three years. 

This pioneer statesman and soldier was an early settler on 
the frontier of Pennsylvania, a member of a distinguished 
family in the Province, an officer of the Revolution, Sheriff of 
Northumberland County during the stirring days of the Wyoming con¬ 
troversy, and an ardent patriot whose influence, both in civic and mili¬ 
tary affairs, was most potent a century and a quarter since. 

The ancestral home of Colonel Antes was in the beautiful and fer¬ 
tile valley, called Falkner’s Swamp, in what is now Montgomery 
County, about six miles from Pottstown. 

Philip Frederick Antes, grandfather of Lieutenant Colonel John 
Henry Antes, of the noble family of Von Blume, of Rhenish Bavaria, 
Germany, owing to religious persecutions, came from Friensheim, Ger- 







336 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


many, sometime between 1716 and 1723, and settled for a short time in 
Germantown. 

On February 29, 1722-23, he bought 154 acres in the Van Bebber 
tract in what has since been called Falkner’s Swamp. This was a tract 
of 500 acres in the original patent made by William Penn, October 25, 
1701, to the Frankford Land Company, and comprised 22,337 acres 
of the most fertile land in the State. 

On December 16, 1708, the tract was sold by the agent, Daniel 
Falkner, to John Henry Sprogel for £500, current money of Pennsyl¬ 
vania and was paid for in “Silver Coyne.” This was known as the 
German tract and also by other names. 

In 1726 Henry Antes, the only son, married Christina, the daughter 
of William Dewees, who built the second paper mill in America, in 
1710, in that part of Germantown known as Crefeld, near the line of 
the present Montgomery County. A flour mill was added to the Cre¬ 
feld paper mill and here Henry Antes worked for three years. This 
was the birthplace of three of their children, Frederick, William and 
Elizabeth. Henry Antes served for more than ten years as one of the 
Justices of the Province. 

September 2, 1735, Henry Antes purchased more than 200 acres 
about two miles away, just across the line from the German tract, in 
what is now Frederick Township, Montgomery County, and built a 
grist mill and a stone mansion, in which the rest of his distinguished 
family was born, and which was destined to become one of the valued 
historic buildings of the State. 

It was in this home that Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Antes was 
born, October 5, 1736. Here Reverend George Whitefield, the great 
evangelist, preached from the porch, April 23, 1740, to a multitude 
estimated at 3000 persons. 

In 1745 Pious Henry Antes gave up his home to the needs of the 
Moravian Society, and his house became the school for boys. He and 
his wife removed to Bethlehem. Henry Antes’ home thus became the 
first boarding school for boys in America. 

It was in this mansion, then owned by Colonel Frederic Antes, that 
General Washington made his headquarters, September 18 to 24, 1777, 
during his stay at Camp Pottsgrove, the most westerly point ever 
reached by the Continental Army. 

When still quite a young man John Henry Antes, being of a roman¬ 
tic disposition, went to the Susquehanna region, being induced to do so 
by Conrad Weiser, who was a great friend of the family, and who had 
made frequent trips to the West Branch in the interest of the Provincial 
Government. He settled on a farm situated on Shamokin Creek, near 
the present Sunbury, and soon became one of the prominent men of 
that region. 

On July 29, 1775, he was appointed a Justice of Quarter Sessions. 


LIEUTENANT COLONEL ANTES 


337 


On January 24, 1776, he was commissioned a captain in the Second 
Battalion, under Colonel James Potter, and on March 13, following 
was assigned to the command of Colonel William Plunket, when he 
made his expedition against the Connecticut settlers; then Captain 
Antes was assigned to the Second Battalion of Associators. 

On May 21, 1777, he was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 
Fourth Battalion, of Northumberland County Militia, and in this serv¬ 
ice endeared himself to the frontier inhabitants by his active work in 
protecting the settlements from the frequent incursions of the Indians. 

He established his headquarters in the Nippenose Valley. Here he 
built the stockade, called Antes’ Fort, which was the most exposed place 
on the frontier. This stockade and the cabin home of Colonel Antes 
were destroyed by the Tories and Indians at the time of the “Great 
Runaway,” July, 1778. 

Towards the close of the Revolution, Colonel Antes was elected 
Sheriff of Northumberland County, October 18, 1782, and re-elected. 
At this time his jurisdiction extended over what is now thirty counties 
of Pennsylvania. 

At the close of his political and military career, he removed from his 
farm to a tract of land on Nippenose Creek, which he had purchased 
September 29, 1773. This site was near the mouth of that creek op¬ 
posite the mouth of Pine Creek, near the present Jersey Shore, and here 
he built a mill, known as Antes’ Fort. His log mansion built at the 
same time, 1785, which he stockaded, and which was later occu¬ 
pied by his son, Henry, until 1830, is still in use. The grist mill, now 
in operation, is the fourth one erected on the original site. 

A gap in the mountains, a small town, and other places have taken 
their name from this sturdy pioneer. 

The Antes Burying Ground is not far distant from the home and 
mill, site, and in it is the grave of Colonel John Henry Antes. 

The numerous descendants of Colonel Antes meet in annual reunion 
and recount his many exploits and services so unselfishly rendered in 
time of need. 


t 


338 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Provincial Council Hears of Border Trouble 
May 14,1734 

HOMAS and John Penn, the Proprietaries, arrived in the 
Province, the former in 1732, and his elder brQther, John, two 
years later. They were cordially and affectionately received 
by the colonists as the sons of the most illustrious founder. 

John Penn remained only one year, as he hurried back to 
England to oppose the pretentions of Lord Baltimore, but 
Thomas Penn remained for some years in the Province, spending his 
time generally after the manner of an English country gentleman. He 
was cold and distant in his intercourse with society and consequently 
unpopular. He returned to England in 1741. 

In the year 1733 the Provincial Government for the first time be¬ 
came apprehensive of the designs of the French in the Western country, 
where they began to establish trading posts along the headwaters of the 
Allegheny and Ohio Rivers and claimed all the land on those waters by 
virtue of some treaty of which the Provincial Government was not 
apprised. 

With a view to frustrate their designs, which obviously tended to 
alienate the Indians from the English, James Logan proposed that a 
treaty should be made with the Shawnee and other tribes, and that they 
should be invited to remove nearer the English settlements. In accord 
with this suggestion, a treaty was held with the Six Nations at Phila¬ 
delphia, when the savages confirmed the fears of the English by advis¬ 
ing them of the French designs, and they promised perpetual friend¬ 
ship with the English. 

Then trouble began on the Maryland border. At a meeting of 
Council held in Philadelphia May 14, 1734, Thomas Penn informed 
the board of some very unneighborly proceedings of the Province of 
Maryland in not only harassing some of the inhabitants of this Province 
who lived along the border, but that they extended their claims much 
farther than they had ever before pretended they had a right. They 
went so far as to carry off several persons, whom they imprisoned, 
among them being John Hendricks and Joshua Minshall, who lived on 
the Susquehanna in what is now York County. At the time of this 
report they were still confined in prison at Annapolis. 

Penn advised Council he had engaged Andrew Hamilton, Esq., to 
appear for them when they should be brought to trial at the ensuing 
Provincial Court of Maryland. Penn said this action of the Mary¬ 
landers made settlements along the border insecure and he proposed 
that the Council decide on measures for maintaining the peace between 
his Majesty’s subjects in both Provinces. 






BORDER TROUBLE 


339 


Mr. Hamilton, accompanied by Mr. Georges, private secretary to 
Governor Thomas Penn, went to Annapolis on their mission. They 
were also acting in capacity of commissioners for the Proprietaries, 
with the approval of the Assembly, to execute articles of agreement, 
and to run, mark and lay out the lines, limits and boundaries between 
the two Provinces. They did not meet with much success, in conse¬ 
quence of which, the Governor, under date of August 19, 1734, wrote 
to the Justices of the Counties of Chester, Lancaster on the Susque¬ 
hanna, and New Castle, Kent and Sussex on the Delaware as follows: 

“You are not, I believe, insensible how much the whole country 
has been disappointed in the just hopes which had been entertained of 
seeing a final period put to those long pending disputes between this 
Government and that of Maryland, touching their respective bound¬ 
aries, by the execution of the solemn agreement concluded between the 
Proprietaries of each. It is, however, no small satisfaction to me that 
I can now acquaint you that this agreement, with the proceedings of 
the commissioners thereon, having been laid before his Majesty’s at¬ 
torney and solicitor general, we have had the pleasure of lately receiving 
the opinion, that the agreement still remains valid and binding, on both 
Proprietaries, although their commissioners, by reason of difference in 
sentiments, have not carried into execution. 

“Now, as the northern bounds, formerly set by Lord Baltimore to 
himself, differ not much from those lately agreed upon, I know not 
how we can judge better or with more certainty of any bounds by which 
we limit our present jurisdiction than near the place where it is known 
they will fall when the lines shall be actually run. 

“In the meantime, that a stop may be put to any further insults on 
the people of this Government, and encroachments on lands within the 
bounds of the same, I am again to renew to you those pressing in¬ 
stances I have repeatedly made, that agreeable to the duty of your 
stations, you exert your utmost endeavors for preserving peace through¬ 
out your county, and protecting all the inhabitants in the just and right 
possessions, in legal and necessary defense of which every person ought 
to be encouraged to appear with boldness, and to be assured of receiving 
all the countenance that lawful authority can give. 

“And as the late disturbances have been in a great measure owing 
to the unjust attempts of those who, pretending right to, or claiming 
disputed lands, under that pretense, have come many miles into this 
Province, and with force possessed themselves of lands for which they 
can have no lawful grant from any other persons but our Honorable 
Proprietaries only, and have likewise committed very great violences 
upon sundry of our inhabitants, you are to give strict orders for appre¬ 
hending and securing all such who have been principals or accessories 
therein, as well as those who hereafter shall presume to offer an injury 
to the persons or professions of his Majesty’s peaceable subjects or en- 


340 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


croach on any lands within the known and reputed limits of your 
county, that they may be brought to condign punishment. 

“But as in the year 1724, it was agreed ‘that for avoiding all man¬ 
ner of contention or difference between the inhabitants of the two 
Provinces, no person or persons should be disturbed or molested in their 
possessions they then held on either side,’ you are desired still to have a 
particular regard to those entitled to the benefit of that agreement, 
while they behave themselves peaceably.” 

The letters then gave implicit instructions to the sheriffs, directing 
them to frequently visit the borders, particularly where the disturbances 
happened, and give all assistance possible to the injured and apprehend 
those who caused the trouble and seize and secure them. 

It was particularly fortunate that the Indians continued to live 
amicably with the settlers at this period. 


Dr. Nicholas More, First Chief Justice, 
Impeached May 15, 1685 

ILLIAM PENN appointed his cousin, Captain William 
Markham, Deputy Governor, and he arrived in the Province 
in October, 1681. He then appointed commissioners to lay 
out the proposed great city, who came over toward the end 
of that year. The commissioners, as originally appointed were 
William Crispin, Nathaniel Allen and John Bezar. 

These commissioners sailed in the ship John and Sarah, taking the 
southern passage and stopping at Barbadoes, where Crispin died. 
Crispin was head of the commission, a man of mature years and Penn’s 
own kinsman, like Markham. 

It appears by a letter from Penn to Markham, dated London, 
October 18, 1681, that Penn intended Crispin to hold high office in 
the new province. He says: 

“I have sent my cosen, William Crispen, to be thy assistant, as my 
commission will appear. His Skill, experience, Industry and Integrity 
are well known to me, and particularly in Court keeping &c., so yt is 
my will and pleasure that he be as Chief Justice to keep ye Seal, ye 
Courts and Sessions, & he shall be accountable to me for it.” 

The honor, therefore, of discharging the highest judicial office in 
Pennsylvania is to be attributed to the man appointed by the proprietary 
in pursuance of the act of 1684—that man was Dr. Nicholas More. 

It is difficult to understand the abilities and character of More. 
He was educated in medicine, but drifted away, in his mature years, 
from the practice of his profession, and in 1681 became the president of 







DR. NICHOLAS MORE IMPEACHED 


341 


the Society of Free Traders, and a large purchaser of land in the new 
Province of Pennsylvania. 

Nicholas More arrived in the province with Penn in 1682, and 
though not a member of the Society of Friends, he so far won their con¬ 
fidence that he was returned a member of the first Assembly at Chester, 
and probably was the speaker of that body. He continued a member 
for three years, and in 1684 was again elected its speaker. 

In August, 1684, he was commissioned Chief Justice by the Pro¬ 
prietary and at once entered upon the discharge of the functions of 
that high office. 

In spite of the estimable qualities which entitled him to these honors, 
his character was stained with faults, and his haughty demeanor, harsh 
and ungoverned temper, incensed those with whom he was brought in 
contact. 

In 1683 a Council and Assembly attempted to function with less 
members than required by the Frame of Government. More reminded 
them they had broken the Charter and their acts would amount to 
nothing. He further said: “Hundreds in England will curse you * * * 
and their children after them, and you may be impeached for treason 
for what you do.” 

He denounced them when they passed laws which he opposed, and 
used language which was not in common usage among the pious 
Quakers. 

These practices and his overbearing and haughty spirit made More 
many enemies in all classes. It is therefore with but little surprise 
that the Assembly formally impeached him early in his judicial career. 

On the morning of May 15, 1685, a member of the House presented 
a formal complaint. More, who was sitting as a delegate, was ordered 
to withdraw. The articles of accusation were read and approved, and 
a committee named to conduct the impeachment. But the Council 
received the accusers with grave civility and gave the Judge until 7 
o’clock the following morning to answer the charges. 

More was not inclined to gracefully submit himself to the judgment 
of the Council and bitterly accused Abraham Mann as “a person of a 
seditious spirit.” He did not appear before Council and also refused 
to attend when warned by a committee. 

The Assembly prudently resolved to collect the testimony necessary 
to make good their charges. They required the records of the Provincial 
Court, which were in possession of Patrick Robinson, clerk of the Court, 
who happened to be present in the House. He was little in sympathy 
with the impeachment and refused to produce the desired records. He 
even alleged that the records were “written in Latin where one word 
stood for a sentence and in unintelligible characters which no person 
could read but himself; no, not an angel from Heaven.” 

The clerk held firm and then withdrew from the House. A war- 


342 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


rant was issued by the Speaker and he was placed in the custody of 
the sheriff. 

More all this time, secretly supported by the Governor and his 
friends in the Council, took no notice of the proceedings against him. 
He told John Briggs, a member of the House, “Either I myself or 
some of you will be hanged and I advise you to enter your protest 
against it.” 

On the morning of May 18 the Assembly met after a long con¬ 
ference with the Council. They once more endeavored to extort the 
records from Robinson, who was brought into the House in the custody 
of the Sheriff, but in vain. Robinson threw himself on the floor and 
refused to arise or answer any questions put to him. The House, 
therefore, hastened to make an end of the business. They expelled 
More, resolved to ask that Robinson should be removed from office, 
hastily gathered together their evidence, and presented themselves be¬ 
fore the Council. 

More again absented himself, but the evidence against him was 
sufficiently serious. He was proved to have acted in a summary and 
unlawful way in summoning juries; to have perverted the sense of the 
testimony; to have unduly harassed a jury into finding an unjust 
verdict, etc., and finally of having used “several contemptuous and 

derogatory expressions.of the Provincial Council and of the 

present state of Government by calling the members thereof fooles and 
loggerheads,” and by saying “it was well if all the laws had dropt and 
that it never would be good times as long as ye Quakers had ye 
administration.” 

The speaker requested that both More and Robinson be dismissed 
from office, and the Assembly withdrew. 

The Governor and Council were puzzled how to act. Robinson 
was retained until he became so insolent that he was dismissed. But 
More had incurred the displeasure of public opinion, yet they could 
not proceed against him. The further prosecution of his case was 
postponed month by month by trivial excuses, till more important mat¬ 
ters took its place in the public mind. 

It is reasonable to conclude that Judge More must have been 
possessed of some sterling qualities and considerable natural parts to 
warrant Penn in his appointment. His dismissal from office ended 
his career as a public man. 

Dr. More was the founder of the Manor of Moreland. He died 
after a languishing illness in 1689. 



MASSACRE AT FRENCH JACOB’S MILL 


343 


Massacre at French Jacob Groshong’s in 
Union County, May 16, 1780 

N THE spring of 1780 occurred an Indian massacre at what 
was then known as French Jacob’s Mill. The site of this 
fatal attack is on a farm long in the possession of the Wohl- 
heiter family, situated about one-half a mile southeast of the 
Forest House, at the end of Brush Valley Narrows, in what 
is now Union County. 

Here in 1776 Jacob Groshong, or French Jacob, as he was called 
by his neighbors, built a log mill, which was patronized by the settlers 
for many miles around. 

On May 16, 1780, a patrol of Continental soldiers on duty as a 
garrison at the mill, was attacked by a party of Indians, and four of the 
defenders were killed and several wounded. Those killed were John 
Foster, James Chambers, George Etzweiler and Samuel McLaughlin. 

The soldiers were outside the mill at the time of the attack washing 
themselves. They had just returned from patroling that neighborhood 
and were confident the immediate country was free of redskins. 

Christian Shively heard the firing as he was threshing grain in a 
field. He immediately concealed his wife and two small children near 
the creek, then rolled some logs into the stream and tied them into a 
raft, put his wife and children on, and floated down stream to safety. 
Henry Pontius, a neighbor, also heard the shots, secured his gun, hur¬ 
riedly mounted a horse and made a circuit through the woods, and came 
to the mill just in time to see the Indians fleeing with their plunder. 

An appeal for assistance was sent to the seat of Government, and 
the following day messengers set off for Philadelphia. A detail started 
for New Berlin, bearing the bodies of the murdered soldiers, but when 
John Clark’s farm was reached the party was divided. Those carrying 
the bodies of John Foster and James Chambers were compelled to make 
burial in the Lewis graveyard, as the weather was too excessively hot. 
The other party, bearing the body of George Etzweiler, buried it on 
the farm of John Brook, where his grave was suitably marked. The 
body of Samuel McLaughlin was carried to New Berlin and buried in 
the Dry Run Cemetery. 

Colonel Matthew Smith sent a letter to General Joseph Reed, 
president of the State, dated Northumberland, May 18, 1780, in which 
he complained bitterly of the defenseless frontiers, and begged for 
immediate assistance. He said: 

“Sir, unless some support can be instantly afforded, the State must 
shortly count one county less than formerly—which God forbid. I 








344 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


refer you, Dear Sir, to the bearer, General Potter, for further infor¬ 
mation, as he waits on horseback, whilst I write this imperfect, dis¬ 
tressed account. Provisions none; cash none, nor can it be had in this 
place. General Potter’s account from this place to the Honorable As¬ 
sembly, which I doubt not you will see, will fully satisfy you of the 
state of this place.” 

This mill, where the Indian fight occurred, was a favorite place 
for visitors as long as it stood. 

Some time between 1776 and 1779 Jacob Groshong built a little 
log mill on a site long afterward known as Solomon Heberling’s. He 
thought he had a clear title to the location, but he was defeated in a 
law suit for possession. 

Groshong later moved up into the Nittany Mountain, in now Center 
County, and then went West. His name, or rather his nickname, is 
still preserved in connection with a rather large spring a little above the 
tavern, on the Bush Valley road. He is the hero of many of the wild 
tales of Indian troubles in that part of the valley. 

On July 14, following this attack at French Jacob’s, the Indians 
attacked the family of Allens living at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, 
now Lewisburg. The woman succeeded in making her escape across 
the creek, but the husband and three children were killed. 

The same day Baltzer Klinesmith was killed and his two daughters, 
Elizabeth and Catherine, were carried off. This was in the vicinity of 
the present Dreisbach Church, Union County. 

The Indians and their prisoners arrived at a spring north of New 
Berlin, where they left the girls in charge of an old Indian and went 
down Dry Valley. It soon began to rain and the Indian made the 
girls gather brush to cover a bag of flour they had stolen. He laid 
down under a tree with his tomahawk under his head. The girls, 
passing with brush, gradually worked it from under him as he slept. 
Elizabeth secured it and motioned to her sister to run. She then sank 
it into the old Indian’s head and made her escape. 

The Indians returned about this time and pursued the girls, reach¬ 
ing them when they neared the house. A rifle ball passed through 
Catherine’s shoulder, which maimed her for life, but the girls succeeded 
in reaching their home and the men, already alarmed and prepared, 
gave chase to the savages. 

Two days after these attacks Colonel John Kelly enrolled a com¬ 
pany of Northumberland County militia, with James Thompson as 
captain; Joseph Poak, lieutenant, and Alexander Ewing, ensign. 


PONTIAC WAR 


345 


Indian War Known as Pontiac Conspiracy 
Opened May 17, 1763 

ENERAL JOHN FORBES and his invincible army invested 
the ruins of Fort Duquesne, November 24, 1758. There was 
no attempt made to restore the old fortification, but about one 
year later work was begun on a new fort, under the personal 
direction of General John Stanwix, who succeeded General 
Forbes, which has since been known as Fort Pitt. 

It was built near the point where the Allegheny and Monongahela 
unite their waters, but a little farther inland than the site of Fort 
Duquesne. The exact date of its completion is not known, but on 
March 21, 1760, Major General Stanwix, having finished his work, 
set out on his return journey to Philadelphia. 

The effect of this stronghold was soon apparent in the return of 
about 4000 settlers to their lands on the frontiers of Pennsylvania, 
Maryland and Virginia, from which they had been driven by their 
savage enemies, and the brisk trade which at once began to be carried 
on with the now, to all appearance, friendly Indians. However, this 
security was not of long duration. The definite treaty of peace between 
England, Spain and France was signed February 10, 1763, but before 
that time, Pontiac, the great chief of the Ottawas, was planning his 
conspiracy, which carried death and desolation throughout the frontier. 

The French had always tried to ingratiate themselves with the 
Indians. When their warriors came to the French forts they were 
hospitably welcomed and liberally supplied with guns, ammunition and 
clothing. The English, on the contrary, either gave reluctantly or did 
not "give at all. 

In a spirit of revenge and hatred a powerful confederacy was 
formed which included all the Western tribes, under the command of 
Pontiac, alike renowned for his warlike spirit, his wisdom and his 
bravery, and whose name was a terror to the entire region of the 
lakes. The blow was to be struck the middle of May, 1763. The 
tribes were to rise simultaneously and attack the English garrisons. 
Thus a sudden attack was made May 17, on all Western posts. 

Detroit was saved after a long and close siege. Forts Pitt and 
Niagara narrowly escaped, while Le Boeuff, Venango, Presque Isle, 
Miami, St. Joseph, Ouachtown, Sandusky, and Michillimackimac all 
fell into the hands of the savages. Their garrisons were either 
butchered on the spot, or carried off to be tortured for the amusement 
of their cruel captors. 

The Indians swept over the surrounding country, carrying death 








346 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


and destruction wherever they went. Hundreds of traders were 
slaughtered without mercy, while their wives and children, if not mur¬ 
dered, were carried off captives. The property destroyed or stolen 
amounted, it is said, to five hundred thousand pounds. 

Attacks were made at Forts Bedford and Ligonier, but without 
success. Fort Ligonier was under siege for two months. The preserva¬ 
tion of this post was of the utmost importance, and Lieutenant Blaine, 
by his courage and good conduct, managed to hold out until August 
2, 1763, when Colonel Henry Bouquet arrived with his little army to 
relieve him. 

In the meantime, every preparation was made at Fort Pitt for an 
attack. The garrison at that post numbered 330, commanded by Cap¬ 
tain Simeon Ecuyer, a brave Swiss. The fortifications were repaired, 
barracks were made shot-proof and a rude fire-engine was constructed to 
extinguish any flames kindled by the fire arrows of the Indians. All 
the houses and cabins outside the walls were leveled to the ground. 
The fort was crowded with the families of the settlers. 

Several weeks elapsed before there was any determined attack from 
the enemy. Only July 26 some chiefs asked for a parley with Captain 
Ecuyer, which was granted. They demanded that he and all in the 
fort should leave it immediately or it and they would all be destroyed. 

On the night succeeding this parley the Indians approached in great 
numbers, crawling under the banks of the two rivers, in which they 
were completely sheltered from the fire of the fort. On the one side 
the entire bank was lined with the burrows, from which they shot vol¬ 
leys of bullets, arrows and fire-arrows into the fort. The yelling was 
terrific, and the women and children in the crowded barracks clung to 
each other in abject terror. This attack lasted for five days. On 
August 1, the Indians heard the rumor that Colonel Bouquet was ap¬ 
proaching with a large force of troops, which caused them to give up 
the attack and move off, thus relieving the garrison. 

When the news of this sudden Indian uprising reached General 
Amherst he ordered Colonel Bouquet to march with a detachment of 
500 men to the relief of the besieged forts. This force was composed 
of regulars and six companies of Provincial Rangers. 

Bouquet established his rendezvous in Carlisle, where he arrived 
the latter part of June, 1763. Here he found every building, every 
house, every barn, every hovel crowded with terrified refugees. He 
wrote to General Amherst, July 13, as follows: 

“The list of people known to be killed increases every day. The 
desolation of so many families, reduced to the last extremity of want 
and misery; the despair of those who have lost their parents, relations 
and friends, with the cries of distracted women and children who fill 
the streets, form a scene painful to humanity and impossible to describe.” 

Strange as it may seem, the Province of Pennsylvania would do 


THE “MESCHIANZA’ 


347 


nothing to aid the troops who gathered for its defense. Colonel Bou¬ 
quet, in another letter to General Amherst, said: “I hope we shall 
be able to save that infatuated people from destruction, notwithstand¬ 
ing all their endeavors to defeat your vigorous measures.” 

While Bouquet, harassed and exasperated, labored on at his dif¬ 
ficult task, the terror of the frontier people increased, until at last, 
finding they could hope for but little aid from the Government, they 
bestirred themselves with admirable spirit in their own defense. They 
raised small bodies of riflemen, who scoured the woods in front of the 
settlements, and succeeded in driving the enemy back. In many in¬ 
stances the men dressed themselves in Indian fashion, painted their 
faces red and black, and adopted the savage mode of warfare. 

Forts Pitt, Niagara and Detroit were saved. Colonel Bouquet re¬ 
lieved Fort Pitt; Niagara was not attacked, and Detroit, after a long 
siege by Pontiac in person, was relieved by Colonel Bradstreet in 1764. 

The Indians were speedily subdued, but Pontiac remained hostile 
until his death in 1769. 


Meschianza, Stupendous Entertainment for 
Sir Wm. Howe, May 18, 1778 

B lIHE British spent the winter of 1777-78 in Philadelphia, and 
while the Americans were suffering at Valley Forge, Sir Wil¬ 
liam Howe’s army enjoyed one long round of pleasure in the 
capital city. The officers entertained themselves with fetes, 
dances and theatre parties, and they played cricket and had 
- cock-fights. As Franklin said: “Howe did not take Philadel¬ 
phia—Philadelphia took Howe.” 

Howe was criticized at home, where he was regarded as indolent 
in command and he resigned. Sir Henry Clinton superseded him. 

On May 18, 1778, before Howe’s departure, a fete at the home of 
Thomas Wharton, at Walnut Grove, was arranged for him by Major 
John Andre, a talented man, attractive to the ladies, who was later 
hanged as a spy. It was called the Meschianza, and comprised a re¬ 
gatta, tournament, feast and ball. It was a splendid folly in itself, and 
is notorious in American history. 

After all, the performance must have been crude and some of the 
features of it in bad taste and incongruous. The elements of the medley 
would not mix. Major Andre says the cost of the entertainment was 
defrayed by twenty-two officers of Howe’s staff. 

The Meschianza began with a regatta, which was in fact a military 
procession along the waterfront; boats, barges and galleys, filled with 
guests and officers, including Lord Howe, General Howe, Sir Henry 






348 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Clinton, Lord Rawdon and General Knyphausen, moving in three 
divisions down the river, the surrounding vessels decked with flags and 
the wharves teaming with spectators. 

As the company disembarked at the Wharton mansion they 
marched through files of grenadiers and light horse. On the lawn the 
bands in massed formation played favorite airs. Triumphal arches 
were erected on the lawn near the mansion, under which the ladies 
were received as at a royal court. 

Here were seated seven of the principal belles dressed in Turkish 
habits and wearing in their turbans the favors with which they meant 
to reward the several knights who were to contend in their honor. At a 
blast of the trumpets, a band of knights, dressed in ancient habits and 
mounted on gray horses, with rich trappings, dashed into the court. 
Each knight was accompanied by an esquire on foot. There were 
heralds and others, all in robes of ceremony. 

Lord Cathcart, superbly mounted, appeared as the chief of the 
White Knights. His lady was Miss Auchmuty. Then came Captain 
Cathcart, the first knight, in honor of Miss N. White; Lieutenant 
Bygrove and Miss Jane Craig; Captain Andre and Miss Peggy Chew; 
Captain Horneck and Miss Nancy Redman; Captain Matthews and 
Miss Wilhelmina Bond, Lieutenant Sloper and Miss Mary Shippen. 

A herald then proclaimed a challenge for “The Knights of the 
Blended Rose,” which was accepted by “The Knights of the Burning 
Mountain,” led by Captain Watson, of the Black Knights, whose par¬ 
ticular lady was Miss Rebecca Franks. These knights and their ladies 
were Lieutenant Underwood and Miss Sarah Shippen, Lieutenant Win- 
yard and Miss Peggy Shippen, Lieutenant Delaval and Miss Becky 
Bond, Monsier Montluissant and Miss Rebecca Redman, Lieutenant 
Hobart and Miss Sophia Chew and Major Tarleton and Miss Wil¬ 
helmina Smith. 

These ladies wore costumes uniformly similar to that adopted by 
their knights. The ladies of the Blended Rose each wore white silk, 
pink sash and spangled shoes and stockings. The ladies of the Burning 
Mountain wore white silk gowns trimmed with black and white sashes 
edged with black. 

The Black Knights threw down the gauntlet to the White Knights. 
It was picked up. Then the knights fixed their lances and shields and, 
galloping at full speed, encountered several times. The third such 
charge was ended by the firing of pistols, then the sword of combat, and 
at last the two chiefs engaged in single combat, till the marshal, Major 
Gwynne, rushed between them and declared that the fair damsels of the 
Blended Rose and the Burning Mountain were satisfied with the feats 
of valor of their respective knights, and favors were then distributed, 
and the knights rode off the field. 

They then reappeared riding through the triumphal arch and pre- 


THE “MESCHIANZA” 


349 


sented themselves to Lord Howe, which was followed by a grand pro¬ 
cession. The entertainment then continued in the mansion, which 
had been transformed for the occasion into an Egyptian palace. The 
ballroom contained eighty-five large mirrors, and was lighted with 
thirty-four branches of wax-lights. 

The four drawing rooms where the refreshments were served were 
decorated and lighted in the same style and taste as the ballroom. 

The ball by the knights and their ladies, and the dancing con¬ 
tinued until 10 o’clock when the windows were thrown open and a mag¬ 
nificent bouquet of rockets began the fireworks. 

This part of the elaborate entertainment was designed by Captain 
Montressor, the chief engineer, and consisted of twenty different ex¬ 
hibitions, displayed under his direction and to the delight and satisfac¬ 
tion of all present. The conclusion was the illumination of the 
triumphal arch, with a display of all the trophies. 

At midnight supper was announced, and large folding-doors, sud¬ 
denly thrown open, disclosed a magnificent salon 210 feet by 40. 
Here again many mirrors, artificial flowers and clusters of lights were 
made to produce a wonderful effect. Covers were laid for 430 guests. 

Toward the end of the supper the herald of the Blended Rose at¬ 
tended, entered the saloon and proclaimed the King’s health, the 
Queen, royal family, army, navy, their commanders, the knights and 
their ladies and the ladies in general, each of these toasts being ac¬ 
companied by a flourish of music. Dancing was then continued until 
4 o’clock. 

While this revelry was at its height the sound of cannon was heard 
in the North. The English officers explained to their frightened part¬ 
ners in the dance that it was part of the ceremony. But it was not. 
Captain McLane, a dashing officer, hearing of the Meschianza, at the 
head of 100 infantry and Clow’s dragoons, reached the line of redoubts 
between the Delaware and Schuylkill, painted everything within reach 
with tar and, at a given signal, set it on fire. The sudden blaze took 
the British by surprise, the long roll was beaten, every cannon in the 
redoubts was fired. The British cavalry dashed out into the night, but 
the daring Americans were nowhere to be found. 


350 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Colonel Pluck Parades His Celebrated 
“Bloody Eighty-Fourth” Regiment, 

May 19, 1825 

N AMUSING sensation started in 1824 continued to attract 
attention in Philadelphia during the following year. 

There had been more or less laxity in the various militia 
organizations in the election of their officers and this was 
much more evident in Philadelphia than elsewhere in the 
State. 

John Pluck, an ignorant hostler, was elected colonel of the Eighty- 
fourth Regiment as a joke and to ridicule the militia system, which at 
that moment was very unpopular with the members. 

This election had been resisted by many who were disinclined to 
treat so serious a matter jocularly, and the board of officers set aside the 
election as illegal, and ordered a new election. 

At the next election John Pluck received 447 votes; Benjamin 
Harter, 64; and John Ferdey, commonly called “Whistling Johnny,” 
15. 

The successful candidate treated the matter seriously and issued 
an order for a parade of the First Battalion on May 1, on Callowhill 
Street, the right resting on Sixth Street; and the Second Battalion was 
ordered to parade at the same place on May 19. 

The order further directed that Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Nor- 
bury was to command the training of the First Battalion. The colonel 
himself was to take charge of the Second Battalion. 

The papers of that day do not notice the parade of the First 
Battalion, which was scheduled for May 1, but they have much to say 
about the big parade of May 19. 

It seems that by this time most of the militiamen in the regiment 
fully sensed the ridiculous position they were in with such an ignorant 
commander, and on the occasion of this much heralded parade the 
members appeared in fantastic costumes. 

Many of the militiamen were armed with ponderous imitations of 
weapons, and a large number of the populace turned out in the parade, 
dressed in every imaginable sort of costume, such as would even cause 
a ripple of laughter at Hallowe’en; these were armed with brooms, 
rakes, hoes and every conception of weapon. 

Philadelphia had never before witnessed such a “military” parade, 
and was quite unaccustomed to such a display, and this regimental 
review of “horribles” attracted much attention. 

Colonel Pluck was mounted on a fine steed, and Adjutant Roberts, 








“COLONEL” PLUCK’S PARADE 


351 


also well mounted, were the moving spirits of the parade and did not 
seem to fully realize the burlesque features of it. 

The regiment marched out to Bush Hill, followed by thousands 
of people on foot and hundreds on horseback. 

The press was either silent or expressed dissatisfaction. It could 
not have done otherwise. 

A few days following the parade Colonel Pluck issued new orders. 
He said: “Well, I am an honest man, anyhow. And I ain’t afraid to 
fight, and that’s more than most of them can say.” 

The United States Gazette said, “Pluck is the head groom at the 
corner of Third and Callowhill Streets. Some months ago he was 
chosen commander-in-chief of the ‘bloody Eighty-fourth;’ but the 
powers that be refused to commission him. * * * The Militia system 
is a farce. Demogogues have been using commissions in the militia as 
stepping-stones to offices of profit and honor. A cure must be found 
for the evil, which is to make fun of it.” 

The “Pluck Parade” rendered one other good service to Phila¬ 
delphia. When the regiment paraded to Bush Hill and wound up the 
day in disorderly frivolities, the grand jury in June declared Bush Hill a 
public nuisance. This was a large open field on the north side of Cal¬ 
lowhill Street, between Schuylkill Fourth and Schuylkill Fifth. 

The presentment of the grand jury states that men and women 
resorted there on various days, as well as on the Sabbath, “drinking, 
tippling, cursing, swearing, etc.” The grand jury further said that it 
had “particular reference to the days on which regiments and bat¬ 
talions of militia parade, when numerous booths, tents, and gaming 
tables are there erected.” 

It would be supposed that such a fantastic exhibition, directed 
against the militia system, would soon cause a change in the existing 
law, but it did no such thing. 

The act of Assembly of April 2, 1822, had reorganized the militia 
of Pennsylvania, and divided the State into sixteen military divisions. 

But the act did not work to the advantage of the militia system. It 
developed a lot of merely dress parade organizations, which were usually 
equipped with costly and gaudy uniforms, while discipline and military 
regulations became at once of secondary importance. 

From 1808 to 1844, the laws were principally for designating 
independent companies with high-sounding names. Such militiamen 
were exempted from drilling with regular militia, and occasionally 
the Legislature made appropriations to certain favored companies. 

The music on days of general muster was not only made a special 
feature of the occasion but its cost was borne by the State. 

So it is little wonder that the “Bloody Eighty-fourth,” elected 
“Colonel Pluck,” or that the populace and papers of that day de¬ 
manded a change in the militia system of the State. 


352 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Lafayette Executes Skillful Retreat at Mat¬ 
son’s Ford, May 20, 1778 

S AN appropriate closing to the round of dissipation in which 
the British Army had indulged during its occupation of Phil¬ 
adelphia, the officers gave a magnificent entertainment, 
called the Meschianza, in honor of Sir William Howe, as 
commander-in-chief of the British Army in America. This 
stupendous folly was given May 18, 1778, at the Wharton 

mansion. 

Shortly after the close of the entertainment, on the following day, 
the British commander was informed that General Lafayette with 
2400 men and five cannon had crossed the Schuylkill and was then at 
Barren Hill, about eleven miles from Philadelphia. 

In the hope of capturing this force, and thus signalizing his re¬ 
tirement from the command by a brilliant stroke, General Howe, on 
the night of the 19th, sent General Grant, with Sir William Erskine 
and General Grey, at the head of 5300 chosen men, to gain the rear 
of Lafayette’s position by a circuitous route. General Howe, accom¬ 
panied by Sir Henry Clinton, General Knyphausen and Admiral Howe, 
set out with 5700 troops on the following morning, May 20, expecting 
to intercept the American Army in retreat at Chestnut Hill. 

Lafayette’s position was skillfully chosen. His troops were en¬ 
camped on a commanding eminence west of the Wissahickon, flanked 
by the Schuylkill and rocky precipices on the right and by woods and 
several strong stone houses on the left. His cannon were in front. A 
few hundred yards in advance of his left wing, on the Ridge road, 
were Captain Allen McLane’s company of about fifty Indians and a 
company of Morgan’s Riflemen, under Captain Parr. Videttes and 
pickets were stationed on the roads leading to Philadelphia and those 
toward Whitemarsh he had ordered to be watched by 600 Pennsylvania 
militia. 

The British plan of surprise was well conceived. Grant, with 
the grenadiers and light infantry, undertook to get in Lafayette’s rear 
by the Whitemarsh road. Grey, with the Hessians, was to cross the 
river and post his men at the fords in order to prevent the Americans 
from making their escape. 

Early in the morning of the 20th, while Lafayette was conversing 
with a girl who was preparing to go into Philadelphia for intelligence 
under the pretense of visiting her relations, news came that a body of 
cavalry had been seen at Whitemarsh, dressed in red. As Lafayette 
was expecting a detachment of dragoons to join him in that direction, 
he at first supposed they were his own men and felt no concern. 




LAFAYETTE’S RETREAT 


353 


Lafayette, however, sent out an officer to reconnoiter, who soon re¬ 
turned with the report that a column of the enemy was in full march 
along the road from Whitemarsh to Swede’s Ford, a little more than 
a mile from his encampment, and that the front of the column 
had actually gained the road which led from Barren Hill to Valley 
Forge. 

This was Grant’s division and as another was approaching on the 
Philadelphia road, the situation of Lafayette’s force was alarming and 
critical, being nearly surrounded by the enemy. 

No time was to be lost. In a few minutes retreat would have been 
cut off and the army would have fallen an easy prey to the British. 
Lafayette immediately sent forward small bodies of troops with the 
view of deceiving Grant into the belief that they were the heads of a 
large attacking force. 

This ruse succeeded. Grant halted and prepared for action to pre¬ 
vent his line from being attacked on its flank, and during the interval 
thus gained Lafayette and General Poor, with the main body, con¬ 
ducted a skillful retreat over the country between the Ridge road and 
the Schuylkill, which he crossed at Matson’s Ford. 

Grey, with his intercepting force, had cut off the direct retreat to 
Valley Forge, but had failed to cover Matson’s Ford. The detach¬ 
ments which Lafayette had thrown forward as a “blind” retreated in 
good order, and when the two columns of the British Army united near 
Barren Hill Church, General Howe discovered that his intended prize 
had outwitted and escaped him. 

While the artillery *vas crossing the river, there was a skirmish at 
Matson’s Ford, in which nine Americans were killed or captured and 
two British troopers killed and several wounded. 

Lafayette drew up his force in strong position on the west bank of 
the river, and, having planted his cannon, awaited the enemy’s 
approach. But the British generals made no further movement in 
that direction, and the army was forced to return to Philadelphia, 
after a long and fatiguing march, without having accomplished any¬ 
thing. Seldom has a military maneuvre been executed with more 
success. 

Howe and the British officers were intensely mortified at this 
failure. So sure wefe they of success that it is said that before the 
troops left for Barren Hill the General invited some ladies to sup with 
Lafayette upon his return, while his brother, the admiral, pre¬ 
pared a frigate to send the distinguished prisoner immediately to 
England. 

Fortune had favored the British in so far that Lafayette would not 
have been surprised, but for the negligence of the Pennsylvania militia, 
who in disobedience of orders, had removed from their station at White- 
marsh without the General’s knowledge. 


12 


354 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


An amusing adventure occurred during the retreat. A body of 
British light horse came suddenly upon the Indians, who were posted 
in a wood at a considerable distance from the main army. The Indians 
fired their muskets and set up a hideous yell, according to their custom 
in battle. Both parties ran off, equally frightened at the unexpected 
and terrific appearance of their antagonists. 


Stephen Girard, Resident of Philadelphia by 
Accident, Born May 21, 1750 

TEPHEN GIRARD was born near Bordeaux, France, May 
21, 1750, the son of a sea captain. At the age of eight a little 
playmate threw an oyster shell into the open fire, it cracked, 
a piece struck Stephen and put out his right eye. The other 
boys of the neighborhood made fun of the one-eyed lad, which, 
with the sternness of his parents soured Stephen’s disposition, 
and he became sullen and gloomy. 

His mother died, and Stephen could no longer bear to live at home. 
Although but fourteen he sailed as cabin boy on the ship Pelerin for St. 
Domingo, and then for nine years sailed between Bordeaux and the 
French West Indies, during which time he studied navigation, until 
October 4, 1773, a license was issued “to Stephen Girard, of Bordeaux, 
full authority to act as captain, master and patron of a merchant vessel.” 

His attention now turned to commercial affairs in connection with 
the pursuit of the sea. His journal contains records of invoices and 
sales of goods suited to a West Indian market. These goods, amount¬ 
ing in value to $3000 Federal money, were disposed of in St. Domingo, 
February, 1774. 

From the West Indies he sailed to New York, arrived there July, 
1774. Here his business tact and shrewdness in trade attracted the 
notice of Thomas Randall, a prosperous merchant, and for more than 
two years Girard traded with New York, New Orleans and Port au 
Prince, on his own account and jointly with Mr. Randall. 

One night in May, 1776, Stephen Girard’s vessel was overtaken by a 
storm and the ship was driven before the gale, until Captain Girard 
could hear the waves upon the shore. He cast anchor and waited for 
the morning. When daylight dawned the fog was too heavy for him to 
locate his position. 

Girard fired a cannon as a signal of distress, which was soon an¬ 
swered by the approach of a pilot. “Where are we?” asked Captain 
Girard. “You are in Delaware Bay,” answered the pilot. “I wish to 
go to New York,” said Girard. “It can’t be done,” was the reply, “the 
British ships are swarming outside. You escaped them because of the 






STEPHEN GIRARD 


355 


fog but as soon as it disappears they will see and capture you. You must 
sail up to Philadelphia.” 

Captain Stephen Girard saw that the advice was good, went to 
Philadelphia, sold his vessel and cargo, and made the city his home. 

He set up a small store on Water Street, a short distance from the 
spot where he afterward located. He had no friends, and could speak 
English but poorly, but his business ability was so pronounced that he 
succeeded from the very beginning. 

In July, 1777, he married Mary Lumm, of Philadelphia, the 
daughter of a shipbuilder, but the union was unhappy. Mr. Girard ap¬ 
plied for a divorce, but his wife died of insanity in a hospital. 

The approach of the British troops to Philadelphia drove Mr. Girard 
to Mount Holly, N. J., where he enjoyed a profitable trade with the 
American sailors, until the evacuation of Philadelphia, when he returned 
and for a few years was associated in business with his brother, John. 
This connection was dissolved in 1780, by which time Stephen had 
gained a fortune of $30,000. 

During the next ten years he acquired a number of vessels, and had 
secured the lease on a range of stores at a time when rents were low, 
which he underlet at a large profit. He began to build a splendid fleet 
of ships, and soon every ocean saw Girard’s vessels. 

Once when the United States was again troubled by the British, a 
ship owned by Girard, carrying a rich cargo from the East, almost in 
sight of Delaware Bay, was captured. Girard drove a bargain with 
the British captain and bought back his vessel for $180,000. Then he 
brought her to Philadelphia and sold the cargo for $500,000. It was 
difficult to beat Stephen Girard. 

He was very frugal in private life, but generous in public affairs. 
During the yellow fever epidemic in 1793, Girard personally devoted 
several hours each day serving in the hospital. Of all his benefactions 
for the poor of his adopted country, this was really his noblest work. 

His mercantile business had grown so profitable and his fortune 
had increased so rapidly that in June, 1812, he determined to devote 
his attention to banking. To this end he purchased the bank-house of 
the Bank of the United States and opened “The Bank of Stephen 
Girard,” with a capital of $1,200,000, which was increased afterward to 
$4,000,000. 

Just as Robert Morris was the financier of the Revolution, so 
Stephen Girard was the financier of the War of 1812. In 1814 it 
looked as though the American cause must fail for lack of funds, and 
the heads of the national Government were in despair. A loan was 
offered in the money market, but so low was the credit of the Nation 
that only $200,000 was subscribed. Thereupon Stephen Girard took 
the whole issue of bonds, amounting to $5,000,000, and saved us from 
defeat and a disgraceful peace with England. 


356 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Girard contributed liberally to public improvements, and adorned 
Philadelphia with many handsome buildings. 

At the age of eighty Girard was the richest man in America. 
The same year he was knocked down by a carriage and badly in¬ 
jured. “Go on, doctor, I am an old sailor; I can bear a great deal,” 
he said to his physician. He lived two years afterward. 

When he died, December 26, 1831, his estate was valued at 
$9,000,000. Besides large bequests to public institutions, he gave 
$500,000 to improve the water front of Philadelphia. He gave 
$2,000,000 and a plot of ground for the erection and support of a col¬ 
lege for orphans, which was opened January 1, 1848. 

At his death he was buried in the vault of the Holy Trinity 
Roman Catholic Church, but on the completion of Girard College his 
remains were reinterred in a sarcophagus beneath the statue of the 
donor in the vestibule of the main building of the college. 

Girard College is the most richly endowed educational institu¬ 
tion in the world, and its founder was one of the most remarkable 
men who ever lived, and his accidental residence in Philadelphia was 
one of the most fortunate incidents in the history of Pennsylvania. 


Philadelphia Paid Homage to Lady 
Washington, May 22, 1789 

HE completion of the Federal Constitution and its adoption 
by ten of the United States was celebrated on July 4, 1788, 
by a great procession in the City of Philadelphia. And it 
was truly a great affair, far surpassing in extent and mag¬ 
nificence anything of the kind the young Nation had yet 
known. 

Immediately after the close of the constitutional convention which 
this pageant celebrated, General Washington, who had presided over 
the convention as its president, left Philadelphia for his home at 
Mount Vernon, again hoping that he might enjoy the freedom of life 
on his extensive lands on the banks of the Potomac. But this could 
not be so in his case. 

The first election for President of the United States was held 
January 7, 1789, and the country called Washington to be its first 
President under the Constitution which he had helped to formulate. 
President-elect Washington set out from Mount Vernon for New 
York, where Congress was in session, in April, after having been 
officially notified of his election. 

His many friends in Philadelphia were reluctant to see him go to 
New York, but made elaborate preparations for his reception in Phila- 










HOMAGE TO LADY WASHINGTON 


357 


delphia when he should pass through that city on the way to assume 
the high office. He was met by the Hon. Thomas Mifflin, president 
of the State; distinguished officers, the First City Troop of Horse and 
citizens. The imposing parade passed through arches formed of laurel, 
and along streets crowded with people and buildings decorated with 
flags. A banquet was spread, toasts were drunk and addresses de¬ 
livered by the high officials of the State. 

The next day President Washington set out for Trenton in his 
carriage. 

Less than a month later Mrs. Washington, or Lady Washington, 
as many persisted in calling her, followed the general to New York 
and like her distinguished husband, she was delightfully entertained by 
her many friends and admirers in Philadelphia. 

On Friday, May 22, the two troops of Light Horse, commanded 
by Captain Miles and Bingham, accompanied by General Mifflin, 
president of the State; Richard Peters, Speaker of the Assembly, and 
many ladies and gentlemen prominent in Philadelphia and the State, 
went to a point near Darby to meet her. Mrs. Robert Morris with a 
company of ladies in carriages joined the escort there. 

When Mrs. Washington arrived all went to Grays Ferry where a 
fine collation was served at Gray’s Garden. In the party besides the 
president of the State and Speaker of the Assembly, were Temple 
Franklin, Benjamin Crew, Jr., Robert Morris, Jr., William Morris, 
Richard Bache, John Ross, Robert Hare, George Harrison, Samuel 
Meredith, also the gentlemen troopers, a large number of Continental 
officers, citizens and about twenty ladies. 

There is a record of this luncheon and bill of expenses which reveal 
that the company consumed ten bottles of Madeira wine, one bottle of 
champagne, two bottles of claret, forty-five bowls of punch, ten bottles 
of American porter, one bottle of ale, and two bottles of cider. 

The honored visitor was then escorted by the troopers to the resi¬ 
dence of Robert Morris, on High Street, amid the ringing of bells, 
the discharge of salvos of artillery, and the shouts of great crowds of 
people. 

Mrs. Washington remained in Philadelphia over the week-end. 
There were entertainments given in her honor during these two days. 

On Monday she was similarly complimented upon her departure for 
New York, and accompanied by Mrs. Robert Morris, she was escorted 
upon her way for a considerable distance. 

In New York, on May 29, at the opening levee, Mrs. Morris oc¬ 
cupied the first place on the right of the hostess. This position of honor 
was accorded her whenever she was present at a similar function, 
either in New York or Philadelphia. 

The glad news was soon received in Philadelphia that the capital 
was to be removed from New York to the city which had been the cap- 


358 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


ital of the thirteen colonies during the Revolution and where the Con¬ 
stitution of the United States was born. 

President and Mrs. Washington soon became comfortably settled in 
the fine home of Robert Morris, the same house which Sir William 
Howe occupied while the British were in possession of Philadelphia and 
General Washington was suffering with the Colonial troops at Valley 
Forge. The Morris house was built of brick, three stories high. The 
stable could accommodate twelve horses. This property was purchased 
by Mr. Morris in August, 1785, and at once he rebuilt the house, which 
had been destroyed by fire in 1780. Mr. and Mrs. Morris moved into 
the house which had been confiscated from Joseph Galloway during the 
Revolution. It adjoined the other residence. 

The President and Mrs. Washington reached Philadelphia Novem¬ 
ber 27, 1790. At the first levee given Mr. and Mrs. Morris were, as 
usual, honored guests. 

The home of the Washingtons became noted for its generous hos¬ 
pitality. The younger people of the President’s household, as well as 
their elders, were fond of going to the theatre. 

The family of the President and his wife included Miss Custis, a 
granddaughter of Mrs. Washington, aged about sixteen, and George 
Washington Custis, her brother, about eighteen years old. 

Their dinners were elegant and in good taste. President Wash¬ 
ington had a stud of twelve or fourteen horses and occasionally rode 
out to take the air with six horses to the coach, and always two footmen 
behind his carriage. 

When the news reached Philadelphia that Washington had died 
bells were muffled for three days, a funeral procession was held and 
Major General Henry Lee delivered an oration. 

With Washington gone, the removal of the capital to the new 
Federal City did not bring such a wrench to the people of Philadelphia, 
who dearly loved the great and good man and his estimable wife. 


WYALUSING MORAVIAN MISSION 


359 


Moravian Mission at Wyalusing Established 
May 23, 1763 

URING the month of May, 1760, Christian Frederic Post, 
the renowned Moravian, on his way with a message from 
James Hamilton, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of 
Pennsylvania, to the Great Indian Council at Onondaga, the 
seat of government of the Six Nations, stopped overnight at 
Wyalusing in now Bradford County. At the request of 
Papunhank, the chief of the Munsee, and the other Indians, he preached 
a sermon. Among those in the crowd on that occasion were Job Chil- 
loway, the friendly Delaware Indian interpreter, and Tom Curtis, 
another Indian of much consequence. 

Papunhank was losing his influence among his people on account of 
his own dissolute life, and a movement was started to bring in white 
teachers. In their councils, however, they were divided in opinion, one 
party favoring the Quakers and the other the Moravians, and so equal 
was the strength of the two parties that neither was willing to yield to 
the other. Their differences were compromised by agreeing to accept 
the first teacher who came. 

John Woolman, the prominent Quaker evangelist, having made the 
acquaintance of some of the Wyalusing Indians at Philadelphia, prob.ably 
of Papunhank himself, after much deliberation, set out in company with 
Benjamin Parvin, to visit the town, in May, 1763, purposing, if he 
should be well received, to remain with them and teach them the gospel. 

In the meantime, news of the awakened interest in religion at Wya¬ 
lusing reached the ears of Reverend David Zeisberger, the celebrated 
Moravian apostle to the Indians, and he left Bethlehem May 18, 1763, 
meeting Woolman on the mountain below Wilkes-Barre, where they 
dined together. Zeisberger proceeded on his way and reached Wyalusing 
on May 23, two days before Woolman arrived there. 

When Zeisberger had arrived a short distance above the Lackawanna, 
he was met by Job Chilloway who informed him of the conclusion of the 
council at Onondaga, and accompanied him to Papunhank’s town. Here 
Zeisberger was received as the divinely sent messenger, and though 
wearied by his long journey, at once set about preaching the gospel to 
his waiting and anxious hearers. 

Woolman, on his arrival two days later, was received kindly, but was 
informed that, according to the decisions of their council, Zeisberger 
must be regarded as their accepted teacher. After remaining five days 
to assist in inaugurating the good work, he departed, with many prayers 
for the abundant success of the mission. The opportune arrival of 







360 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Zeisberger was the occasion of founding one of the most important and 
successful missions ever established among the North American Indians. 

Zeisberger was appointed resident missionary at Wyalusing soon as 
it was learned that he had been so well received. He prosecuted his 
labors there and at Tawandaemenk, a village at the mouth of Towanda 
Creek, with great success. 

Scarcely had a month elapsed from the time Zeisberger’s first visit to 
Wyalusing, before the Pontiac War broke out, and the messengers of 
that celebrated chieftain were sent to every village on the Susquehanna, 
to urge the Indians to again take up the hatchet which they had so 
recently buried. These emissaries arrived at Wyalusing and Zeisberger 
was soon commanded to leave the town. All was now excitement and 
commotion. The intrepid missionary was compelled to suspend the work 
so auspiciously begun, but not before he had baptised Papunhank, who 
received the name of John, and another Indian who was called Peter. 

The Moravian Christian Indians, for their greater security during 
the Pontiac War, in which they refused to take any part, were removed 
first to a settlement near Bethlehem, and then to Province Island, in 
the Delaware River, a little below Philadelphia, where they were 
sheltered in Government barracks. Thither Papunhank and twenty of 
his followers hastened. Here they lived for seventeen months, and at 
the first dawn of peace, emerged from their prison-like home and again 
sought homes in the forest. Papunhank invited the whole company to 
settle in his town on the Susquehanna. They accepted and marched to 
that place, led by their beloved teachers, Reverend Zeisberger and 
Reverend John Jacob Schmick. 

This company, consisting of eighty adults and ninety children, set 
out from Bethlehem and after a tedious march of thirty-six days, arrived 
at Wyalusing May 9, 1765. They immediately set about building their 
town, and during the season thirty bark-covered huts, four log cabins, 
a mission house and church were erected. 

The town was built on the east side of the river, about two miles 
south of the present borough of Wyalusing, and near the Sugar Run 
Station on the P. and N. Y. Railroad. The church was built of logs 
and had a belfry in which hung a bell. The town was surrounded by a 
post and rail fence. The streets were regularly cleaned by the Indian 
women. Adjoining the town were 250 acres of plantations. They also 
maintained sugar camps on Sugar Run. 

The mission in 1766 received the name of Friedenshutten, meaning 
“Huts of Peace.” A schoolhouse was built next to the church, where 
adults and children were taught to read in both Delaware and German. 
Traders were not allowed to bring spirituous liquors into the town. 

In 1767 the mission entertained Tuscarora and Nanticoke Indians on 
their migration northward. 

Another mission was started at Sheshequanink, the present Ulster, 


CHIEF LOGAN’S FAMILY SLAIN 


361 


soon after the close of the Pontiac War, but did not prosper as much as 
the older one. At the treaty of Fort Stanwix, November 5, 1768, the 
Six Nations sold this land away from the Delaware, and the Moravians 
were unable to induce Governor Penn to give them the land. 

In September, 1766, Zeisberger left Freidenhutten, and went to the 
Delaware Indians on the Ohio River, where he established a mission. 
He soon induced the Indians at Wyalusing to follow him, and on June 
11, 1772, the Indians at Wyalusing assembled in the church for the last 
time and then they marched in two companies for the Big Beaver, in 
now Lawrence County. They were led by the Reverend John Ettwein 
on this journey. 


Peaceful Family of Chief Logan Slain by 
Whites, May 24, 1774 

N THE spring of the year 1774, at a time when the Indians 
seemed to be quiet and tranquil, a party of Virginians attacked 
the Mingo settlement, on the Ohio River, and slaughtered the 
entire population, even the women with their children in their 
arms, and members of the great Chief Logan’s family were 
among the slain. 

This tragic event occurred on May 24, 1774, and according to the 
common belief at the time was perpetrated by Captain Michael Cresap, 
and a party who deliberately set out to kill every Indian they met, 
without regard to age or sex. 

The first person to state that Logan’s family was murdered by 
Cresap was no other than Thomas Jefferson, in his “Notes in Virginia.” 

The main authority for the vindication of Michael Cresap’s memory, 
is the extremely rare little volume, Jacob’s “Life of Cresap,” published 
in 1826. Jacob sets up an alibi for Cresap, but the present writer accepts 
the popular story that the wanton murder was perpetrated under the 
direction of Cresap. 

Tahgahjute was the second son of Shikellamy, the great vicegerent of 
the Six Nations. He was born at Shamokin, about 1725, and was 
given his Christian name Logan in honor of James Logan, Secretary of 
the Province, who was a devoted friend of the great Shikellamy. 

But little is known of the early life of Logan, but he worked his 
way West by degrees. He was for a time on the Juniata, where several 
places still bear his name, but his final home was near the mouth of the 
Yellow Creek, thirty miles above Wheeling. 

Reverend John Heckewelder, the noted Moravian missionary among 
the Indians, while passing down the Ohio, in April, 1773, stopped at 
Logan’s settlement and in his interesting journal notes that “I received 









362 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


every civility I could expect from such of the family as were at home. 

Cresap was on the Ohio, below Wheeling, engaged in making a 
settlement. Some pioneers resolved to attack an Indian town near the 
mouth of the Sciota, and solicited Cresap to command the expedition. 
They attacked two canoes filled with Indians, chased them fifteen miles 
down the river, where a skirmish ensued, and the Indians who were not 
killed were taken. On the return of this party they planned an 
expedition against the settlement of Logan. 

Cresap and his party proceeded to a point near the settlement and 
encamped on the bank, when some Indians passed them peaceably and 
encamped at the mouth of Grave Creek, a little below. Cresap attacked 
and killed the party. One of Cresap’s men fell in this action. Among 
the slain of the Indians were some of Logan’s family. Smith, one of 
the murderers, boasted of this fact in the presence of Logan’s friends. 

This party then proceeded to Baker’s Bottom, opposite the mouth of 
Yellow Creek, when Greathouse, a spy, crossed over and approached the 
Indian camp as a friend and counted them. He reported their number 
too large to attack and was then warned by an Indian woman to leave, 
as the Indians had learned of Cresap’s murder of their relatives at 
Grave Creek and were angry and that they were drinking. 

He returned to Baker’s, collected a large enough force, all got drunk, 
and then in that condition they fell upon and massacred the whole Indian 
camp except a girl, whom they kept as a prisoner. Among the slain 
was the woman who had warned him of his danger. A sister of Logan 
was inhumanly and indecently butchered in this attack. 

This commenced the war, of which Logan’s war club was the chief 
factor. The first family murdered by him was the warning of what 
might be expected. Logan left a note in the house of the murdered 
family, and, true to his threat, great numbers of innocent men, women 
and children fell victims to the tomahawk and scalping knife until the 
decisive battle at Point Pleasant October 10, 1774. 

When Lord Dunmore finally conquered the Indians and the treaty 
was held, Cornstalk was the principal speaker. He laid much stress for 
the cause of the war on the murder of Logan’s family. Logan disdained 
to meet with the white men in council and sat sullenly in his cabin 
while the treaty was in progress. Dunmore sent Captain (afterward 
Major General) John Gibson to invite him to the council. General 
Gibson later became one of the Associate Judges of Allegheny County. 

The old Mingo chief took Gibson into the woods and, sitting down 
upon a mossy root, told him the story of the wrongs done to him and, as 
Gibson related, shedding many bitter tears. He refused to go to the 
council, but, unwilling to disturb the deliberations by seeming opposition, 
he sent a speech by the hand of Gibson to Governor Dunmore, which 
has been preserved and greatly admired for its pathetic eloquence. The 
speech was as follows: 


CHIEF LOGAN’S FAMILY SLAIN 


363 


“I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan’s 
cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked, 
and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody 
war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was 
my love for the white, that my countrymen pointed as they passed and 
said, ‘Logan is the friend of the white man.’ I had ever thought to have 
lived with you, but for the injuries of one man, Colonel Cresap, the 
last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the relations 
of Logan, not even sparing my women and children. There runs not 
a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on 
me for revenge. I have sought it. I have killed many; I have fully 
glutted my vengeance. For my country, I rejoice at the beams of 
peace. But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan 
never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is 
there to mourn for Logan? Not one.” 

Lossing, in his “Field-Book of the Revolution,” says: “Logan, whose 
majestic person and mental accomplishments were the theme of favor¬ 
able remark, became a victim of intemperance. Earlier than the time 
when Dunmore called him to council, he was addicted to the habit. The 
last three years of his life were very melancholy. Notwithstanding the 
miseries he had suffered at the hands of the white men, his benevolences 
made him the prisoner’s friend, until intemperance blunted his sensibili¬ 
ties, and in 1780 we find him among the marauders at Ruddell’s 
Station.” 

The manner of his death is differently related. The patient researches 
of Mr. Mayer lead the writer to adopt his as the correct one, as it was 
from the lips of an aged Mohawk whom he saw at Caghnawaga, twelve 
miles from Montreal, in the summer of 1848. His mother was a 
Shawnee woman, and when he was a boy he often saw Logan. Mayer 
says: 

“In a drunken frenzy near Detroit, in 1780, Logan struck his wife 
to the ground. Believing her dead, he fled to the wilderness. Between 
Detroit and Sandusky, he was overtaken by a troop of Indian men, 
women and children. Not yet sober, he imagined that the penalty of his 
crime was about to be inflicted by a relative. Being well armed, he 
declared that the whole party should be destroyed. In defense, his 
nephew, Todkahdohs, killed him on the spot, by a shot from his gun. 
His wife recovered from his blow.” Chief Logan died November 28, 
1780. 


364 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Hamilton Pleads with Governor of Maryland 
for Release of Pennsylvanians, 

May 25, 1734 

HOMAS PENN informed the Council, May 14, 1734, that 
the business then to be considered by them related to some very 
unneighborly proceedings in the province of Maryland, in not 
only harassing some of the inhabitants of this province who 
live on the border, but likewise extending their claims much 
farther than has heretofore been pretended to be Maryland, 
and carrying off several persons and imprisoning them. 

Governor Penn then advised the Council that Marylanders had 
entered the settlements of John Hendricks and Joshua Minshall, on 
the Susquehanna, in what is now York County, and carried them off 
to Annapolis and confined them in jail. 

The Governor arranged with Andrew Hamilton, Esq., to appear 
for the prisoners. He was accompanied by John Georges, his secretary. 

They made their visit and on their return made a full report to 
Governor Penn. 

Hamilton related that they were denied an interview with the 
prisoners, but this was allowed them the following day, when the 
prisoners gave an account of their arrest. They did not know what 
charges were lodged against them. 

The lawyer then appealed to Governor Ogle who advised them that 
the charges against the prisoners were serious. Hamilton suggested that 
even if this be true the men were taken into custody by Maryland 
officials on Pennsylvania soil, and should be punished in that province. 

Governor Ogle then ennumerated the many abuses the inhabitants 
of Maryland had suffered from those of Pennsylvania. This interview 
ended by appointment for a meeting before council on the following 
morning. At this meeting, which was pretty much bluff and bluster, but 
little was accomplished. 

It was, however, agreed that each party should reduce their claims 
to writing and then present them to the King for settlement. 

Hamilton prepared his instrument and ably defended the part of 
Pennsylvania, and recited the agreements of 1724 and 1732, which were 
intended to quiet all disputes on the border, until actual surveys should 
be concluded. 

He stated that notwithstanding these agreements, “two of his 
Majesty’s subjects, John Hendricks and Joshua Minshall, inhabitants 
of Lancaster County, settled upon lands legally surveyed and patented 
to them under the proprietors of Pennsylvania, on the west side of the 




MARYLANDERS ARREST SETTLERS 


365 


river Susquehanna, had been taken from their homes, which were at 
least eight miles to the northward of Philadelphia, and about twenty- 
three miles to the northward of the line agreed upon by the aforesaid 
articles to be the northern bounds of Maryland, which line runs near 
the mouth of Octoraroe Creek, to the northward of which Maryland 
has never exercised any jurisdiction, except over thirteen families, that 
is known to Pennsylvania, till within two or three years, about the 
time when an absolute boundary was agreed upon by the proprietors, 
though Pennsylvania has maintained its government as far southward 
as the mouth of the said creek for above these thirty years.” 

The jail was too filthy to hold further conversation with the four 
Pennsylvanians and permission was obtained for the sheriff to take them 
to his home, where the interview was had. 

They insisted they had never done or said anything against Lord 
Baltimore, and that if such was charged against them Thomas Cresap 
is the only man wicked enough to bring such false charges. 

Hamilton could not get his clients into court as they were under 
prosecution in Provincial Court, and Governor Ogle would not interfere. 

Several interviews were held with the Governor, even in his own 
home, but at each the executive insisted on reviewing a long list of 
transgressions along the border and would not agree to anything Hamil¬ 
ton had to propose. 

On May 25 the most important session was had and Governor Ogle 
refused even to concur in the proposal made by Hamilton that they 
agree upon bounds which should be judged reasonable, upon which 
lands no persons should plant new settlements under severe penalties. 

Hamilton and Georges then said, in their report, that they saw from 
the first that the Governor was resolved to avoid doing anything that 
might prevent further differences upon the boundaries. The Governor 
finally ceased to further discuss the question. 

When the four prisoners were tried in Provincial Court they were 
denied their liberty, lest it should be understood as giving up his Lord¬ 
ship’s right to the lands in question. 

Hamilton then drew up a memorial, citing the unreasonable pro¬ 
ceedings of Maryland and the absolute necessity Pennsylvania would be 
under for its own protection. It was a strong argument, but of no avail. 
They returned to Philadelphia in disgust. 

The border troubles grew in intensity and especially when Cresap 
and his followers were the most active. 

Hendricks and Minshall were released at the end of their sentence 
and many of the stirring scenes along the border occurred in the vicinity 
of their settlements and with them as provincial actors in the drama. 

The arrest of Cresap put a stop to the local warfare but the 
survey of the Mason and Dixon Line fixed for all time the actual 
boundary between the States. 


366 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


General Sullivan Arrives at Easton to Subdue 
Six Nations, May 26, 1779 

N THE summer of 1778 Colonel Thomas Hartley made a suc¬ 
cessful expedition against the Six Nations Indians, marching 
from Fort Muncy, in present Lycoming County, to Tioga, cov¬ 
ering 300 miles in two weeks. His army destroyed every 
Indian town, defeated the Indians in each encounter and 
brought off much food and Indian goods. 

The settlers, who had taken flight, now ventured back and harvested 
their crops, but by spring the Indians had become bolder and more 
treacherous than ever before. The attention of Congress was drawn to 
this distress along the frontier and General Washington was directed 
to relieve the situation. 

The Commander-in-chief selected Major General John Sullivan, and 
in April, 1779, directed him to prepare for an expedition into the heart 
of the Six Nations’ country. General Washington made no mistake in 
the selection of General Sullivan. He proved equal to the stupendous 
undertaking. 

General Sullivan immediately began his preparations, but the real 
start of this expedition may properly be considered as of May 26, 1779, 
when he arrived at Easton with his command. General Washington 
gave him his directions in a long and interesting letter of instructions. 
He told him that the expedition he was to command against the hostile 
tribes of the Six Nations was to discourage predatory marauds on our 
frontier settlements and to retaliate for the horrible massacres at 
Wyoming and Cherry Valley, and, “if opportunity favored, for the 
capture of Niagara and an invasion into Canada.” 

But Washington advised him that “the immediate objects are the 
total destruction and devastation of their settlements and the capture 
of as many prisoners of every age and sex as possible. So soon as your 
preparations are in sufficient forwardness you will assemble your main 
body at Wyoming and proceed thence to Tioga, taking from that place 
the most direct and practicable route into the heart of the Indian set¬ 
tlements.” 

General Sullivan established a rendezvous at Easton, May 26, 1779, 
and then marched to Wyoming, where he experienced a long and tedious 
wait, caused by the failure of both Continental and State authorities to 
properly clothe and provision the army, and the further embarrassment 
that promised re-enforcements were not furnished. 

In spite of these discouragements, General Sullivan determined to 
march, and July 31, 1779, at 1 o’clock in the afternoon, the army left 
Wyoming on its march up the Spsquehanna, accompanied by 120 boats. 




EXPEDITION AGAINST SIX NATIONS 


367 


The army was composed of the following: General Edward Hand’s 
brigade, which consisted of the light corps, made up of the German 
Regiment and that commanded by Colonel Adam Hubley and the Inde¬ 
pendent regiments of Colonels Shott and Spalding; and General Max¬ 
well’s brigade, consisting of four regiments under Colonels Dayton, 
Shreeve, Ogden, and Spencer; and General Poor’s brigade, with four 
regiments under Colonels Cilley, Reed, Scammel and Courland. The 
second line, or reserves were the commands of Colonels Livingston, 
Dubois, Gainsworth and Olden. Colonel Thomas Proctor’s artillery 
was also a most important part of this army. 

The several encampments were made at Lackawanna, then at Quilti- 
munk, Tunkhannock, Vanderlip’s farm, and Wyalusing, which was 
reached August 6, when a heavy rain kept the army in camp two days. 

On Sunday, August 8, the army reached Standing Stone, a place 
which derives its name from a large stone standing erect in the river. 
It is twenty feet in height, fourteen feet wide and three feet in thick¬ 
ness. 

The army was forced to go into camp at Standing Stone on account 
of the indisposition of General Sullivan and inability to bring up the 
boats. 

Their next encampment was at Sheshecununk, and on the following 
day, August 11, had extreme difficulty fording the river before reaching 
Tioga Flats, where Queen Esther’s Town stood, until destroyed by 
Colonel Hartley the previous year. 

Indians were discovered at Chemung, twelve miles distant, and an 
expedition was set in motion to destroy their village. The main army 
marched through the night and arrived at daylight, but the Indians, 
aware of the advancing army, had evacuated the village, but made a 
determined stand at Newtown. 

General Sullivan pushed on with great vigor and formed a junction 
with General Clinton’s army August 19. On August 29, 1500 Indians, 
under Joe Brant and Captain John MacDonald, and the British and 
Tories, under Colonel John Butler and the two Johnstons, attacked 
the Americans near the scene of the Newtown battle. 

The enemy was well entrenched, thinking to destroy our army at a 
narrow defile in front of their breastworks. This situation was dis¬ 
covered by Captain Parr when Colonel Proctor opened a cannon fire on 
the enemy, who retreated to a much stronger position, but too closely 
pursued by Poor’s troops. 

The Americans charged up the hill with bayonets and poured deadly 
fire into their ranks, driving them from the field. Nine Indians were 
killed and left on the ground to be scalped by the troops. 

Every Indian village was burned and the savages were made to un¬ 
derstand that the Americans were their masters. 

The return march was made to Wyoming, where the army arrived 


368 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


October 8. A great feast on venison and wild turkey was had in honor 
of their effective service. 

The army reached Easton October 15, and Congress set apart Octo¬ 
ber 26, as a day for a general thanksgiving. 

General Sullivan had shattered his constitution by years of constant 
exposure in the field and suffered much from an accident received in this 
campaign, and he was given a leave “as long as he shall judge it expe¬ 
dient for the recovery of his health.” He was thanked by Congress for 
his services. During the whole campaign his conduct was distinguished 
by courage, energy and skill. 

General Sullivan could not recover his full vigor and resigned from 
the army at the close of 1779, but was convalescing when elected to 
Congress. He went to that body with much reluctance, but his services 
there were as conspicuous and patriotic as they had been on many a 
bloody battlefield. He died January 23, 1795. 


Patriotic Women Feed Soldiers at Cooper 
Shop and Union Saloons, 

May 27, 1861 

URING the Civil War Philadelphia lay in the channel of the 
great stream of volunteers from New England, New York, 
New Jersey and part of Pennsylvania, that commenced flowing 
early in May, 1861. Working in grand harmony the national 
and more extended organizations for the relief of the soldiers, 
were houses of refreshment and temporary hospital accomoda¬ 
tions furnished by the citizens of Philadelphia. 

The soldiers crossing New Jersey, and the Delaware River at 
Camden, were landed at the foot of Washington Avenue, where, weary 
and hungry, they often sought in vain for sufficient refreshments in the 
bakeries and groceries in the neighborhood before entering the cars for 
Washington or other points of rendezvous. 

One morning the wife of a mechanic living near, commisserating the 
situation of some soldiers who had just arrived, went out with her coffee¬ 
pot and a cup, and distributed its contents among them. That generous 
hint was the germ of a wonderful system of relief for the passing soldiers, 
which was immediately developed in this patriotic and historic city. 

Soon other benevolent women, living in the vicinity of the landing- 
place of the volunteers, imitated their patriotic sister, and a few of them 
formed themselves into a committee for the regular distribution of 
coffee on the arrival of soldiers. Soon the men in the neighborhood 
interested themselves in procuring other supplies. 







WOMEN FEED SOLDIERS 


369 


The women who formed this original committee were Mrs. William 
M. Cooper, Mrs. Grace Nickles, Mrs. Sarah Ewing, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Vansdale, Mrs. Catherine Vansdale, Mrs. Jane Coward, Mrs. Susan 
Turner, Mrs. Sarah Mellen, Mrs. Catherine Alexander, Mrs. Mary 
Plant, and Mrs. Captain Watson. 

For a few days the refreshments were dispensed under the shade of 
trees in front of the cooper shop owned by William M. Cooper and 
Henry W. Pearce, on Otsego Street near Washington Avenue. Then 
this shop was generously offered for the purpose by the proprietors, and 
immediately it was equipped with tables and such kitchen arrangements 
as were necessary to prepare such foods as was supplied by the voluntary 
contributions raised among the citizens of Philadelphia. The young 
women, wives and daughters of those resident in the neighborhood waited 
upon the soldiers. 

The first body of troops fed at the saloon was the Eighth New York 
Regiment, called the German Rifles, under Colonel Blenker. There 
were 780 men who partook of a coffee breakfast there on the morning 
of May 27, 1861. 

The cooper shop was not spacious enough to accommodate the daily 
increasing number of soldiers, and another place of refreshment was 
opened on the corner of Washington Avenue and Swanson Street, in a 
building formerly used as a boathouse and rigger’s loft. Two Volunteer 
Refreshment Saloon Committees were formed and known respectively 
as the “Cooper Shop” and the “Union.” 

Both were in effective working order on May 27. The follow¬ 
ing were the principal officers of the two associations, respectively: 
The Cooper Shop: President, William M. Cooper; vice president, 
C. V. Fort; treasurer, Adam M. Simpson; secretaries, William 
M. Maull and E. S. Hall. The Union: Chairman, Arad Barrows; 
secretary, J. B. Wade; treasurer, B. S. Brown; steward, J. T. Wil¬ 
liams. 

These two organizations worked in harmony and generous rivalry 
all through the period of the war and rendered wonderful service. Both 
saloons were enlarged as necessity required and both had temporary hos¬ 
pitals attached to them. These were used for such soldiers who were 
sick or wounded and who were unable to leave Philadelphia and who 
required rest or nursing and medical attendance to restore them to 
health and duty. 

Cooper Hospital was under the charge of Dr. Andrew Nebinger, as¬ 
sisted by his brother, Dr. George Nebinger, and Miss Anna M. Ross. 
After the death of Miss Ross, Mrs. Abigail Horner became the lady 
principal of the “Cooper Shop Hospital.” 

Dr. Eliab Ward had charge of the “Union Hospital.” He gave his 
services throughout the war free of charge. Nearly 11,000 sick and 
wounded soldiers were nursed and received medical attention at this 


370 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


hospital, and nearly twice that number had their wounds dressed, and 
more than 40,000 had a night’s lodging. 

An accurate record was kept of all the operations of the “Union 
Saloon,” which show that 800,000 soldiers were received and 1,025,000 
meals were furnished, and the total amount of money expended being 
$98,204.34, and for materials used there was expended $30,000, a grand 
total of $128,204.34, all of which was received by voluntary contri¬ 
butions. 

The women who devoted themselves to the service of preparing the 
meals and waiting upon this vast host deserve the choicest blessings of 
their country. 

At all hours of the day and night these self-sacrificing heroines, 
when a little signal gun employed for the purpose announced the ap¬ 
proach of a train bearing soldiers, would repair to their saloons and 
cheerfully dispense their generous bounties. 

The little cannon used as a signal had a notable history. It was 
part of the ordnance in the army of General Taylor on the Rio Grande 
in 1846, where it was captured, only to be recaptured by a United States 
cruiser. 

The last regiment of soldiers fed in either of these saloons was the 
104th Pennsylvania, Colonel Kephart, numbering 748 men, on August 
28, 1865. 


Colonel William Clapham and Family Mur¬ 
dered by Indians, May 28, 1763 

OLONEL WILLIAM CLAPHAM was an English officer 
who rendered conspicuous service on the frontiers of Pennsyl¬ 
vania and who, like many others, paid the price with his scalp 
in the uneven warfare waged by the Indians and their French 
allies. 

William Clapham was born in England July 5, 1722, and 
after graduating from college, entered the army as an ensign. He was 
sent to America during the French and Indian War. He subsequently 
resigned his commission and took up his residence in Philadelphia, where 
he was living at the time of Braddock’s defeat. 

This disaster to the English arms caused Captain Clapham to again 
offer his services, this time to the Province of Pennsylvania. He was 
commissioned a captain and sent by Governor Morris into Bucks County 
to recruit troops and to muster into the Provincial service the company 
recruited by Captain Insley, who were ordered to join the regular 
troops then posted at Reading and Easton. 

While Captain Clapham was on this tour of duty he journeyed to 
Fort Allen to make a visit with some friends. The Assembly at this 







COLONEL CLAPHAM AND FAMILY MURDERED 371 


moment was pressing Colonel Benjamin Franklin to return to his seat 
in that body. The three forts being completed, and the inhabitants 
willing to remain on their plantations with soldiers in these garrisons, 
Colonel Franklin placed Captain Clapham in full command and de¬ 
parted. 

This was only a temporary command, but Governor Morris, March 
29, 1756, commissioned him lieutenant-colonel, and assigned him to the 
Third Battalion. He also ordered the Colonel to assemble his troops 
as soon as possible at Hunter’s Mill, preparatory to marching to Shamo- 
kin (now Sunbury), where he was to build a substantial fort. 

Colonel Clapham recruited 400 men for that purpose. He assem¬ 
bled his force at Fort Hunter, where he began training them. Before 
they marched from this encampment Governor Morris paid them an 
official visit, the incidents of which are quite entertaining and very 
interesting. 

Colonel Clapham marched his command to Armstrongs, built Fort 
Halifax, stationed a garrison there, and finally proceeded up the river to 
Shamokin, where he arrived July 1, and immediately set about building 
Fort Augusta. This formidable fortress was finished in October. 

From the very beginning of this frontier service Colonel Clapham 
experienced no end of trouble with his officers. He seems to have been 
overbearing and a hard taskmaster. He bore many insults, as he 
termed them, from the Assembly. These frequent disputes and misun¬ 
derstandings with his officers wore out his patience and he resigned in 
November, 1756, being succeeded by Major James Burd of Lancaster. 

Notwithstanding the confusion and ill-feeling which prevailed among 
the officers and men during the building of Fort Augusta, it seems that 
a secret directing power had prevented everything from falling into 
chaos and much good was accomplished. Had it not been for this un¬ 
seen power, the fort would have been captured by the French and 
Indians and the whole North and West Branch Valleys would have 
been overrun and held by the enemy at this most critical period in the 
history of the Province. 

He was a most conspicuous figure on the early frontiers. Even 
Colonel Clapham’s enemies, or those who thought he was not an ac¬ 
ceptable officer, must have been moved to deep and sincere sympathy 
when they learned the sad fate which so soon afterward befell him and 
his family on the western frontier of Pennsylvania. 

He did not long remain out of the service when his resignation as 
commander of the garrison at Fort Augusta was accepted. In 1763 he 
was an active officer in the expedition of Colonel Henry Bouquet on 
the western frontier of the Province. 

He was in command of a formidable scouting party when he was 
murdered on Sewickley Creek, near where the town of West Newton 
now stands. 


372 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


This tragedy occurred on the afternoon of May 28, 1763, and was 
committed by The Wolf, Kektuscung and two other Indians, one of 
whom was called Butler. 

Colonel Clapham had taken his family to this frontier, and was very 
near his own home when these Indians shot him from ambush, rushed 
into his house, killed and scalped his wife and three children and a 
woman. The two women were treated with brutal indecency. They 
left evidences of the fact that they were paying an old score with Col¬ 
onel Clapham, and the scene was horrible to behold. 

At the time of the murder of the Claphams, three men who were 
working at some distance from the Clapham house escaped through the 
woods and carried the terrible news to the garrison in Fort Pitt. 

Two soldiers, who were in Colonel Clapham’s detail, and stationed 
at a sawmill near the fort, were killed and scalped by these same 
Indians. 

It seems that there were others slain in this massacre for Colonel 
Burd entered in his journal, June 5, 1763, that “John Harris gave me 
an account of Colonel Clapham and twelve men being killed near Pitts¬ 
burgh, and two Royal Americans being killed at the saw mill.” 

Colonel Bouquet in a letter to General Amherst, dated Fort Pitt, 
May 31, 1763, says: “We have most melancholy reports here * * * the 
Indians have broke out in several places, and murdered Colonel Clap¬ 
ham and his family.” 

Judge Jasper Yeates made a visit to Braddock’s battlefield in August, 
1776, and then to the site of Fort Pitt. He remarked about seeing the 
grave of Colonel Clapham. 

It is probable that the family became extinct after the Indians per¬ 
petrated their dastardly crime, and the ashes of the famous commander 
and builder of Fort Augusta have long since mingled with the soil. 


Free Society of Traders Organized with Aid 
of Penn, May 29, 1682 

OON as William Penn received the grant of land in America 
which is now Pennsylvania, he immediately issued advertise¬ 
ments in which certain concessions were offered to settlers. 
Among those who made application for large quantities of land 
were companies organized for colonization purposes. 

One such company was “The Free Society of Traders,” 
whose plans Penn favored and whose constitution and charter he helped 
to draw. 

The first general court of this society was held in London May 29. 






FREE SOCIETY OF TRADERS 


373 


1682, at which time the “Articles, Settlement and Offices” of the society 
were adopted and the actual operations begun. 

The charter to the Pennsylvania Company, the Free Society of 
Traders, bears date March 24, 1862. The incorporators named in 
Penn’s deed to them were “Nicholas More, of London, medical doctor; 
James Claypoole, merchant; Philip Ford (Penn’s unworthy steward); 
William Sherloe, of London, merchant; Edward Pierce, of London, 
leather seller; John Symcock and Thomas Brassey, of Cheshire, yeoman; 
Thomas Barker, of London, wine cooper, and Edward Brookes, of Lon¬ 
don, grocer.” 

The deed recites Penn’s authority under his patent, mentions the 
conveyance to the company of 20,000 acres in Philadelphia, erects this 
tract into the manor of Frank, “in free and common Socage, by such 
rents, customs and services, as to them and their successors shall seem 
meet, so as to be consistent with said tenure.” It allowed them two jus¬ 
tices’ courts a year and other legal privileges. 

In addition to the first 20,000 acres, their appurtenant city lots “was 
an entire street, and one side of a street from river to river,” comprising 
100 acres, exclusive of an additional 400 acres owned in the Liberties. 
The location of the property was the tract between Spruce and Pine 
streets, from the Delaware to the Schuylkill River, 366 feet in width. 
Their lands were given the name Society Hill. 

The society was empowered to appoint and remove its officers and 
servants, to levy taxes, etc. An important privilege was the authority 
given to be represented in the Provincial Council by three representa¬ 
tives of the society. 

This society was given title to three-fifths of the products of all 
mines and minerals found, free privilege to fish in all waters of the 
Province, and to establish fairs, markets, etc., and the books of the 
society were to be exempted from all inspection. 

May 29, 1682, the general court prepared and published an address, 
and mapped out an ambitious program of operations. 

The address, which is ingenuous, points to the fact that while it 
proposes to employ the principles of the association in order to conduct 
a large business, it is no monopoly, but an absolutely free society in a 
free country. “It is,” says the prospectus, “an enduring estate, and a 
lasting as well as certain credit; a portion and inheritance that is clear 
and growing, free from the mischief of frauds and false securities, sup¬ 
ported by the concurrent strength and care of a great and prudent body, 
a kind of perpetual trustees, the friends of the widow and orphan, for 
it takes no advantages of minority or simplicity.” 

In the society votes were to be on a basis of amount of stock held, 
up to three votes, which was the limit. No one in England was allowed 
more than a single vote, and proxies could be voted. The officers were 
president, deputy, treasurer, secretary and twelve committeemen. Five, 


374 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


with president or deputy a quorum. The officers were to live on the 
society’s property. 

All the society’s servants were bound to secrecy, and the books were 
kept in the society’s house, under three locks, the keys in charge of the 
president, treasurer and oldest committeeman, and not to be entrusted 
to any persons longer than to transcribe any part in daytime and in the 
house, before seven persons appointed by the committee. 

The society was to send 200 servants to Pennsylvania the first year, 
“to build two or more general factories in Pennsylvania, one upon Ches¬ 
apeake Bay, and the other upon Delaware River, or where else the com¬ 
mittee shall see necessary for the more speedy conveyance of goods in the 
country and Maryland, but that the government of the whole be in the 
Capital City of Pennsylvania.” 

The society was to aid Indians in building houses, etc., and to hold 
Negroes for fourteen years’ service, when they were to go free “on giv¬ 
ing to the society two-thirds of what they can produce on land allotted 
to them by the society, with a stock and tools; if they agree not to this, 
to be servants till they do.” 

The leading object of the society at the outset seems to have been an 
extensive free trade with the Indians, agriculture, establishment of man¬ 
ufactories, for carrying on the lumber trade and whale fishing. An 
agent in London was to sell the goods. 

Nicholas More, president of the society and one of Penn’s Judges, 
was the first purchaser of land in the province who had a manor granted 
to him. 

The Free Society of Traders obtained land on the river front south 
of Dock Creek. The society built a sawmill and a glasshouse, both in 
the same year, 1683. They also established a tannery, which was well 
supplied with bark and hides. Leather was in general use for articles 
of clothing, such as are now made of other goods. Penn himself wore 
leather stockings. 

In 1695 the exportation of dressed and undressed deerskins was pro¬ 
hibited in order to promote their utilization at home. 

But as the people arrived and settled they probably found they could 
do better by themselves than in a company and its schemes were not 
carried out. So the Free Society of Traders, from which much had 
been expected and which actually yielded so little, came to an end 
March 2, 1723, when an act of Assembly placed its property into the 
hands of trustees for sale to pay its debts. 

The trustees appointed were Charles Reed, Job Goodson, Evan 
Owen, George Fitzwater and Joseph Pigeon, merchants of Philadelphia. 
These soon disposed of the property. 


DAVY, THE LAME INDIAN 


375 


Davy, the Lame Indian, Surrenders at Fort 
Pitt, May 30,1783 

URING the morning of May 30, 1783, an Indian was dis¬ 
covered sitting on a porch in Pittsburgh, holding in his hand a 
light pole. 

When a girl of the household responded to his alarm he 
asked her in broken English for milk. She told members of 
the family that the Indian was a mere skeleton and they ap¬ 
peared on the porch and found him so thin and emaciated that they 
could scarcely detect any flesh upon his bones. One of his limbs had 
been wounded, and the pole had been used as a sort of crutch. 

On being questioned, he appeared too weak to give much of an 
account of himself, but drank of the milk. Word was immediately sent 
to General William Irvine, commandant of the garrison of Fort Pitt, 
who sent a guard and had him taken to the fort. 

When questioned, he said that he had been trapping along Beaver 
River, and had a difference with a Mingo Indian who shot him in the 
leg, because he had said he wished to come to the white people. This 
story was not believed, especially by some who thought they recognized 
him as an Indian known as Davy. He was told to tell the truth, he 
would fare better, and he gave an account of the attack on the Walthour 
settlement, April 24, in which the following facts were related: 

Five or six men were working in Christopher Walthour’s field, about 
eight miles west of the present Greensburg. Among the workers was 
a son-in-law, named Willard, whose daughter, sixteen years old, was 
carrying water to the men. 

The workers were surprised by the appearance of a band of Dela¬ 
ware who captured the girl. The men reached their guns, which were 
a short distance away, and made a running fight as they retired toward 
the fort. Old man Walthour and Willard were killed, the latter fall¬ 
ing not far from the stockade. An Indian rushed out of the bushes to 
scalp Willard, and was just in the act of twisting his fingers in the white 
man’s long hair, when a well-directed rifle shot, fired from the fort, 
struck the savage in the leg, who gave a horrid yell and made off 
toward the woods, leaving his gun beside his victim. 

As soon as a band of frontiersmen could be collected they pursued 
the Indians, following their trail as far as the Allegheny River. 

Almost two months after the attack the badly decomposed body of 
the Willard girl was found in the woods not far from Negley’s Run. 
Her head had been crushed in with a tomahawk and her scalp was gone. 

The lame Indian after relating many horrid details told that he lay 






376 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


three days without moving from the first place he threw himself in the 
bushes fearing pursuit; then he crawled on hands and one foot until 
he found the pole in a marsh, which he used to assist him, and in the 
meantime lived on berries and roots. He lay all day on a hill over¬ 
looking a garrison of militiamen, thinking of giving himself up, but as 
they were not regulars he did not venture. Driven to desperation by 
hunger, he decided to make his way to Fort Pitt, and give himself up 
to regular soldiers. 

Davy was confined in the guard house in the fort, but the news of 
his capture and his identity reached the settlement of Brush Creek and 
caused considerable excitement there. 

Kindred and friends of the victims were hot for revenge and the 
chance presented itself. Mrs. Mary Willard, the widow of the man 
Davy killed and mother of the girl killed and scalped by his companions, 
accompanied by a deputation of her neighbors, arrived at Fort Pitt and 
asked General Irvine to deliver up the prisoner. 

At first the request was refused, but when the body of the Willard 
girl was afterward found, a mass-meeting was held and a committee 
chosen to go to Fort Pitt and renew negotiations with General 
Irvine for the surrender of Davy. 

After much deliberation, General Irvine yielded to the pleadings of 
the committee and surrendered the prisoner. The order of General 
Irvine to the frontiersmen was as follows: “You are hereby enjoined 
and required to take the Indian delivered into your charge by my order 
and carry him safe into the settlement of Brush Creek. You will 
afterward warn two justices of the peace and request their attendance 
at such times as they shall think proper to appoint, with several other 
reputable inhabitants. Until this is done and their advise and direction 
had in the matter you are, at your peril, not to hurt him, nor suffer 
any person to do it. Given under my hand at Fort Pitt, July 21, 1782. 

“WILLIAM IRVINE.” 

The general also sent a note to Mrs. Willard, in which he urged her 
to do nothing rash in retaliating her vengeance on the prisoner, and not 
to permit him to be put to death until after “some form of trial.” 

The intention of the frontiersmen was to summon a jury of their 
neighbors and try him, at least to comply with the General’s orders. 
But the fact he was an Indian would be sufficient evidence to condemn 
him, even if the wounded leg was not added evidence. In event of 
conviction he was to suffer death in regular Indian fashion, by torture 
and burning. 

On arrival at Walthour’s, Davy was confined in a log blockhouse 
for two days and three nights, while the neighbors and magistrates could 
assemble for the trial and execution. 

While a few were guarding the prisoner, some were in quest of the 
neighbors and others collected wood and materials for the burning, which 


THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD 377 

it was already determined should be at the identical spot where he had 
received his wound while in the act of scalping Willard. 

On the night preceding the great day the guard was somewhat care¬ 
less and, realizing their prisoner was a bad cripple, they joined rather 
enthusiastically in the preparations for the execution. 

On arising in the morning the blockhouse was empty. The guards 
were aroused and an investigation revealed the guardhouse door se¬ 
curely locked. No human being could get through the loopholes. It 
was found the only possible way of escape was through the narrow space 
between the over jutting roof and the top of the wall, and through this 
he must have escaped. 

Bitter was their disappointment, when they learned their prey had 
escaped. In every direction eager searching parties ranged the country, 
but no trace of the wounded Delaware. The hunt continued for two 
days, but Davy had made good his escape and saved himself from the 
warm reception which awaited him later in the day. 


Thousands of Lives Lost in Johnstown 
Flood, May 31,1889 

HEN an avalanche of water swept down the Conemaugh Val¬ 
ley destroying everything in its descent, including the thriving 
city of Johnstown, containing thirty thousand souls, many 
great industrial establishments were nearly wiped from the 
earth, many thousands were drowned or burned to death, and 
property worth many millions was destroyed. This disaster 
was so far beyond all experience that it is difficult for the' mind to 
grasp it. 

Jbhnstown was a community of seven or eight towns with a com¬ 
bined population of quite thirty thousand souls. It is situated in a deep 
valley where the Little Conemaugh River and Stony Creek unite to 
form the Conemaugh River. 

Early on Friday, May 31, 1889, a freshet in Stony Creek broke 
away the boom above the town and swept down the mass of logs against 
the inundated houses. 

This was followed in the afternoon by a far worse disaster, when 
the dam of the South Fork Lake broke and the mass of water swept 
down the valley, carrying everything before it. The logs and wreck¬ 
age piled against the bridge, forming a partial dam, that raised the 
water level still higher, and in a short time the whole town was sub¬ 
merged. 

Hundreds were drowned in their houses, others were swept along 
by the torrent and perished either by water or by fire among the debris. 









378 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Nothing in the history of the United States in time of peace ever ap¬ 
proached this appalling catastrophe. 

Conemaugh Lake was a body of water about three and a half miles 
long, one and a quarter miles in width, and in some places one hundred 
feet in depth. It was located on the mountain some three or four hun¬ 
dred feet above the level of Johnstown and was, of course, a menace to 
that city. It was believed to hold more water than any reservoir in 
America. This lake was the property of some wealthy sportsmen of 
Pittsburgh and elsewhere, members of the South Fork Hunting and 
Fishing Club. 

Every known precaution had been taken to insure the safety of the 
reservoir. An inspection was made monthly by competent engineers, 
and it was believed nothing less than some extraordinary freak of nature 
could destroy the barrier that held this large body of water in check. 
These waters were held in bounds by a dam nearly one thousand feet 
wide, more than one hundred feet high and ninety feet in thickness at 
the base. 

The streams were already unusually swollen, when a heavy down¬ 
pour of rain fell steadily for forty-eight hours which increased the vol¬ 
ume of water in all the mountain streams. In fact, the entire State 
suffered from floods. The regions along the West Branch of the Sus¬ 
quehanna, the Lehigh, the Juniata and the Conemaugh Rivers were the 
principal scenes of desolation. 

The water in the South Fork Lake rose slowly until it poured over 
the top of the big dam, and then some of the old leakages became larger, 
then the breast broke, and sixteen million tons of water rushed forth 
like a demon. 

John Baker, the Paul Revere of the occasion, rode a race with it for 
a while and saved many people, but the death-dealing torrent laden with 
trees, houses, wreckage and human beings, defied even steam whistles 
and telegraph instruments. 

The water plowed through South Fork, Mineral Point, Franklin, 
East Conemaugh, Woodvale, Conemaugh, Johnstown, Kernville, Mill¬ 
ville and Cambria. 

It was late in the afternoon and the night that followed was one of 
unutterable agony. Darkness added to the terror of the situation. 

The wreckage could not pass through the big stone bridge. That 
caused the water to back up and flood the city, but soon a channel was 
made which cut through the heart of Johnstown. This caused the ter¬ 
rible destruction of life and property that was incurred at Cambria Iron 
Works. 

Then came the flames to make the calamity more appalling. Hun¬ 
dreds of houses had been piled up against the stone bridge, the inmates 
of but a few being able to escape; these took fire and many hundreds 
of souls perished in them. Men, women and children, held down by 


THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD 


379 


timbers, watched with indescribable agony the flames creep surely 
toward them, and they were slowly roasted to death. 

There were many instances of personal heroism and self-sacrifice in 
which many persons were saved from drowning or being burned to 
death. There were many cases of most remarkable escapes, and not a 
few instances of heroic rescue, which a moment later were rendered use¬ 
less by another catastrophe in which both hero and victim lost their 
lives. Edward C. Will is credited with saving twenty-two lives. 

Governor Beaver issued a proclamation, calling upon the people for 
their benefactions. Adjutant General Hastings was promptly on the 
scene and personally directed the patrol, composed of the Fourteenth 
Regiment and one company of the Fifth Regiment of the National 
Guard. 

Governor Beaver appointed a Flood Relief Commission to distribute 
a fund which had been raised from every section of the State and all over 
the country. The fund exceeded $3,000,000. 

The State Board of Health was early on the ground to enforce the 
sanitary laws. The debris was removed as promptly as possible, and 
healthful conditions were soon restored. 

To pay the State’s expenses, generous men of means advanced the 
money till the Legislature would reimburse them. There never was a 
more beautiful example of public and private charity in all history. 

The loss of lives was 2,235, or more, and the property loss exceeded 
$10,000,000 in value. 

The people of Johnstown, although prostrated by their misfortune, 
soon recovered, rebuilt their city and re-established their industrial 
plants, making it a more beautiful and more modern place than ever 
before. 


General John Bull, Officer of Province and 
the Continental Army, Born 
June 1, 1731 

ENERAL JOHN BULL was one of the distinguished 
patriots of the Province and State and a veteran of the French 
and Indian War, a trusted agent of the Proprietaries to the 
Indians, an early adherent of the colonists, a member of the 
first Constitutional Convention, an officer of troops and builder 
of forts, a member of the Board of War and of the General 
Assembly, a prominent citizen in every particular, yet one of whose life 
little is known. 

John Bull was born in Providence Township, now Montgomery 
County, June 1, 1731, and spent his early life in that immediate neigh¬ 
borhood. 

His active military life began May 12, 1758, when he was com¬ 
missioned captain in the Provincial service, and with his command was 
on duty at Fort Allen, now Weissport, Carbon County. 

Later in that year he commanded a company in the expedition led 
by General John Forbes, for the reduction of Fort DuQuesne, and 
during this tour of duty he rendered most conspicuous service in nego¬ 
tiations with the Indians. 

This treaty was attended by Governor Bernard of New Jersey, who 
had come principally to demand of the Munsee that they keep a treaty 
promise by which they were to deliver captives taken from his province. 

The treaty ended at Easton, October 24, when mutual releases were 
executed; Pisquitomen and Thomas Hickman, an Ohio Indian, were 
sent back to the Ohio to bear assurance of pardon, and invitations to 
those western Indians to come to Philadelphia. Captain John Bull and 
William Hayes and Isaac Still, the interpreter, and two Indians of the 
Six Nations, one of whom was John Shikellamy, accompanied them. 
The mission was wholly successful. 

In 1771 Captain Bull owned the Norris plantation and mill, and 
resided there on the site of the present Norristown, then called Norriton. 

He was a delegate to the Provincial Conference of January 23, 
1775, and of June 18, 1775. 

On July 8, 1776, the day of the reading of the Declaration of In¬ 
dependence, an election was held at the State House for members of 
the Convention to form a Constitution for the State. Those elected 
from Philadelphia County were Frederic Antes, Henry Hill, Robert 
Loller, Joseph Blewer, John Bull, Thomas Potts, Edward Bartholo¬ 
mew, and William Coats. 



380 






GENERAL JOHN BULL 381 

Captain Bull was elected a member of the Board of War, March 14, 
1777. 

Congress asked in October, 1775, that a battalion from Pennsyl¬ 
vania be raised to take part in the expedition against Canada. John 
Bull was appointed its colonel, but resigned January 20, 1776, owing 
to a threat of about half the officers to do so if he continued in com¬ 
mand, so John Philip DeHaas, of Lebanon, was appointed. 

Colonel Bull was one of the commissioners at the Indian Treaty held 
at Easton January 30, 1777. 

At the election held February 14, 1777, Colonel Bull was one of 
four elected to the Assembly. 

After the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, Colonel Bull 
was sent to Mud Island, with workmen and laborers, to repair the 
banks and sluices and complete barracks sufficient for the garrison. 

On May 2, 1777, he was appointed colonel of the First State Regi¬ 
ment of Foot, and on July 16 was commissioned Adjutant-General of 
Pennsylvania. 

In October of this year his barns, barracks, grain, and hay were 
burned by the British, and his wagons, horses, cattle, sheep and Negroes 
carried off, although General Howe had given his word to Mrs. Bull 
that they would not be disturbed. 

In December, when General James Irvine was captured, General 
Bull succeeded to the command of the Second Brigade of Pennsylvania 
militia, under General John Armstrong. 

While the British were in possession of Philadelphia a brigade of 
Continental troops under Colonel John Bull on the evening of Decem¬ 
ber 24, 1777, made an excursion into Fourth Street in Philadelphia, with 
two thousand militia, and three pieces of cannon, and alarmed the city 
by firing off the heavy guns, whereby some of the balls fell about old 
Christ Church. Colonel Bull then made a good retreat back to his 
station, without the loss of a man. 

During 1778 and 1779 he was engaged in erecting defenses for 
Philadelphia and in latter year he put down the chevaux de frize in 
the Delaware to obstruct the approach of British ships. In 1780 he 
served as Commissary of Purchase at Philadelphia, and appears to have 
been one of the busiest and most indefatigable of workers. 

In the year 1785 he removed to Northumberland, being attracted 
there by the location of the town and the belief that it would become a 
large place. 

In 1802 he was a candidate for the Legislature but was defeated by 
Simon Snyder, afterwards Governor of the State. In 1805 General 
Bull was elected to the General Assembly, but in 1808 he was defeated 
for Congress when he ran as the Federalist candidate. 

Mrs. Mary Bull, his wife, died February 23, 1811, aged eighty 
years. The Northumberland Argus says, “She was buried in the 


382 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Quaker graveyard, and General Bull, though much reduced by sickness 
and old age, previous to the grave being closed, addressed the people as 
follows: ‘The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be 
the name of the Lord; may we who are soon to follow be as well pre¬ 
pared as she was.’ ” 

General Bull died August 9, 1824, in the 94th year of his age. 

This distinguished patriot and citizen lies buried beside his wife in 
the Riverside Cemetery, Northumberland, where a monument should 
be erected in memory of this distinguished, yet eccentric, officer of the 
French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars. 


Liberty Bell Hung in Old State House on 
June 2, 1753 

HOUGH not the largest nor yet the oldest, but to all Ameri¬ 
cans by far the most celebrated bell is the grand old “Liberty 
Bell,” whose tones on July 4, 1776, proclaimed the birthday 
of our Nation. 

This historic bell was originally cast in London, in 1752, 
for the State House in Philadelphia. There it hung in the 
belfry of Independence Hall until July 8, 1835, when it cracked while 
tolling the news of the death of John Marshall, Chief Justice of the 
United States. 

In the Centennial year, 1876, a new bell, modeled after the original 
Liberty Bell, was made by an American bell founder for the tower of 
the old State House, or Independence Hall. 

It weighs 13,000 pounds to represent the thirteen original States, 
and carries in addition to the decoration of the old Liberty Bell, a bor¬ 
der of stars and the additional inscription: “Glory to God and on 
earth peace, good will toward men.” 

The story of the original bell begins in the year 1749, when the 
tower was erected on the south side of the main building of the State 
House. The superintendents were ordered to proceed as soon as they 
conveniently might, and the tower was to contain “the staircase with a 
suitable place therein for hanging a bell.” 

A year later the House adopted a resolution directing “that the su¬ 
perintendents provide a bell of such weight and dimensions as they shall 
think suitable.” Isaac Norris, Thomas Leech and Edward Warner ac¬ 
cordingly prepared a letter, which is interesting as it is the commence¬ 
ment of proceedings which resulted in the casting of what was after¬ 
ward known as the “Liberty Bell.” The letter follows: 

“To Robert Charles, of London, Nov. 1, 1751. Respected Friend.— 
The Assembly having ordered us (the superintendents of the State 








THE LIBERTY BELL 


383 


House) to procure a bell from England, to be purchased for their use, 
we take the liberty to apply ourselves to thee to get us a good bell of 
about two thousand weight, the cost of which we presume may amount 
to about one hundred pounds sterling, or perhaps more with the 
charges, etc. 

“We hope and rely on thy care and assistance in this affair, and that 
thou will procure and forward it by the first opportunity, as our work¬ 
men inform us it will be less trouble to hang the bell before their scaf¬ 
folds are struck from the building where we intend to place it, which 
will not be done until the end of next summer or beginning of the fall. 
Let the bell be cast by the best workmen, and examine it carefully before 
it is shipped with the following words, well shaped, in long letters 
around it, viz.: 

“ ‘By order of the Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania, for 
the State House in the city of Philadelphia, 1752.’ 

“And underneath.—‘Proclaim Liberty through all the land unto 
all the inhabitants thereof.—Levit. xxv. 10/ ” 

The bell was brought over in the ship Matilda, Captain Budden, 
and was unloaded on the wharf in Philadelphia about the end of 
August, 1752. 

It was hung in position and when given its trial for sound “it was 
cracked by a stroke of the clapper, without any other violence.” Need¬ 
less to state, the superintendents were disappointed and they determined 
to ship the bell back to England to be recast. But Captain Budden had 
already too heavy a cargo to carry the bell. 

In this emergency two Philadelphians, Pass and Stow, undertook to 
recast it, using the material in the original bell. The mold was opened 
March 10, 1753. The work had been well done, even the letters being 
better than those on the first bell. 

Pass and Stow first cast several small bells to test the quality of the 
material, and its sound, and found that there was too much copper in 
the mixture. It was their third mixture which was finally used. 

A newspaper of June 7, 1753, carried this notice: “Last week was 
raised and fixed in the State House steeple the new great bell cast here 
by Pass and Stow, weighing 2080 pounds with this motto: ‘Proclaim 
Liberty to all the land and all the inhabitants thereof/ ” It was tested 
June 2 and proved satisfactory. 

On July 8, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read in the 
State House yard. At the same time the King’s Arms were taken from 
the court room and publicly burned, while merry chimes from the 
church steeples and peals from the State House bell “proclaimed liberty 
throughout the land.” 

This was an event which made the inscription on the bell prophetic. 
John Adams, in writing to Samuel Chase on July 9, said, “The bells 
rang all day and almost all night.” 


384 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The British success on the Brandywine caused great consternation in 
Philadelphia. On September 15, 1777, the Supreme Executive Council 
ordered “the bells of Christ Church and St. Peter’s as well as the State 
House to be taken down and removed to a place of safety.” The church 
bells were sunk in the river or carried away, but the Liberty Bell, with 
ten others, was loaded on wagons and hauled via Bethlehem to Allen¬ 
town. In Bethlehem the wagon bearing the State House bell broke 
down, and it had to be reloaded and, when Allentown was reached, the 
bell was hidden under the floor of Zion Reformed Church. 

After the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British Army these bells 
were brought back, and the State House bell was placed in its old 
position in the latter part of 1778. 

The “Liberty Bell” became a venerated object, and it was tacitly 
determined that it should only be rung on special occasions of rejoicing, 
or to commemorate some event of public importance. It was tolled in 
1828 upon the news of the emancipation of the Catholics by act of the 
British Parliament. It celebrated the centennial anniversary of the 
birthday of Washington, February 22, 1832. 

But an end was put to its usefulness for sound early in the morning 
of July 8, 1835. The break was at first only about eight inches in 
length, but when rung February 22, 1843, it was increased so much 
that it henceforth became a silent memento of the historic past. 

The Liberty Bell has made several trips to great national expositions, 
notably the World’s Fair at Chicago, and the great San Francisco ex¬ 
position, where it always was the most popular historic relic and viewed 
by millions of our citizens, but the danger incident to such exposure 
caused public disapproval of the bell again leaving the State House, and 
it will rest in this historic spot and continue to be the most popular 
relic in Pennsylvania. 


Transit of Venus Observed in Yard of 
State House June 3, 1769 

HE year 1769 was memorable in the annals of astronomy, 
owing to the transit of Venus over the sun’s disc, which oc¬ 
curred June 3. Astronomers throughout the entire world were 
anxious to make an observation of this celestial phenomenon, 
which would not occur again until 1874. 

The great interest centered in this observation arose from 
the fact that by means of it the distance between the heavenly bodies 
could be more accurately calculated. It was the belief that the transits 
of Venus afforded the best method of measuring the distance of the sun 
from the earth. 






OBSERVATION OF VENUS’ TRANSIT 


385 


This was a period of intense interest, and many expeditions were 
fitted out to observe the transit at different places in both the northern 
and southern hemispheres. 

Mason and Dixon, the English astronomers, who gained undying 
fame as the surveyors of the boundary line between Pennsylvania and 
Maryland, started on a ship of war for their station on the southern 
hemisphere, but they were attacked by a French frigate and were com¬ 
pelled to return to port after a seyere battle. Other expeditions became 
celebrated through the adventures to which they gave rise. 

The transit of 1769 was visible in the Atlantic States and observa¬ 
tions upon it were made under the auspices of the American Philosophi¬ 
cal Society at Philadelphia. The most celebrated of all these observers 
was David Rittenhouse. 

Benjamin Franklin had organized, the society and in 1769 became 
the society’s first president. He was annually elected to that position 
for twenty-two years, being succeeded in 1791 by another Pennsylvanian, 
David Rittenhouse. 

In 1768 the American Philosophical Society petitioned the Assembly 
of Pennsylvania for assistance to observe the transit of Venus, and the 
proposition was treated with liberality. 

One hundred pounds was granted to enable the society to procure a 
reflecting telescope of two and a half or three feet focus and a microm¬ 
eter of Dolland’s make, which had to be procured from England. They 
were purchased there by Dr. Franklin. 

The society erected a wooden building as an observatory in the State 
House yard. This was of circular shape, and about twenty feet high, 
twelve to fifteen feet square and placed about sixty feet south of the 
State House. 

On the morning of June 3 the sky was cloudless. The transit was 
observed from this building in the State House yard by Dr. John 
Ewing, Joseph Shippen, Dr. Hugh Williamson, Thomas Prior, Charles 
Thomson and James Pearson. 

While they were thus engaged, David Rittenhouse, Dr. William 
Smith, John Sellers and John Lukens noticed the phenomena at Nor- 
riton, the home of the celebrated astronomer. Owen Biddle made an 
observation at Henlopen lighthouse. 

Rittenhouse was already a member of the American Philosophical 
Society and made his observations for that society. He used a telescope 
and other instruments made by his own hands. 

When he observed the contact, and the planet had fairly entered the 
sun’s disk, his emotions so overpowered him that he sank fainting to the 
ground, unable to bear the intense feelings of delight which attended 
the consummation of the long hoped for event. Rising from his ex¬ 
haustion, he proceeded to measure the distance between the centers of 
the two bodies at stated intervals during the transit. 


13 


386 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The observations of Rittenhouse were received with interest by scien¬ 
tific men everywhere. Subsequently they were found to be nearly ac¬ 
curate and his computations placed him among the greatest of astron¬ 
omers. The royal astronomer of England bore testimony to their value 
and another high authority said: 

“The first approximately accurate results in the measurements of 
the spheres were given to the world, not by schooled and salaried 
astronomers who watched from the magnificent royal observatories of 
Europe, but by unpaid amateurs and devotees to science in the youthful 
province of Pennsylvania.” 

On November 9 of the same year David Rittenhouse made an ob¬ 
servation of the transit of Mercury, which was the fourth ever wit¬ 
nessed. About this time he also determined the difference of the 
meridians of Norriton and Philadelphia. 

David Rittenhouse was without doubt the first inventor of a prac¬ 
tical planetarium, erroneously called the “orrery,” an instrument so con¬ 
structed as to exhibit the movements of the planets around the sun. In 
theory the idea was not new. Such an instrument had been made for 
the Earl of Orrery in 1715, but this was a mere toy and gave the move¬ 
ments of only two heavenly bodies. 

Rittenhouse determined that he would make an elaborate instrument, 
based on scientific principles and on the astronomical calculations which 
he had prepared. After three years of labor, in 1779, the “Rittenhouse 
orrery” was completed. 

This orrery was purchased by Princeton University for £300. The 
trustees of the College of Philadelphia were offended, but Rittenhouse 
immediately set to work and constructed a duplicate, which was pur¬ 
chased for the college by the proceeds of a series of lectures on astronomy 
by Dr. William Smith, provost of the college. 

The second orrery was much larger than the original, but was 
constructed on the same model. This was sold for £400. 

David Rittenhouse was elected one of the secretaries of the American 
Philosophical Society in 1771. He delivered a most elaborate address 
before the society February 23, 1775, entitled “An Oration on Astron¬ 
omy.” This address was inscribed and dedicated to the delegates assem¬ 
bled in the Continental Congress. In 1790 he became one of its vice 
presidents. 

On the death of Dr. Franklin he succeeded to the office of president, 
January, 1791, which office he held until his death, when he was suc¬ 
ceeded by Thomas Jefferson. 


PRESQU’ ISLE DESTROYED 


387 


Indians Succeed in Destroying Presqu’ Isle, 
June 4, 1763 

N 1763 Pontiac’s grand scheme of destroying all the English 
forts was completed, and it was determined the attack should 
be made simultaneously on June 4. Henry L. Harvey, in the 
Erie Observer, gives the following account of the attack on 
Fort Presqu’ Isle. 

“The troops had retired to their quarters to procure their 
morning repast; some had already finished, and were sauntering about 
the fortress or the shores of the lake. All were joyous, in holiday attire 
and dreaming of nought but the pleasures of the occasion. A knocking 
was heard at the gate, and three Indians were announced, in hunting 
garb, desiring an interview with the commander. Their tale was soon 
told; they said they belonged to a hunting party which had started to 
Niagara with a lot of furs; that their canoes were bad, and they would 
prefer disposing of them here, if they could do so to advantage, and 
return rather than go farther; that their party was encamped by a 
small stream west of the fort, about a mile, where they had landed the 
previous night, and where they wished the commander to go and ex¬ 
amine their peltries, as it was difficult to bring them as they wished 
to embark from where they were if they did not trade. 

“The commander, accompanied by a clerk, left the fort with the 
Indians, charging his lieutenant that none should leave the fort, and 
none but its inmates be admitted until his return. Well would it prob¬ 
ably have been had this order been obeyed. After the lapse of sufficient 
time for the captain to have visited the encampment of the Indians and 
return, a party of the latter—variously estimated, but probably about 
one hundred and fifty—advanced toward the fort, bearing upon their 
backs what appeared to be large packs of furs, which they informed the 
lieutenant the captain had purchased and ordered deposited in the fort. 

“The stratagem succeeded, and when the party were all within the 
fort, the work of an instant threw off the packs and the short cloaks 
which covered their weapons—the whole being fastened by one loop 
and button at the neck. Resistance at this time was useless or ineffectual, 
and the work of death was as rapid as savage strength and weapons 
could make it. The shortened rifles, which had been sawed off for the 
purpose of concealing them under their cloaks and in the packs of furs, 
were once discharged, and of what remained the tomahawk and knife 
were made to do the execution. 

“The history of savage war presents not a scene of more heartless 
or blood-thirsty vengeance than was exhibited on this occasion, and few 
its equal in horror. The few who were taken prisoners in the fort were 






388 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


doomed to the various tortures devised by savage ingenuity, until, save 
two individuals, all who awoke to celebrate that day at the fort had 
passed away to the eternal world. 

“Of these two, one was a soldier who had gone into the woods near 
the fort, and on his return, observing a body of Indians dragging away 
some prisoners, he escaped and immediately proceeded to Niagara. The 
other was a female who had taken shelter in a small building below 
the hill, near the mouth of the creek. Here she remained undiscovered 
until near night of the fatal day, when she was drawn forth, but her 
life, for some reason, was spared, and she was made prisoner, and ulti¬ 
mately ransomed and restored to civilized life. She was subsequently 
married and settled in Canada. From her statement, and the informa¬ 
tion she obtained during her captivity, corroborated by other sources, 
this account of the massacre is gathered. 

“Others have varied it so far as relates to the result, particularly 
Thatcher, who, in his Life of Pontiac, says: ‘The officer who com¬ 
manded at Presqu’ Isle defended himself two days during which time the 
savages are said to have fired his blockhouse about fifty times, but the 
soldiers extinguished the flames as often. It was then undermined, and 
a train laid for an explosion, when a capitulation was proposed and 
agreed upon, under which a part of the garrison was carried captive 
to the Northwest. The officer was afterward given up at Detroit.’ He 
does not, however, give any authority for his statements, while most 
writers concur that all were destroyed. 

“The number who escaped from Le Boeuf is variously estimated 
from three to seven. Their escape was effected through a secret or 
underground passage, having its outlet in the direction of the swamp 
adjoining Le Boeuf Lake. Tradition, however, says that of these only 
one survived to reach a civilized settlement.” 

So adroitly was the whole campaign managed that nine of the gar¬ 
risons received no notice of the design in time to guard against it, and 
fell an easy conquest to the assailants. 

Niagara, Pittsburgh, Ligonier and Bedford were strongly invested, 
but withstood the attacks until relief arrived from the Eastern settle¬ 
ments. The scattered settlers in their vicinity were generally murdered 
or forced to flee to the fort. Depredations were committed as far east 
as Carlisle and Reading, and the whole country was alarmed. 

Colonel Bradstreet and Colonel Bouquet attacked the savages 
everywhere. General Gage directed the movements against the In¬ 
dians. Bradstreet failed to comprehend the Indian character, but Bou¬ 
quet conquered the savages everywhere on his route, and so completely 
defeated them that he was able to dictate terms of peace, and received a 
large number of persons who had been carried into captivity from Penn¬ 
sylvania and Virginia. He was hailed as a deliverer by the people and 
received the thanks of the Governments of Pennsylvania and Virginia. 


NOMINATION OF POLLOCK 


389 


James Pollock Nominated by Know Nothing 
Party, June 5, 1854 

OVERNOR WILLIAM BIGLER’S administration was uni¬ 
versally acceptable to his party, and even his most earnest 
political opponents found little ground for criticism, but when 
he came up for re-election two entirely new and unexpected 
factors confronted him and doomed him to defeat on issues 
which had no relation to the administration of State affairs. 
First of these was the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and second, 
the advent of the secret American, or Know Nothing Party. 

The American, or Know Nothing, organization that became such an 
important political power in 1854, was the culmination of various spas¬ 
modic native American organizations beginning in New York, as early 
as 1835, and extending to Philadelphia and Boston. The original 
Native American organization of New York was directed wholly against 
foreigners who held positions on the police force and in other city de¬ 
partments It came into its greatest power in 1844, when it controlled 
the entire city government. 

The Native Americans carried the fall elections in Philadelphia, in 
1844, with material aid from the Whigs, and remained an important 
element in both City and State politics in Pennsylvania for a number of 
years. 

The name Know Nothing was applied to this organization because 
the members were ordered to reply to any question in regard to the 
party or its purposes, “I don’t know.” In the same way “Sam” was 
nicknamed for that party. This was applied frequently to persons sus¬ 
pected of being members of which it was said they had “seen Sam.” 

Chief Justice Black said of the Know Nothings: ‘“They’re like the 
bee, biggest when it’s born; it will perish as quickly as it rose to power.” 
Truly a prophecy. 

In 1854 the Whig candidate for the office of Mayor, Robert T. 
Conrad, was supported by the Know Nothings and defeated Richard 
Vaux by more than 8000 votes. After this the Know Nothing Party 
declined in strength, and finally what was left of it and the remnant of 
the Whig organization were absorbed in the Republican Party. After 
1856 the Know Nothing party practically disappeared as a general 
political factor. 

The Whigs and Democrats held their regular State conventions early 
in the year of 1854. Governor Bigler was renominated by the Demo¬ 
crats, and James Pollock was nominated by the Whigs. 

Pollock indicated Andrew G. Curtin as the man to take charge of 
his campaign, and Curtin was made chairman of the Whig State Com- 






390 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


mittee. He entered upon his new duties with the ardor that was al¬ 
ways manifested in his public efforts, and everything seemed to be going 
along smoothly, until he learned that there was a secret organization 
in the State that embraced a clear majority of the Whig voters and not 
a few of the Democratic voters. 

There were three men of low cunning who had managed to obtain 
possession of the machinery of the Know Nothing organization and they 
availed themselves of the peculiar facilities offered by a secret organiza¬ 
tion to assume autocratic authority. 

These three leaders sought out Curtin, and, proving to him that they 
had it in their power to compute the returns of the Know Nothing 
lodges and declare for or against any candidate for office, declared their 
purpose to defeat the Whig candidate for Governor if their wishes were 
not acceded to. Each of the three men required of Curtin a pledge 
that three of the most lucrative offices in the gift of the Governor, the 
inspectorships of Philadelphia, should be given them. 

They did not conceal the fact that it made no difference how the 
Know Nothing lodges voted, they would declare the nomination in 
favor of or against Pollock, depending upon Curtin’s agreement to their 
proposition. Curtin deliberated long and had several conferences before 
he finally acceded to their demands to the extent that he would recom¬ 
mend the appointments they demanded, but that he would not give an 
unqualified pledge as to the action of the Governor, and that Pollock 
was to have no knowledge nor was he to be advised of it during the 
contest. 

The entire program was then arranged that the State Council on 
June 5 should announce as the nominees of the Know Nothing Party 
James Pollock, Whig, for Governor; Henry S. Mott, Democrat, for 
Canal Commissioner, and Thomas Bair, Know Nothing Party, for 
Supreme Judge. 

Neither Pollock nor Mott were members of the Know Nothing 
Party, and both were placed in nomination without their personal 
knowledge of being candidates of that organization. 

Pollock was elected by 37,007 over Bigler; Mott was elected over 
Darsie by 190,743; and Jeremiah S. Black was elected by 45,535 over 
Bair, Know Northing, and Smyser, Whig. 

As soon as the election was over and Mott realized that he had been 
given this large majority by the Know Nothing vote, he openly de¬ 
nounced the organization as deliberately guilty of a fraud in making 
him its candidate, and from that day was the most vindictive opponent 
of Know Nothingism the State could furnish. 

The alleged nomination of Pollock and Mott by the Know Nothing 
organization was a deliberate fraud upon the Know Nothing people, as 
was evidenced by the fact that their names were submitted to the various 
lodges by the State Council as candidates and as members of the order, 


DEATH OF JOHN PENN’S FIRST WIFE 391 


when, in fact, neither of them was a member, but it mattered little 
whether the lodges voted for or against Pollock and Mott, there was 
no power to revise the returns, and they were accepted as candidates 
without a question and their election assured. 

Few knew of the Know Nothing organization. Even Curtin had 
no conception of its strength and never dreamed of the political revolu¬ 
tion that it was about to work out. 

The three Know Nothing traders decided that they would accept the 
position of flour inspector, leather inspector and bark inspector. Cur¬ 
tin literally fulfilled his pledge, stating to the Governor all that had 
transpired and left the Governor to solve the problem. 

The Governor was first determined to appoint none of them, but 
reconsidered and gave one of them a minor inspectorship of the city. 
The disappointed Know Nothing leaders had to accept defeat as they 
had no other way of visiting vengeance upon any one, and their party 
went to pieces within a year. 


John Penn Found First Wife Dying After 
Second Marriage, June 6, 1766 

SAD incident in the life of John Penn has been told in the 
story of Tulliallan.* While Richard and Thomas Penn, sons 
of the founder, were selecting plate they intended to present 
to the English battleship Admiral Penn, John, the seventeen- 
year-old son of Richard, accompanied them to the establish¬ 
ment of James Cox, the silversmith. 

During this errand John Penn met for the first time Marie Cox, the 
silversmith’s only daughter, and they fell desperately in love with each 
other. Many visits were made to the fine Quaker home of James Cox, 
which annoyed the elder Penn, and remonstrate as he did it proved of 
no avail. A trip to Gretna Green was made, and John Penn, aged 
nineteen, and Marie Cox, aged seventeen, were duly made husband 
and wife. 

When Richard Penn, the father, and his brother Thomas were ap¬ 
prised by young John of what he had done, he was locked in his room, 
and after dark he was taken to the waterfront and placed aboard a ship 
sailing for the coast of France. He was carried to Paris, and there 
carefully watched, but supplied with all the money he required. 

Temporarily John Penn forgot about his wife, Marie, as he plunged 
into the gayeties of the French capital. The pace was rapid and he 
soon became seriously ill, but he grew better and was taken to Geneva 

*The first of a delightful collection of folk lore and legends collected and published 
as “Allegheny Episodes,” by Colonel Henry W. Shoemaker, 1922. 







392 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


to convalesce. There he was followed by agents of his creditors, 
who threatened him with imprisonment for debt. John wrote his 
father in London, who turned a deaf ear to the prodigal; not so Uncle 
Thomas. 

Thomas Penn wrote to his nephew that he would save him from a 
debtor’s cell provided he would divorce his wife and go to Pennsylvania 
for an indefinite period. John was in an attitude to promise anything, 
and soon his bills were settled. While awaiting his ship to take him 
to Philadelphia, the young man went to London for a day to say good- 
by to his relations. 

The ship was delayed several days by a severe storm and as John 
was strolling up the streets in Cheapside, to his surprise he met his bride, 
the deserted Marie Cox Penn. He was much in love with her and she 
was ready to forgive. They spent the balance of that day together and 
during dinner in a restaurant it was arranged that Marie should follow 
her husband to America; meanwhile he would provide a home for her 
under an assumed name, until he became of age, when he would defy 
his family to again tear them apart. 

John Penn arrived in Philadelphia in November, 1752. He evinced 
but little interest in provincial affairs, except to make a trip into the 
interior. He was accompanied by a bodyguard, among whom was Peter 
Allen. Penn took a fancy to the sturdy frontiersman, “a poor relation” 
of Chief Justice William Allen. 

Allen had built a stone house twelve miles west of Harris’ Ferry, 
which he called “Tulliallan.” This was the outpost of civilization. 
John Penn selected this place for his bride, and as Peter Allen had 
three young daughters, Penn soon arranged that Marie should be their 
teacher. 

John Penn dispatched his valet to London to escort Marie to Amer¬ 
ica. She arrived and her husband took her to Peter Allen’s, where she 
became a great favorite and found the new life agreeable. She assumed 
the name Maria Warren. That was in 1754. 

All went well until the Penns in London learned that Marie Cox 
Penn had gone to America, and they traced her to “Tulliallan.” 

Maria Warren mysteriously disappeared. At the same time went 
two friendly Indians from that neighborhood. 

Early the following summer, John Penn set out for Peter Allen’s, 
and when he arrived he learned that his wife was gone a fortnight, they 
knew not how or where. 

Accompanied by servants and settlers, Penn hunted the mountains, 
far and wide, and inquired of all with whom he came in contact, red or 
white, but no trace of his wife could be found. He never gave up the 
search until he suffered a nervous collapse, and was sent to his home in 
England. 

In 1763, he returned as Lieutenant Governor, and arrived in Phila- 


ERECTION OF FORT HALIFAX 


393 


delphia October 30. On June 6, 1766, he married Anne, daughter of 
William Allen, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. 

A few years later he took a trip through the interior. He stopped at 
Peter Allen’s and there learned that the Indians had carried his be¬ 
loved Marie a captive to Canada. It was not long after returning that 
he again started on another expedition up the Susquehanna River. 

A stop was made at Fisher’s Stone House, at what is now known as 
Fisher’s Ferry, below Sunbury. He was given a noisy welcome and he 
enjoyed these plain frontier people. While seated by the fireplace he 
heard coughing in an inner room, and inquired of Peter Fisher who it 
was who was ill. 

“It’s an English woman, your Honor,” replied Fisher. “Tell me 
about her,” said the Governor. Then Fisher related the strange story, 
telling Penn that it is said he once loved this woman, that she was kid¬ 
naped and carried to Canada, that the Indians were paid for keeping 
her, that she made her escape and walked all the way back, but became 
ill and could not reach Peter Allen’s, and was now on her deathbed. 

Penn insisted on seeing her, and he went into the room. There lay 
his wife. They were soon in fond embrace and others left them alone 
in the room. Ten minutes later Penn ran to the door and called, 
“Come quick, I fear she is going.” The household assembled but in a 
few minutes Marie Cox Penn was dead. It is said she lies buried there 
on a hill which overlooks the Susquehanna. 

John Penn returned to Philadelphia and took no more trips through 
the interior of Pennsylvania. He died childless, February 9, 1795. His 
wife, nee Allen, survived him until 1813. 


Colonel William Clapham Began Erection 
of Fort Halifax, June 7,1756 

ARLY in the year 1756 Governor Morris commissioned Lieu¬ 
tenant Colonel William Clapham to recruit the “Augusta Reg¬ 
iment” and build Fort Augusta, at Shamokin, now Sunbury. 
Clapham rendezvoused his troops at Hunter’s Mills, also 
known as Fort Hunter and then started his march up the river 
toward Shamokin. 

The first camp was established at Armstrong’s, where on June 7 the 
commander wrote to Governor Morris saying this was the “most con¬ 
venient place on the river between Harris’ and Shamokin for a maga¬ 
zine on account of its good natural situation above the Juniata Falls, 
the vast plenty of pine timber at hand, its nearness to Shamokin and a 
saw within a quarter of a mile.” 

The saw was at Armstrong’s place, at the mouth of Armstrong’s 







394 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Creek. The soldiers cut and squared two hundred logs, each thirty 
feet in length, and erected the fortification. 

During the progress of this work an important Indian conference 
between Colonel Clapham and the Iroquois was held. The speaker for 
the Indians was Oghaghradisha, the noted chieftain of that nation. At 
this conference, held June 10, 1756, the Indians agreed to the building 
of a fort at Shamokin, but also wanted another fort built three days’ 
journey in a canoe farther up the North Branch in their branch, called 
Adjouquay, the mouth of present Lackawanna Creek. The Indians 
agreed to help build this fort. 

Colonel Clapham wrote to Governor Morris from the “Camp at 
Armstrong’s” on June 20, 1756: 

“The progress already made in this fort renders it impracticable for 
me to comply with the commissioner’s desire to contract it, at which I 
am more surprised, as I expected every day orders to enlarge it, it 
being as yet, in my opinion, too small. I shall leave an officer and 
thirty men, with orders to finish it, when I march from hence, which 
will be with all possible expedition after the arrival of the blankets, the 
rum and the money for the payment of the battoe-men, for want of 
which I am obliged to detain them here in idleness, not thinking it pru¬ 
dent to trust them on another trip for fear of their desertion, which may 
totally impede the service. I could wish the commissioners would in¬ 
vent some expedient to pay these men without money, or at least with¬ 
out the danger of trusting me with their money, the charge of which I 
am not ambitious of, or the much envied honor and trouble of expend¬ 
ing it. This far is certain, that without such expedient or money we 
cannot stir. 

“I have pursuant to your Honor’s command sent down two Indian 
Sachems, properly escorted and committed particularly in the care of 
Mr. Shippen (Edward, of Lancaster), and hope their coming will 
fully answer the ends proposed by your Honor and your Council. I 
have found Captain McKee extremely useful, and have sent him also at 
the Sachem’s particular request. 

“The carpenters are still employed in building Battoes and car¬ 
riages for the canoes, and everybody seems disposed cheerfully to con¬ 
tribute their services toward the public good; if there ever was any 
prospect or assurance of being paid for it. 

“I assure myself, your Honor, will omit no opportunity of extricat¬ 
ing me from embarrassments arising from the want of money, both for 
the Battoe-men and the soldiers; twenty-six of whom being Dutch 
(German) are now in confinement for mutiny on that very account. 
I am with all respect your Honor’s obedient servant. 

“William Clapham. 

“P. S.—The Fort at this place is without a name till your Honor 
is pleased to confer one.” 


ERECTION OF FORT HALIFAX 


395 


On the 25th of the month the Governor wrote from Philadelphia 
to Colonel Clapham. “The Fort at Armstrong’s I would have it called 
Fort Halifax.” This was in honor of the Earl of Halifax. 

The exact location of this fort is discernible today, if one will drive 
along the concrete highway above the present borough of Halifax and 
turn off toward the river, after crossing the bridge which spans Arm¬ 
strong’s Run. The covered bridge, near the mouth of the creek is the 
site of the old Armstrong sawmill to which Colonel Clapham 
referred. A short distance below are the remains of the foundation of 
the Armstrong home which was built prior to 1755, and a few hundreds 
yards below will be seen a small rise in the ground which is also 
marked with a small square monument. It was on this slight eminence 
that Fort Halifax was built. 

Colonel Clapham, July 1, thanked the Governor for £100, which 
he distributed to the bateau men, but complained that the sum sent was 
insufficient. He commented upon the difficulties of conducting so 
“amphibious” an expedition. 

When Colonel Clapham departed from Fort Halifax he left a detail 
of thirty men, under command of Captain Nathaniel Miles, to whom 
he gave most explicit instructions, even down to the detail of mounting 
guard and where the sentries should be stationed about the post, and 
in event of a surprise attack, just how each one should demean himself. 

During the long period in which the provincial soldiers were build¬ 
ing the most important Fort Augusta at Shamokin, there was much 
activity at Fort Halifax. 

Ammunition, clothing, food and supplies were all stored there and 
carried farther up stream in bateaux when conditions permitted such 
transportation. The garrison usually consisted of thirty to fifty sol¬ 
diers, under command of a captain. Escorts were furnished from this 
post in either direction as the urgency of the mission required. 

Colonel Clapham was convinced that the garrison at Fort Halifax 
should never be less than 100 men, so that proper communication be¬ 
tween the inhabitants and Fort Augusta could be maintained. 

There are no positive records of an attack upon Fort Halifax. U. 
J. Jones, in his “Story of Simon Girty, the Outlaw,” writes of an 
Indian attack, led by this notorious Tory, which was successfully re¬ 
pulsed, with heavy loss among the besiegers. However, this is more 
a story of fiction than history. * 

In July, 1757, after the completion of Fort Augusta, a petition was 
presented to the Governor, praying the removal of the garrison from 
Fort Halifax to Hunter’s, the defense of the former being considered 
of little importance to the inhabitants south of the mountains. This 
removal was soon thereafter effected, and Fort Halifax passed into 
history. 


396 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Earliest Court Removed from Upland to 
Kingsesse June 8, 1680 

a court held at Upland, now Chester, “on ye 2d Tuesday, 
being ye 8th day of ye month of June in ye 32 yeare of his 
Maj'esty’s Raigne Anno Dom. 1680,” with Otto Ernest Cock, 
Israel Helm, Henry Jones and Laurens Cock, as j'ustices, 
there was a busy session and much business of importance 
transacted. 

James Sandelands sued Hanna Salter for the account due him of 
two hundred and seven gilders, and the Court ordered j’udgment to be 
entered with costs, with stay of execution until the defendant could get 
in her wheat. 

Gunla Andries brought suit against Jonas Nielsen for unlawful pos¬ 
session of some land at Kingsesse. “The debates of both parties being 
heard, & ye Pattent & former orders of Court examined: The Court 
Doe confirme the former orders of this Court in that Case made and 
doe order the Sheriffe to Put the Pit. in Possession of ye Land accord¬ 
ing to Pattent & ye sd former orders of this Court.” 

The Court granted William Clark liberty to take up two hundred 
acres in Nieshambenies Creek; Peter Cock, Neeles Jonassen, Thomas 
Fairman, and Henry Jacobs, were granted each a like amount of land. 

Moens Staecket, who had been in trouble, was bound over so that 
in future he would behave himself. 

The Court took into consideration the raising of their own salaries, 
when they ordered each person should “pay yearly one Scipple of wheat 
or 5 gilders.” According to a former order, they also decreed that those 
in arrears should be brought before Justice Otto Ernest at Tinicum 
Island, and those who failed to report there should “be fetched by ye 
Constable by way of restraynt.” 

Richard Noble, the surveyor for Upland County, made a return of 
surveys having been made for Andrew Boen, William Clayton, Christian 
Claess, Andrew Homman, William Woodmancy, Peter Nealson and 
William Orian. Which surveys were approved by the Court and re¬ 
turned to the office in New York, for confirmation by the Governor. 

Then came the most important event of the day’s business. It seems 
that there was complaint about the location of Upland, as it was “att 
ye Lower End of ye County. The Court therefore for ye most ease of 
ye people have thought fitt for ye future to sit & meet att ye Town of 
Kingsesse in ye Schuylkills.” 

The site of Kingsesse was probably in the immediate vicinity of the 
Swedish mill erected by Governor Printz, near the Blue Bell tavern on 
the Darby road. 







REMOVAL OF FIRST COURT 


397 


Then followed the last action brought before the Court at Upland, 
it was the case of Gunla Andries and her husband, in a land dispute 
with the heirs of Peter Andries and Jonas Neelson. 

The Court then moved to Kingsesse and its next session was held 
October 13. The same justices with the addition of George Browne, 
who qualified at the opening of the court. 

Slander suits were the order of the day. That between Claes Cram 
and Hans Peters is interesting. Cram claimed Peters called him a thief, 
and two witnesses swore that they heard Peters say that Cram had stolen 
aboard a ship and in the same manner stole all his riches. The verdict 
was that since the defendant was not able to prove “what he hath said 
or any part thereof the Court ordered that ye defendant openly shall 
declare himself a liar and that he shall further declare ye plaintiff to 
be an honest man and pay twenty gilders to ye plaintiff for his loss of 
time, together with the cost of ye suite.” 

Hans Jurian declared that Moens Staecket, during September, as¬ 
saulted and beat him at his own door, followed him into his house, 
calling him a rogue and a dog and a thousand more names, and more¬ 
over threatened to kill Jurian whenever he met him. 

One witness swore that he saw the defendant all bloody and he 
told him Jurian did it, that Staecket later appeared “on horseback and 
called for his sword, his gun, powder and shot and then rode before 
Hans Jurian’s door and, calling him, saying you dog, you rogue, come 
out, I will shoot you a bullet through your head.” 

The Court bound both over to keep the peace for one year and six 
weeks, under penalty of £40 of lawful money of England, to be paid 
by him that shall first break ye peace. Staecket was also fined 200 
gilders; the costs of the case were divided between the litigants. 

Later in the same day the same Staecket was defendant in another 
action brought by the presiding justice, Otto Ernest Cock, complaining 
that Staecket maliciously defamed and slandered him by calling him a 
hog thief. The defendant protested that he never knew, heard or saw 
the plaintiff steal a hog, and that he to his knowledge never said any 
such thing but that he hath said it, as the witness doth affirm, that it 
must have been, when he was in his drink, and he humbly desired for¬ 
giveness, since he finds himself in a great fault. Staecket was ordered 
to openly declare that Justice Cock was not a hog thief, and he was fined 
1000 gilders. 

There were eleven cases tried this day, one, at least, before a jury. 
Nine petitions were disposed of and the Court issued a written direction 
for the overseers of the highways. Certainly a busy day in court. 

The Court adjourned until second Tuesday of ye month of March 
next ensuing. 


398 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Last Purchase from Indians Caused by 
Boundary Dispute, June 9, 1769 

NE important feature of the last treaty made with the In¬ 
dians at Fort Stanwix, October, 1784, was the settlement of 
the difficulties which had existed for sixteen years among the 
white settlers over the disputed boundary line embraced by 
Tiadaghton. 

It was contended by some that Lycoming Creek was this 
line, and by others that it was Pine Creek. The territory between 
these streams is that which lies between the present City of Williamsport 
and Jersey Shore, and includes nearly half of the present Lycoming 
County and all of Tioga. 

Previous to the purchase of November 5, 1768, this part of the 
West Branch Valley was occupied by tribes of Shawnee and Munsee, 
and the way for its settlement by whites was not opened until the “New 
Purchase” was made at Fort Stanwix. 

On June 9, 1769, a serious difference arose between the Provincial 
Government and the settlers whether the stream called Tiadaghton, 
mentioned in the treaty was Lycoming or Pine Creek when translated 
into English. This question remained in dispute until the last treaty, 
October, 1784. 

This early settlement is made clear by the reference to Smith’s 
Laws, where is the following: 

“There existed a great number of locations on the 3d of April, 
1769, for the choicest lands on the West Branch of Susquehanna, be¬ 
tween the mouths of Lycoming and Pine Creeks; but the Proprietaries 
from extreme caution, the result of that experience which had also 
produced the very penal laws of 1768 and 1769, and the proclamation 
already stated, had prohibited any surveys being made beyond the 
Lycoming. In the meantime, in violation of all laws, a set of hardy 
adventurers had from time to time seated themselves on this doubtful 
territory. They made improvements, and formed a very considerable 
population. 

“It is true, so far as regarded the rights to real property, they were 
not under the protection of the laws of the country, and were we to 
adopt the visionary theories of some philosophers, who have drawn 
their arguments from a supposed state of nature, we might be led to 
believe that the state of these people would have been a state of con¬ 
tinual warfare; and that in contests for property the weakest must give 
way to the strongest. 

“To prevent the consequences, real or supposed, of this state of 




LAST INDIAN LAND PURCHASE 


399 


things, they formed a mutual compact among themselves. They an¬ 
nually elected a tribunal, in rotation, of three of their settlers, whom 
they called fair-play men who were to decide all controversies, and settle 
disputed boundaries. From their decision there was no appeal. There 
could be no resistance. The decree was enforced by the whole body, 
who started up in mass, at the mandate of the court, and execution 
and eviction were as sudden and irresistible as the judgment. Every 
new comer was obliged to apply to this powerful tribunal, and upon 
his solemn engagement to submit in all respects to the law of the land 
he was permitted to take possession of some vacant spot. Their de¬ 
crees were, however, just; and when their settlements were recognized 
by law, and fair play had ceased, their decisions were received in evi¬ 
dence, and confirmed by judgment of courts.” 

In those early days, as later, the white man was pushing the In¬ 
dian back, in spite of the proclamation of Governor Penn, which 
warned all persons not to settle on lands not purchased of the Indians 
and unsurveyed, and advised those that had settled to make haste and 
leave. But they did not vacate, and in the enforcement of their “fair- 
play” code, it became necessary to adopt rigid measures. Any per¬ 
son resisting the decrees was placed in a canoe, rowed to the mouth of 
Lycoming Creek, and there sent adrift. Subsequently a law was 
passed, allowing the settlers from Lycoming and Pine Creeks a pre¬ 
emption right to not over three hundred acres of land each, upon satis¬ 
factory proof being presented that they were actual settlers previous 

to 1780. 

For seven years after the purchase of 1768, the pioneers swung the 
axe, felled the giant trees, builded their cabins, and tilled their fields 
unmolested; but just when they began to enjoy the comforts of their 
cabin homes, and reap the rewards of their industry, the cry of the 
Revolution was heard, and the hardy backwoodsmen trained to the 
vicissitudes of war during the frontier campaigns of 1755 to 1763, 
with true patriotism, seized their rifles and went forth to battle for 
liberty, leaving their families scantily provided for and exposed to the 
raids of the Indians. 

All along the West Branch, wherever there was a white settlement, 
stockade forts were built, garrisoned by settlers or Provincial troops. 

At the treaty of October 23, 1784, the Pennsylvania Commissioners 
were specially instructed to inquire of the Indians which stream was 
really Tiadaghton, and, also the Indian name of Burnetts’ Hills, left 
blank in deed of 1768. The Indians informed them Tiadaghton was 
what the whites call Pine Creek, being the largest stream flowing 
into the Otzinachson, or West Branch. They did not know the name 
of the hills. The authorities apprehended difficulty in settling disputes 
among the actual settlers. 

The Commissioners at this treaty secured title from the Indians 


400 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


for the residue of the lands within the limits of Pennsylvania. This 
purchase was confirmed by the Wyandotte and Delaware nations at 
Fort McIntosh, January 21, 1785. 

Thus in a period of 102 years was the whole right of the Indians 
to the soil of Pennsylvania extinguished. 

The land office was opened for the new purchase in 1785 and 
settlers rapidly flocked to the West Branch Valley. 


Massacre at Lycoming Creek, Present 
Williamsport, June 10, 1778 

S EARLY as 1773 settlers had made improvements at the 
mouth of Lycoming Creek, where the city of Williamsport now 
stands. For the next three or four years there was no protec¬ 
tion for settlers between there and Antes Fort, about thirteen 
miles west. 

Some brave spirits, among whom were William King, 
Robert Covenhoven, and James Armstrong, built a stockade inclosure at 
the mouth of the Lycoming. This was located near what is now Fourth 
and Cemetery Streets, Williamsport. 

The rumors of a descent by the Tories and Indians on the North 
Branch had reached the settlement at Northumberland, where William 
King, wife and two daughters lived. They thought the new stockade 
on the Lycoming would be safe and a hurried trip was made up the 
West Branch. 

The driver of the team remarked, as they approached Loyalsock 
Creek: “Here is the last stream we will cross before reaching the fort, 
and we will stop for water.” The horses had no sooner halted than 
rifles cracked and the utmost confusion at once ensued. 

A description of the terrible massacre that followed is given in a long 
letter by Colonel Hosterman to Colonel Winter from Fort Muncy, 
under date June 10, 1778. 

Colonel Hosterman began his letter with the statement that nothing 
material had happened since he was stationed at Fort Muncy until 
that day. He was in command of a party, consisting of Captain Rey¬ 
nolds and thirteen men which set out for Antes Fort, carrying a supply 
of ammunition for the garrisons stationed there and at the Big Island. 

The same day, remarks the Colonel, Peter Smith and his wife and 
six children; William King’s wife and two daughters, Ruth and Sarah; 
Michael Smith, Michael Campbell and David Chambers, the latter a 
member of Captain Reynolds’ company, and two men named Snodgrass 
and Hammond, a total of six men, two women and eight children, were 
going in wagons to Lycoming. When they arrived at Loyalsock Creek, 







MASSACRE AT LYCOMING CREEK 


401 


John Harris (son of Samuel Harris) met them and told them that he 
had heard firing up the creek and advised that they return to Fort 
Muncy, that to advance farther was dangerous. 

Peter Smith said that firing would not stop him. Harris proceeded 
to Fort Muncy, and the other party continued up the river. Soon as 
Harris reached the fort and told his story, a detail of fifteen soldiers 
started from the fort in the direction of where the firing had been 
heard. 

When Smith and his party arrived within a half mile of Lycoming 
Creek, the Indians, lying in ambush, fired upon them, and at the first 
fire Snodgrass fell dead with a bullet through his forehead. The Indians 
gave a halloo and rushed toward the wagon. The men hurried toward 
trees and with these as a shelter returned the fire. A small lad and a 
girl escaped into the woods. 

The Indians closed in on the party in an endeavor to surround them. 
This movement was discovered by the men, who fled as rapidly as pos¬ 
sible, leaving only Campbell, who was fighting at too close quarters to 
join his companions in their flight. He was killed and scalped on the 
spot. 

Before the men were out of sight of the wagon they saw the Indians 
attacking the women and children with their tomahawks. Chambers 
stated that he believed there were about twenty Indians in the party. 

This bloody affair occurred just before sundown. The lad who 
escaped pushed on to the stockade on Lycoming Creek and informed the 
men there what had happened. They started immediately, but mis¬ 
taking the intelligence the boy gave, hastened to the river to the place 
where they lived, thinking it was the canoe that was attacked instead 
of a wagon. 

In the meantime Captain William Hepburn, with the detail which 
started from Fort Muncy, arrived at the scene of the massacre, and 
found the bodies of Snodgrass and Campbell. It was too dark to 
pursue the savages, but they pressed on toward Lycoming and met the 
party going out from there. They waited until the next day. 

On the morning of June 11 they returned to the scene and found 
the bodies of Peter Smith’s wife shot through, stabbed, scalped and a 
knife by her side. 

A little girl and a boy were killed and scalped. Snodgrass was 
found shot through the head and scalped, and a knife left sticking in 
his body. The rifles had been taken by the Indians, but nothing of 
value was removed from the wagon. 

The lad who made his escape insisted that Mrs. King must be 
somewhere in the thicket, as he heard her scream and say she would not 
go along with the Indians when they were dragging her away. They 
made another search and found her near the stream where she had 
dragged herself and rested with her hand under her bleeding head. 


402 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


She had been tomahawked and scalped, but not dead. She was sitting 
up and greeted her husband when he approached her, but she expired 
almost instantly. She did not live long enough to speak of the affair. 

William King was the picture of despair. He soon returned to 
Northumberland, and later moved up to Vincents Island. Many years 
later he learned that his daughter was still alive, and he started on foot 
with knapsack on his back, accompanied by an old Indian, for Niagara. 
He soon found Sarah, but had to travel far and suffered severe hard¬ 
ships before he succeeded in finding Ruth. 

They reached their home on the island at Milton. They after¬ 
ward lived at Jaysburg, the present Williamsport. Descendants of the 
sturdy people are now residents of that city. 

Among those taken captive were Peter Wyckoff and son, Cornelius; 
Thomas Covenhoven and a Negro. The latter was burned in the 
presence of the other prisoners. Peter Wyckoff was fifty-four years old, 
and lived with the Indians two years before he and his son were given 
their freedom. 

This affair occurred in the present city of Williamsport, where West 
Fourth Street crosses the stream which flows down Cemetery Street. 
There is a boulder erected near the spot which bears a bronze tablet 
telling of the event. 

At the time this was a natural thicket of wild plum trees, which 
yielded fruit of remarkable size and flavor for nearly a century after 
the massacre. The road leading to this spot was the old Indian trail 
and formed a safe place for the concealment of lurking savages. 


Colonel William Crawford Captured by 
Indians June 11, 1782 

URING the spring of 1782 the Indians, who had removed the 
seat of their depredations and war to the western frontiers 
of Pennsylvania, and Eastern Ohio, assembled in large num¬ 
bers at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, which they used as place of 
general rendezvous and from which they went out to the 
places they decided in council should be attacked and destroyed. 

The principal places to which they made incursions were along the 
Ohio River, especially in Western Pennsylvania. So serious was the 
situation along the frontier, and so bold had the savages become that 
Congress directed a regiment of volunteers to be raised to subdue them. 

General Washington commissioned Colonel William Crawford, of 
Westmoreland County, Pa., to command the regiment and David Wil¬ 
liamson, Lieutenant Colonel. These men were seasoned soldiers and 
unusually well qualified to lead troops against the Indians. 








CAPTURE OF COLONEL CRAWFORD 


403 


In May, 1782, the command marched from Fort Pitt, well armed 
and provided with sufficient quantity of provisions. The command 
consisted of 462 officers and men. Each volunteer furnished his own 
horse, gun and a month’s provision. They were to be exempt from two 
tours of military duty, and in the event they captured any Indian towns, 
such plunder as fell into their hands should be returned to its former 
owner, if he could identify and prove his property, and all horses lost 
during the expedition by unavoidable accident were to be replaced by 
horses taken from the Indians. 

After a fatiguing march of eleven days through the wilderness the 
command reached the site of Sandusky, but the inhabitants had moved 
eighteen miles farther down the stream. The officers decided there were 
no Indian towns nearer than forty miles, and while refreshing their 
horses the scouts advanced to search for Indian settlements. They had 
not gone far when the savages were discovered in great numbers and 
advancing toward them. 

Colonel Crawford and his brave band advanced to meet the attack 
June 11, 1782, and when they had reached a point only a short distance 
from the town they were met by a white man bearing a flag of truce 
from the Indians, who proposed to Colonel Crawford that if he would 
surrender himself and his men to the Indians, who were of overwhelm¬ 
ing force, their lives would be spared, but if they persisted further in 
their expedition and attacked the town they should all be massacred to 
the last man. 

Crawford, while listening to the proposition, thought he recognized 
the bearer of it as one whose features were those of a former schoolmate 
and companion, one he knew by the name of Simon Girty, and with 
whom he had only recently served in the same regiment in the Conti¬ 
nental Army. 

Crawford sternly inquired of the traitor if his name was not Simon 
Girty. Answered in the affirmative, the colonel informed him that he 
despised the offer he had made; that he would not surrender his army 
unless he was compelled to do so by a superior force. 

Girty returned and Colonel Crawford immediately commenced an 
engagement which lasted till darkness, without advantage to either side, 
when firing ceased. The troops encamped in the woods a half mile 
from the town. After refreshments they slept on their arms, so that 
they should not be caught unprepared in a surprise attack. 

The sentinels reported during the night that they were surrounded 
by Indians upon every side, except a narrow space between them and 
the town. The officers consulted upon the best way of escape, for they 
realized to fight was useless and to surrender meant death. 

Colonel Crawford proposed to retreat through the ranks of the 
enemy in an opposite direction from the town. Lieutenant Colonel 
Williamson thought the better plan would be to march directly through 


404 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

the town, where there appeared to be no Indians. It was no time for 
debate. 

Colonel Crawford with sixty followers retreated on the route he had 
proposed by attempting to rush the enemy, but every man was killed 
or captured, the colonel and his surgeon, Dr. Knight, being among the 
prisoners. Lieutenant Colonel Williamson, with the remainder of the 
command and the wounded of the day’s battle, set out the same mo¬ 
ment Colonel Crawford did, went through the town without losing a 
man, and by the aid of experienced guides arrived at their homes in 
safety. 

The next day the Indians paraded their prisoners and disposed of 
all of them among the different tribes except Colonel Crawford and 
Surgeon Knight, who were reserved for a more cruel fate. 

At the Indian council they were brought forward and seated in 
the center of the circle. The chiefs questioned Crawford on subjects 
relative to war. They inquired who conducted the operations of the 
American Army on the Ohio and Susquehanna Rivers the previous year ; 
also who had led that army against them with so much skill and such 
uniform success. 

Crawford very honestly and without suspecting any harm from his 
reply promptly stated that he was the man. Upon learning this, Chief 
Pipe, who had lost a son in battle where Colonel Crawford com¬ 
manded, left his station in the council ring, stepped up to Crawford, 
blackened his face and at the same time told him he should be burned 
the next day. 


Death of Colonel Crawford and Escape of 
Dr. Knight June 12, 1782 

HE terrible disaster which occurred to the Pennsylvania militia¬ 
men under command of Colonel William Crawford, June 10, 
1782, was one of the most unfortunate which is recorded in 
annals of border warfare. 

The Indians under Captain Pipe and Chief Wyngenim, 
Delaware chieftains, and that white savage Simon Girty, the 
renegade, had surrounded the militiamen and captured or killed the 
entire command, except a small detachment under Lieutenant Colonel 
David Williamson, which made a miraculous escape through the In¬ 
dian town during the progress of the battle. 

The following day Colonel Crawford, his son, Captain John Craw¬ 
ford; son-in-law, Major Harrison; nephews, Major Rose and William 
Crawford, Dr. Knight and many other militiamen, who had been re¬ 
cruited in Westmoreland County, were being marched to the Indian 
towns, where they were tortured according to Indian savagery. 







DEATH OF COLONEL CRAWFORD 


405 


Dr. Knight was informed he would be sent to the Shawnee town, 
but he and the Colonel were to march to the place where the former 
was to be executed. • During the march they saw five of their comrades 
in custody of the Indians. They were all required to sit down, when a 
number of squaws and boys tomahawked the five prisoners. An elderly 
soldier among the five, named John McKinley, from the Thirteenth 
Virginia, was killed, his head cut off and kicked about upon the ground. 
The scalps of the other four were slapped into the faces of Colonel 
Crawford and Surgeon Knight. 

At this point Simon Girty came upon the scene in company with 
several Indians on horseback. Colonel Crawford engaged him in con¬ 
versation and made every possible offer for relief from his perilous sit¬ 
uation, offering Girty any price to deliver him from the savages and 
their torments. Girty heard his prayers with indifference. 

Colonel Crawford was led to a post to which he was fastened. A 
pile of wood lay a few feet distant. The colonel was stripped naked 
and ordered to sit down on the fire which had been kindled, when the 
Indians began to beat him with sticks and their fists. They then bound 
the Colonel’s hands behind his back and fastened the rope with which 
he was tied to this ligature. 

Girty stood and composedly looked on the preparations that were to 
be the death of one of his former playmates; a hero by whose side he 
had fought. Crawford again pleaded with Girty to save him, but he 
refused to procure him a moment’s respite or afford him the most 
trifling assistance. Crawford retorted that he would take it all patiently. 

The rope was now pulled over the cross arm on the post so that 
the Colonel’s arms were extended above his head, with his feet just 
standing upon the ground. The wood was placed in a circle around 
him at a distance of a few feet, in order that his misery might be pro¬ 
tracted and the fire then applied to the wood at several places in the 
circle. 

As the flames rose and the scorching heat became unbearable 
he again prayed to Girty in all the anguish of his torment to rescue him 
from the fire, or shoot him dead. Girty, with a demoniac smile, calmly 
replied that he had no pity for his sufferings. Squaws took broad 
boards, heaped with burning embers and threw them on him, so that 
he had nothing but coals of fire to walk upon. 

Dr. Knight who witnessed all of this horrible execution, related that 
Colonel Crawford at this stage of his sufferings, prayed to the Almighty 
to have mercy on his soul. He bore his torments with the most manly 
fortitude. He suffered these extremities of pain nearly two hours, 
when, exhausted, he fell over. They then scalped him and repeatedly 
slapped the bleeding scalp in the doctor’s face, remarking, “That was your 
great captain.” An old squaw laid a pile of coals upon his back and 
head where his scalp had been removed, the Colonel raised himself upon 


406 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


his feet and began to walk around the post, but he soon expired. His 
body was entirely consumed. 

Colonel Crawford was about fifty years old, was a patriot and hero. 
He had been an intimate of General Washington and shared to an 
unusual degree the confidence of that great man and soldier. 

Soon as brave Colonel Crawford had expired Girty went to Dr. 
Knight and bade him prepare for death. He told him he was to be 
burned in the Shawnee town. He was led away during that night. 

The Indian who had Dr. Knight in custody rode on horseback and 
drove his captive before him. During the march the doctor pleaded 
ignorance of the fate which was to befall him and assumed a cheerful 
countenance and asked him if it was true they were to live together as 
brothers in one house. This pleased the Indian, who replied yes. They 
traveled about twenty-five miles that day. 

At daybreak, June 12, the Indian untied Knight and began to make 
a fire. Knight took the heaviest dogwood stick he could find and in an 
unguarded moment struck the Indian a terrible blow on the head, which 
so stunned him that he fell forward into the fire. Knight seized his 
gun, blanket, powder horn, bullet bag and made off through the woods. 
He had a fatiguing tramp, many days without food or shelter. He 
reached the Ohio River, five miles below Fort McIntosh, twenty-one 
days after his escape, and at 7 o’clock in the morning of July 4, arrived 
safely at the fort. 

He lived many years afterward and gave a thrilling narrative of the 
defeat and cruel death of Colonel Crawford and his own miraculous 
escape. 


Conrad Weiser and Family Arrive in 
America June 13, 1710 

URING the early days of the eighteenth century many Ger¬ 
mans, or “Palatines” as they were called, came to America. 
Many of them settled near Albany, New York. 

Among these Germans were John Conrad Weiser and his 
son Conrad, who arrived in New York June 13, 1710, and 
settled on Livingston Manor, in Columbia County, N. Y. 
Conrad was then a lad of fourteen, being born November 2, 1696, near 
Wurtemberg, Germany. 

The company of which the Weisers were members did not prosper 
in their new home; many of them starved. So in 1714 the Weisers 
removed to Schoharie, in the Mohawk Valley. 

The removal made matters worse. The family had almost nothing 
to eat. The friendly Mohawk chief, Quagnant, offered to take Conrad 








ARRIVAL OF CONRAD WEISER 


407 


into his wigwam for the winter, and his father consented. The lad 
learned the Mohawk language, but often wished himself back in his 
own poor home. “I endured a great deal of cold,” he said, “but by 
spring my hunger much surpassed the cold.” Conrad did not then 
foresee how valuable his knowledge of Indian language and customs 
would become. 

Conrad did not long remain at home after his return from the Mo¬ 
hawk camp, but acted as an interpreter between the Dutch traders and 
the Indians. 

The son may have been headstrong and the sire harsh, at any rate 
the youth left home and built himself a cabin in the neighborhood, earned 
a good income by selling furs, and spent the greater part of the next 
fifteen years among the Indians. Evidently, however, he retained a re¬ 
spect for the teachings of his ancestors, for he says: “I married my 
Anna Eve, and was given in marriage by Rev. John L. Haeger, Re¬ 
formed clergyman, on 22d of November (1720), in my father’s house 
at Schoharie.” Weiser, the elder, was at that time in Europe. 

When Governor Keith, of Pennsylvania, heard of the plight of the 
Germans at Schoharie, he invited them to come to his colony, and 
promised them good land. John Weiser, a leader of the colony, set 
out at the head of a company and cut a road through the woods to the 
Susquehanna. In rough boats they floated down stream to the mouth 
of Swatara Creek, which they followed up to the beautiful Lebanon 
Valley, where they settled along Tulpehocken Creek. 

Conrad Weiser and his young wife followed the elder Weisers, and 
settled near Womelsdorf, where he continued to reside until a few 
years before his death, when he removed to Reading. 

It is said of Weiser that while on a hunting trip he met the great 
Shikellamy, and that the vicegerent was well pleased with him, and 
particularly so when he learned that Weiser could speak Mohawk. 
They became great friends. 

In 1732 by special request of certain deputies of the Six Nations, 
Weiser was appointed by Lieutenant Governor Patrick Gordon, of 
Pennsylvania, interpreter for the Iroquois Confederacy. His Indian 
name was “Tharachiawakon.” From this time until his death he was 
identified with the history of the Province in all its relations with the 
Indians. His popularity and influence never waned, for he was honest 
in all his dealings. 

In 1734 he was appointed a justice of the peace by the Pennsylvania 
Government and in the old French War was commissioned colonel and 
appointed to the command of all the forces that were raised west of 
the Susquehanna. 

When Shikellamy complained to the Governor of Pennsylvania that 
the trade in liquor was causing the ruin of the Delaware and Shawnee, 
the Governor asked him to come to Philadelphia to discuss the matter. 


408 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Shikellamy took with him Weiser, as interpreter, who he called “an 
adopted son of the Mohawk nation.” 

James Logan saw the value an honest man like Weiser could render 
the Province, and he was made an agent for Pennsylvania in dealing 
with the Six Nations. Weiser thus represented both the Indians and 
the whites. The Iroquois declared that “Conrad Weiser is a good, 
true man, who will speak our words and not his own.” 

Weiser entered also into the Indian affairs of Virginia and Mary¬ 
land, and prevented those colonies from becoming involved in an Indian 
war. This was done at a great Indian council at Lancaster, in 1744. 

Weiser was able, through his Indian friends to be kept informed of 
the French movements in the Ohio Valley. He early realized the im¬ 
portance of the English country “at the forks of the Ohio.” He made 
a journey to the western tribes and concluded a most important treaty 
at Logstown in 1748. 

Squatters encroached upon lands in the Juniata Valley, which in¬ 
censed the Indians so much that Conrad Weiser was sent to order them 
off the Indian lands. He succeeded in moving them off and then 
burned their cabins. 

Following Braddock’s defeat, Conrad Weiser led many delegations 
of Indians to Philadelphia, and they always were entertained at his home 
en route. This hospitality was misunderstood by his neighbors, but his 
well-known integrity saved him in the hour of his greatest peril. 

When the Indians committed so many murders in Penns Valley, 
at Mahanoy Creek and elsewhere, Weiser warned his neighbors at Tul- 
pehocken, and when they gathered at his house for defense Weiser was 
made their commander. 

An ungrateful Pennsylvania Assembly failed to pay Weiser’s bills, 
and for three years his accounts were unsettled. He refused to do fur¬ 
ther service until his bills were paid, and as Weiser was in demand his 
expense accounts were satisfied. 

At the great Indian treaties at Easton Weiser was a prominent 
personage, and the final peace was due principally to his influence. 

Weiser was now past sixty years of age. His work was almost 
done. While visiting near Womelsdorf he died July 13, 1760. 

When he died one of his associates remarked: “He has left no 
one to fill his place.” An Iroquois orator declared: “We are at a great 
loss and sit in darkness.” 

If all white men had been as just and friendly to the Indians as 
was this Pennsylvania German, the history of our westward advance 
might have been spared some bloody chapters. 

It is said that President Washington, standing at the grave of 
Weiser, in 1794, remarked that the services of the latter to the Gov¬ 
ernment had been of great importance and had been rendered in a dif¬ 
ficult period and posterity would not forget him. 


ADOPTION OF UNITED STATES FLAG 


409 


United States Flag Adopted by Act of 
Congress June 14, 1777 

N JUNE 14, 1777, Continental Congress resolved “that the 
flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate 
red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white, in a 
blue field, representing a new constellation.” 

The flag was a modification of the so-called “Great Union 
Flag,” used since January 2, 1776, when it was raised in the 
camp on Prospect Hill. Before that time different flags had been used 
under authority of the several provinces. 

In autumn, 1775, Philadelphia floating batteries used a white flag, 
tree in the field, motto “An Appeal to Heaven.” The “Great Union” 
flag had the thirteen alternate stripes of red and white, with the union of 
the British Union Jack. The Philadelphia Light Horse, which escorted 
Washington on his way out of the city on the morning of June 21, 
1775, to his command of the American forces at Cambridge, carried a 
flag of alternate stripes. 

The popular idea was a flag of thirteen stripes, alternate red and 
white, emblematic of the thirteen original colonies. The field of blue 
with the King’s colors acknowledged fealty to the King, but though 
the Americans were in arms against the mother country, they still 
hoped that the English Parliament would repeal the obnoxious laws and 
restore to the colonists those English rights that were theirs by inheri¬ 
tance and by royal colonial charters. 

Up to January 1, 1776, the Americans had no red, white and blue 
flag. This popular design of a flag was called “Washington’s Grand 
Union” flag, and it was first unfurled by Washington over the camps 
at Cambridge, Mass., January 2, 1776, when it was saluted with 
thirteen guns and thirteen cheers. 

When the committee appointed by Congress to prepare a design for 
a new flag, consisting of General George Washington, Robert Morris 
and Colonel George Ross, called upon Mrs. Elizabeth (Betsy) Ross, 
at her home, 239 Arch street, Philadelphia, there was not much change 
in the popular ensign, only the displacement of the British union by 
thirteen white stars. 

As the act of Congress did not specify the number of points of the 
stars or their arrangement, Mrs. Ross suggested that a star of five 
points would be more distinct, pleasing and appropriate than the six- 
pointed star which the committee had designed. Folding a piece of 
paper, she cut, with a single clip of her scissors, a five-pointed star, and, 
placing it on a blue field, delighted the committee with her taste, in- 






410 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


genuity and judgment. The committee decided the thirteen stars should 
be arranged in a circle, typifying eternity. 

Betsy Ross had been making colonial flags for the army and navy, 
and was skilled in needlework. The committee was well pleased with 
the flag which she made, and authorized her, in the name of Congress, 
to make United States flags. She continued in that occupation for 
many years. 

The first display of the “Stars and Stripes” as the flag soon became 
known, was August 3, 1777, over Fort Stanwix, now Rome, N. Y. 

The first time the American flag was baptized in blood was at the 
Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, which was only eight days 
after it was officially adopted by Congress, September 3, 1777. 

The first appearance on a foreign stronghold was at Nassau, Ba¬ 
hama Islands, January 22, 1778, when the Americans captured Fort 
Nassau from the British. 

On April 24, 1778, John Paul Jones achieved the honor of being 
the first officer of the American navy to compel a British man-of-war 
to strike her colors to the new flag. 

John Singleton Copley, the American-born artist, in London, claimed 
to be the first to display the Stars and Stripes in Great Britain. On 
the day when George III acknowledged the independence of the United 
States, December 5, 1782, he painted the flag of the United States 
in the background of a portrait which he was painting in his London 
studio. 

January 13, 1794, the flag was changed by act of Congress owing 
to the new States of Vermont and Kentucky being admitted to the 
Union. The flag now had two stars and two stripes added to it. The 
act went into effect May 1, 1795. This was the “Star Spangled Ban¬ 
ner,” and under this flag our country fought and won three wars to 
maintain her existence; the so-called naval war with France, in 1798; 
that with the Barbary States in 1801-05, and that with England in 
1812-15. 

On April 4, 1818, Congress by act, decreed a return to the original 
thirteen stripes, and a star for every State in the Union to be added 
to the flag on July 4, following a State’s admission to the Union. This 
is the present law. 

The arrangement of the stars on the flag is regulated by law and 
executive order. An executive order, issued October 26, 1912, provided 
for forty-eight stars to be arranged in six horizontal rows of eight 
stars each. 

Starting in the upper left hand corner and reading each row from 
left to right gives the stars of each State’s ratification of the Constitution 
and admission to the Union, as follows: 

First row—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Con¬ 
necticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina. 


FRENCH PLANT LEAD PLATES 


411 


Second row—New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Car¬ 
olina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee. 

Third row—Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Ala¬ 
bama, Maine, Missouri. 

Fourth row—Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, 
California, Minnesota. 

Fifth row—Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada, Nebraska, 
Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota. 

Sixth row—Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Okla¬ 
homa, New Mexico and Arizona. 

Today the flags float over nearly every school house in the land. 
The custom of having a flag displayed on all public buildings in the 
United States was inaugurated by President Benjamin Harrison. 

June 14 is now generally observed as Flag Day wherever floats the 
Stars and Stripes. 


French Plant Leaden Plates to Prove 
Possession on June 15,1749 

HE treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which was concluded October 1, 
1748, secured peace between Great Britain and France, and 
should have put an end to all hostile encounters between their 
representatives on the American continent. 

This treaty was supposed to have settled all difficulties 
between the two courts, but the French were determined to 
occupy the whole territory drained by the Mississippi, which they 
claimed by priority of discovery by La Salle. The British complained 
to the French Government about encroachments being made by the 
French upon English soil in America. 

The French deemed it necessary, in order to establish legal claim 
to the country which they believed to be theirs, to take formal possession 
of it. Accordingly, the Marquis de la Galissoniere, who was at that 
time Governor General of Canada, dispatched Captain Bienville de 
Celeron with a party of two hundred and fifteen French and fifty-five 
Indians to publicly proclaim possession and bury at prominent points 
plates of lead, bearing inscriptions declaring occupation in the name of 
the French King. 

Celeron started on June 15, 1749, following the southern shore 
of Lakes Ontario and Erie, until he reached a point opposite Lake 
Chautauqua, when the boats were drawn up and carried over the divid¬ 
ing ridge, a distance of ten miles. They followed down the lake and 
the Conewago Creek, where they arrived at what is now Warren, near 
the confluence of the creek with the Allegheny River. Here the first 
plate was buried. 









412 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


These plates were eleven inches long, seven and a half wide, and 
one-eighth of an inch thick. The inscription was in French, and in 
the following terms, as fairly translated into English: 

“In the year, 1749, of the reign of Louix XIV, King of France, 
We Celeron, commander of a detachment sent by Monsieur the Marquis 
de la Galissoniere, Governor General of New France, to re-establish 
tranquillity in some Indian villages of these cantons, have buried this 
plate of lead at the confluence of the Ohio with the Chautauqua this 
29th day of July, near the River Ohio, otherwise Belle Riviere, as a 
monument of the renewal of the possession we have taken of the said 
River Ohio, and of all those which empty into it, and of all the lands on 
both sides as far as the sources of the said river, as enjoyed or ought 
to have been enjoyed by the King of France preceding, and as they 
have there maintained themselves by arms and by treaties, especially 
those of Ryswick, Utrecht and Aix-la-Chapelle.” 

The burying of this plate was attended with much form and cere¬ 
mony. All the men were drawn up in battle array, when the com¬ 
mander, Celeron, proclaimed in a loud voice, “Vive le Roi!” and 
declared that possession of the country was now taken in the name of 
the King. A plate on which was inscribed the arms of France was 
affixed to the nearest tree. 

The same formality was observed in planting each of the other 
plates, the second at the rock known as “Indian God,” on which are 
ancient inscriptions, a few miles below the present Franklin; a third, 
at the mouth of the Wheeling Creek; a fourth at the mouth of the 
Muskingum; the fifth and sixth, at the mouths of the Great Kanawha 
and the Great Miami. 

At the last point, the party burned their canoes, and obtained ponies 
for the return trip to the portage, when they returned to Fort Frontenac, 
arriving on November 6. 

The Indians through whose territory this expedition passed viewed 
this planting with great suspicion. By some means they got possession 
of one of the plates, generally supposed to have been planted at the very 
commencement of their journey near the mouth of the Chautauqua 
Creek. An account of this stolen plate, taken from the original manu¬ 
script journal of Celeron and the diary of Father Bonnecamps in Paris 
secured by Mr. O. H. Marshall, is interesting: 

“The first of the leaden plates was brought to the attention of the 
public by Governor George Clinton to the Lords of Trade in London 
dated New York, December 19, 1750, in which he states that he would 
send to their Lordships in two or three weeks a plate of lead full of 
writing, which some of the upper nations of Indians stole from Jean 
Coeur, the French interpreter at Niagara, on his way to the Ohio River, 
which river, and all the lands thereabouts, the French claim, as will 
appear by said writing. He further states that the lead plates gave the 


FRENCH PLANT LEAD PLATES 


413 


Indians so much uneasiness that they immediately dispatched some of 
the Cayuga chiefs to him with it, saying that their only reliance was 
on him, and earnestly begged he would communicate the contents to 
them, which he had done, much to their satisfaction and the interests of 
the English. The Governor concludes by saying that ‘the contents of 
the plate may be of great importance in clearing up the encroachment 
which the French have made on the British Empire in America.’ The 
plate was delivered to Colonel, afterwards Sir William Johnson, on 
December 4, 1750, at his residence on the Mohawk, by a Cayuga sachem 
who accompanied it by the following speech: 

“ ‘Brother Corlear and War-ragh-i-ya-ghey: I am sent here by the 
Five Nations with a piece of writing which the Seneca, our brethren, 
got by some artifice from Jean Coeur, earnestly beseeching you will let 
us know what it means and as we put all confidence in you, we hope 
you will explain it ingeniously to us.’ 

“Colonel Johnson replied to the sachem and through him to the 
Five Nations, returning a belt of wampum, and explaining the inscrip¬ 
tion on the plate. He told them that, ‘it was a matter of the greatest 
consequence, involving the possession of their lands and hunting grounds 
and that Jean Coeur and the French ought immediately to be expelled 
from the Ohio and Niagara.’ In reply, the sachem said that ‘he heard 
with great attention and surprise the substance of the devilish writing 
he had brought, and that Colonel Johnson’s remarks were fully ap¬ 
proved.’ He promised that belts from each of the Five Nations should 
be sent from the Seneca’s castle to the Indians at the Ohio, to warn 
and strengthen them against the French encroachments in that di¬ 
rection.” 

On January 29, 1751, Governor Clinton sent a copy of this inscrip¬ 
tion to Governor Hamilton, of Pennsylvania. 

The French followed up this formal act of possession by laying out 
a line of military posts, on substantially the same line as that pursued 
by the Celeron expedition, but instead of crossing over to Lake Chau¬ 
tauqua, they kept on down to Presqu’ Isle, now Erie, where there was 
a good harbor, with a fort established, and then up to Le Boeuf, now 
Waterford, where another post was placed; thence down the Venango 
River, now called French Creek, to its mouth at Franklin, establishing 
Fort Venango there; thence by the Allegheny to Pittsburgh, where Fort 
Duquesne was seated, and so on down the Ohio. 


414 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Penns Secure First Manor West of Susque¬ 
hanna June 16, 1722 

OVERNOR SIR WILLIAM KEITH’S visit to the Indians 
at Conestoga in June, 1721, produced a strong impression upon 
the minds of the aborigines whom he met. The*chiefs of the 
Six Nations who had been present at this conference, told of its 
success to their people. 

The Conestoga and other tribes of Indians along the Sus¬ 
quehanna River seemed to look upon Lieutenant-Governor Keith with 
almost the same favor and regard which they entertained for William 
Penn. 

Keith determined to secure a right and title to the lands in Pennsyl¬ 
vania upon which Maryland settlers had encroached. He laid his plan 
for this purpose before he went to attend the conference at Albany, 
N. Y. where he was to meet Cayuga chiefs, who had offered some 
objection to the conclusion of the conference he had held with the 
Indians at Conestoga in 1721. 

The trouble along the border line between Maryland and Pennsyl¬ 
vania had begun in Chester County, soon after the earliest settlements. 
The boundary continued to be a bone of contention until a temporary 
line was run in 1739, and even this did not fully settle the difficulty, 
for there was dispute until Mason and Dixon’s line was run 1767-8. 

Governor Keith had frequent controversies with Governor Ogle, 
of Maryland, concerning encroachments in the southern part of Lan¬ 
caster County. 

The Marylanders were attempting to make settlements west of the 
Susquehanna, in the present York County. 

Governor Keith conceived the idea of obtaining permission of the 
Indians along the Susquehanna to lay off a large manor, as the proprie¬ 
tory’s one-tenth, and he proceeded to Conestoga, early in June, 1722, for 
this purpose. 

Here he called together the Conestoga, Shawnee, who lived farther 
up the river, and the Ganawese, afterwards known as the Canoy, who 
lived at the present site of Columbia. 

Keith had authority from the heirs of William Penn to lay off a 
manor west of the river for the benefit of Springett Penn, the favorite 
grandson of the founder of Pennsylvania and son of Richard Penn. 

This conference was first assembled June 15. Here Governor Keith, 
with persuasive eloquence, commended the Indians for their virtues, 
praised them for what they had already done for William Penn and his 
heirs, and obtained their consent to cross the river and make a survey 
of 70,000 acres. 





SPRINGETTSBURY MANOR 


415 


Governor Keith spoke at great length and earnestness. He began 
by saying: 

“Friends and Brothers: You say you love me because I come from 
your father, William Penn. You call me William Penn, and I am very 
proud of the name you give me; but if we have a true love for the 
memory of William Penn, we must show it to his family and his 
children that are grown to be men in England, and will soon come 
over to represent him here.” 

He then referred to the previous treaty where they showed him the 
parchment received from William Penn, and he then told the Indians 
of the encroachments of the Marylanders. 

Keith then said he came to consult with them how they could 
prevent such settlements and suggested the plan to take up a large tract 
of land on the other side of the Susquehanna River for Springett Penn. 

He told the Indians that Penn’s grandson was now a man as tall as 
he; that the land should be marked with Springett’s name upon the 
trees, so that the Marylanders would then keep off and it would also 
warn every other person from settling near enough to the Indians to 
disturb them. He added that the grandson bore the same kind of 
a heart as his grandfather did, and he would be glad to give the Indians 
part of the land for their use and convenience. With these and similar 
phrases Keith won his point. 

At a council held June 16, 1722, with Governor Keith, Colonel John 
French, Francis Worley, Esq., the chief of several tribes, and Smith and 
Le Tort, as interpreters, present, the Indians made reply through Chief 
Tawena, and agreed to give up the land, but suggested that the Gover¬ 
nor take up the matter further with the Cayuga when he attended a 
treaty at Albany. 

The Indians requested that the surveyor begin his work immediately 
and not wait until the Governor was absent at Albany. 

The warrant was made out, and the surveyors, John French, 
Francis Worley and James Mitchell made a report of their survey, 
June 21. 

This tract contained 75,500 acres and began opposite the mouth of 
Conestoga Creek, at Lockport Run and ran south by west ten miles, 
thence northwest twelve miles to a point north of the present city of 
York. Thence northeast eight miles to the Susquehanna River again, 
and from thence along the river to the place of beginning. 

The exact positions and boundary lines of the original Springetts- 
bury Manor were never thoroughly understood, and there resulted much 
controversy about the survey. 

The warrant and survey were not returned into the land office, but 
the entire transaction appeared to have been done under the private 
seal of Governor Keith, and no actual purchase was ever made from 
the Indians, June 15 or 16. 


416 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The origin of the Penn Manors began with the charter to William 
Penn, which contained several powers to erect manors. 

On July 11, 1681, Penn agreed with the purchasers in England, 
who were interested in his grant on certain conditions and concessions. 
The ninth of these was, that “in every one hundred thousand acres, the 
Governor and Proprietary, by lot, reserveth ten to himself which shall 
lie but in one place.” The name of “Manor” was given to these portions 
of reserved land in its genuine legal sense. 

There were eighty-two Proprietary manors set apart, fourteen in 
Northumberland, twelve in Northampton, nine in Chester, seven each 
in Philadelphia, Bucks, Lancaster, and Bedford, six in Westmoreland, 
four in Cumberland, and three each in York and Berks Counties. Three 
of the manors were not located. 

The largest in territory was Springettsbury, with Manor of Maske, 
in York (now Adams) County, next in size with 43,500 acres. Fagg 
Manor in Chester County, contained 39,250 acres. The smallest was 
Lake Paupunauming Manor, in Northampton County, which contained 
only 215 acres. 

When the Revolution changed the form of government for Pennsyl¬ 
vania all the confiscations by which lesser men were punished are cast 
into the shade by the great Divesting Act. The Proprietary family were 
deprived of their lordship of the soil of Pennsylvania, their unlocated 
and unappropriated lands and the quit rents which had been reserved 
outside of their manors. This was the destruction of the greatest private 
estate in the world, but it was necessary. 

There were saved to the Penns all manors which had been surveyed 
for them prior to July 4, 1776. 


British and Tory Refugees Evacuate 
Philadelphia June 17, 1778 

IR WILLIAM HOWE had found the occupation of Phila¬ 
delphia a barren conquest, and the evacuation of the city was 
felt by General Washington to be so certain only a question 
of time that as early as March, 1778, he began to collect 
wagons and organize teams for the transportation service of 
his army, when it should be required to march after the enemy. 

Howe’s proper point for operations was New York, and Washington 
felt sure he would return thither. Instead of that, however, Howe 
yielded to the complaints at his supineness in England and, being desirous 
to return home, resigned. 

Sir Henry Clinton, successor to General Howe, arrived in Phila¬ 
delphia May 8, and took formal command of the British Army May 11. 







PHILADELPHIA EVACUATED BY ENEMY 417 


Before Howe’s departure a fete was arranged May 18 in his honor called 
the Meschianza, and it comprised a regatta, tournament, feast and ball. 

Lord Howe embarked for England May 24, and the same day 
Clinton held a council of war. They were fearful that the French fleet 
would cut off their communication with England, also the knowledge 
that the American capital was not of much importance to them after all, 
the fact that Congress had fled on wheels, and that Pennsylvania had 
remained loyal, they resolved to evacuate Philadelphia. 

Not the least fear was for Washington’s army, now thoroughly 
drilled by Baron Steuben, a Prussian officer, who had come to Valley 
Forge in February. This army now became a source of real danger to 
the British. 

But the movement of the British troops was delayed, as on June 6 
three commissioners to effect peace, the Earl of Carlisle, William Eden 
and George Johnston, arrived in Philadelphia. They were willing to 
gratify every wish that America had expressed. But it was too late. 
Franklin and his associates had secured an alliance with France and the 
American Congress refused to entertain such propositions. 

It is said that Joseph Reed, one of Pennsylvania’s delegates in Con¬ 
gress, was offered £10,000 and the best office in the colonies if he 
would promote the plans for peace; but he promptly replied: “I am not 
worth purchasing; but such as I am, the King of Great Britain is not 
rich enough to do it.” 

Clinton’s army, accompanied by Tory refugees, evacuated Phila¬ 
delphia June 17, crossed the Delaware at Camden and Gloucester in 
great haste, while the fleet floated slowly down the bay. 

Washington learned of the retreat of the enemy and moved his army 
out of Valley Forge, followed Clinton, and on Sunday, June 28, fought 
the Battle of Monmouth, which resulted in the precipitate flight of 
Clinton, with the wreck of his army, to New York. About 800 of 
Clinton’s men deserted, of whom seventy came to Philadelphia in one 
day. 

An incident occurred following the Battle of Monmouth which 
exerted a greater effect upon the American Army than many a skirmish 
between brigades, for it ended the unfortunate “Conway’s Cabal.” 
Certain remarks upon General Conway’s behavior at the Battle of 
Germantown brought a challenge from General Conway to General 
Cadwallader, who of all the American high officers remained the most 
loyal friend, supporter and admirer of General Washington. 

A duel was fought, in which Conway was severely wounded, and, 
believing himself to be dying, repented and expressed to General Wash¬ 
ington his grief, adding, “My career will soon be over, therefore justice 
and truth prompt me to declare my last sentiments—May you long enjoy 
the love, veneration and esteem of these States whose liberties you have 
asserted by your virtues.” 


14 


418 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Upon the re-occupation of Philadelphia by the Continental Army, 
Major General Benedict Arnold was ordered by General Washington 
to take command of the city and “prevent the disorders which were 
expected upon the evacuation of the place and the return of the Whigs, 
after being so long kept out of their property.” 

Arnold occupied, during part of his stay, a handsome country estate, 
which is now in Fairmount Park, lived most extravagantly and married 
Margaret, popularly known as “Peggy” Shippen, daughter of one of 
Governor Penn’s councillors, afterward Chief Justice of the State. 

On June 25 the Supreme Executive Council took into consideration 
the case of John Gilfray, boatswain of the ship Montgomery, found 
guilty of deserting to the enemy and under sentence of death. It being 
the first conviction of an offense of this kind in the State fleet, he was 
pardoned, and Commodore Hazelwood was authorized to offer full 
pardon to all deserters who returned before September 1. 

Beginning of this month, however, Lieutenant Lyon, of the “Dickin¬ 
son,” and Lieutenant Ford, of the “Effingham,” who deserted during 
the attack upon Fort Mifflin, were executed on board of one of the 
guard boats on the Delaware. Lieutenant Wilson, of the Rangers, 
and John Lawrence, one of the gunners of the fleet, who deserted at the 
same time and were under sentence of death, were reprieved. 

Active measures were taken for the speedy trial of all persons accused 
of high treason, and the conviction of quite a number excited an intense 
sensation and much alarm among the Tories and Quakers. Several 
were executed, notwithstanding every exertion to save them. The 
Whigs had suffered too severely at the hands of the disaffected, and some 
victims were necessary to mollify the animosities. 

Congress closed its business at York and went back to Philadelphia, 
June 25, and the State government left Lancaster the following day and 
again resumed their duties at Philadelphia. 

President Wharton died suddenly at Lancaster, May 23, and 
George Bryan was made President of the Supreme Executive Council. 

The Whigs now began to punish the Tories. The Assembly passed 
an “act for the attainder of divers traitors,” among whom were Joseph 
Galloway, Reverend Jacob Duche and the Allens. The Quakers and 
the German sects were special objects of suspicion, because they thought 
it wrong to take up arms. 


PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE MEETS 


419 


Provincial Conference Meets at Carpenters’ 
Hall June 18,1776 

N APRIL, 1776, the Assembly renewed its instructions to the 
Pennsylvania delegates in Congress not to give their consent 
to a separation or a change of the Proprietary Government. 
But Congress, May 15, recommended State governments in 
the colonies, and declared that all authority under the Crown 
should be totally suppressed. 

On June 8, the day after Richard Henry Lee, in Congress, had 
proposed the independence of the colonies, the Pennsylvania Assembly 
gave instructions which neither advised nor forbade a declaration of 
independence, but left the question to the “ability, prudence and inte¬ 
grity” of the delegates. This doubtful action proved the end of the 
Proprietary Assembly. Only once did it again have a quorum of its 
members. 

Instead of allowing the State Government, as suggested by Congress, 
to be formed by members of the Assembly sworn to support the King, 
the people of Pennsylvania took the matter in their own hands and 
issued a call for a provincial convention for that purpose. 

This was the death blow to Proprietary authority. A public meeting 
held in Philadelphia sent a protest against the Assembly of the Province 
undertaking to frame a new government, as it derived its power from a 
royal charter, and did not truly represent the people. The meeting 
called for a convention. Opposed to this was a remonstrance against 
amending the constitution except by the authority provided in the 
charter itself. 

The Declaration of Independence had given the old State Govern¬ 
ment a mortal blow, and it soon expired without a sigh—thus ending 
forever the Proprietary and royal authority in Pennsylvania. 

In the meantime, the Committee of Correspondence for Philadelphia 
issued a circular to all the county committees for a conference in that 
city on Tuesday, June 18. 

On the day appointed there was a meeting of the deputies at Carpen¬ 
ters’ Hall, which organized by electing Colonel Thomas McKean, 
president; Colonel Joseph Hart, of Bucks County, vice president, and 
Jonathan B. Smith and Samuel C. Morris, both of Philadelphia, 
secretaries. 

The conference was composed of twenty-five delegates from the city 
of Philadelphia; eleven from the county of Philadelphia; five from 
Bucks; thirteen from Chester; nine from Lancaster; ten from Berks; 
five from Northampton; nine from York; ten from Cumberland; three 






420 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


from Bedford; five from Northumberland, and two from Westmore¬ 
land; a total of 107 of the most representative and patriotic citizens 
to be found in the Province. 

The conference at once unanimously resolved: “That the present 
government of this Province is not competent to the exigencies of our 
affairs, and 

“That it is necessary that a Provincial Convention be called by this 
Conference for the purpose of forming a new government in the 
Province on the authority of the people only.” 

Preparations were taken immediately to secure a proper representa¬ 
tion in the convention. The qualifications of an elector were defined. 
Every voter was obliged to take an oath of renunciation of the authority 
of George the Third, and one of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania, 
and a religious test as prescribed for the members of the convention. 

The following declaration was signed by all the deputies on June 24, 
and presented to Congress: 

“We, the deputies of the people of Pennsylvania, assembled in full 
Provincial Conference, for forming a plan for executing the resolve of 
Congress of the 15th day of May last, for suppressing all authority in 
this Province derived from the Crown of Great Britain, and for estab¬ 
lishing a Government upon the authority of the people only, now in this 
public manner, in behalf of ourselves, and with the approbation, consent 
and authority of our constituents, unanimously declare our willingness 
to concur in a vote of the Congress, declaring the United Colonies free 
and independent States: 

“Provided, The forming the government and the regulation of in¬ 
ternal police of this Colony be always reserved to the people of the said 
Colony; and we further call upon the nations of Europe, and appeal to 
the Great Arbiter and Governor of the empires of the world, to witness 
for us, that this declaration did not originate in ambition or in an 
impatience of lawful authority, but that we were driven to it in 
obedience to the first principle of nature by the oppressions and cruel¬ 
ties of the aforesaid King and Parliament of Great Britain, as the only 
possible measure that was left us to preserve and establish our liberties, 
and to transmit them inviolate to posterity.” 

The Conference prepared an address to the Associators of Pennsyl¬ 
vania, which was adopted unanimously. This address issued particular 
instructions to associators to exercise great care in the election of dele¬ 
gates, charging them to select only the best men and to eschew all such 
as were in the proprietary interest. 

It is obvious that the adoption of the Declaration of Independence 
was assumed as a fixed fact, for they expressed much greater anxiety 
in regard to the complexion of the Constitutional Convention of Pennsyl¬ 
vania, which was to meet in Philadelphia July 15. 

After the adjournment of the Conference, on June 25, a dinner was 


STANDING STONE MASSACRE 


421 


given to the members at the Indian Queen Tavern, on Fourth Street. 
The toasts were drunk to “The Congress,” “The Free and Independent 
States of America,” “Washington,” “The Army and Navy,” “A Wise 
and Patriotic Convention to Pennsylvania on the 15th of July,” “Lasting 
dependence to the enemies of independence,” etc. 

Pennsylvania was truly on the brink of a crisis, and Congress was 
face to face with the question of independence and the expediency of 
an immediate declaration of it and the instant severing of all ties 
binding the united colonies to the mother country. 


Massacre at Indian Town of Standing Stone 
on June 19, 1777 

S AN Indian post of ancient date, few are better known than 
Standing Stone, the present site of the beautiful borough of 
Huntingdon, on the Juniata. It was here where two of the 
great Indian paths crossed, one leading on to Kittanning and 
the west, the other to Bedford and the Potomac. The earliest 
maps of which we have any record indicate that an important 
Indian village was situated at this point. 

Standing Stone was known to the Indians by the name of Achsin- 
nink, meaning original stone. The word alludes to a large rock, stand¬ 
ing separate and where there is no other rock. 

Conrad Weiser has left us the oldest record of Standing Stone, 
August 18, 1748, then seemingly already a well-known name of the 
place. 

John Harris, in 1753, wrote of Standing Stone as “about fourteen 
feet high and six inches square.” It stood on the right bank of Stone 
Creek, near its mouth, and in such a position as to enable persons to 
see it at considerable distance, either up or down the river. 

The Reverend Philip Fithian, in 1755, says it was “a tall stone 
column or pillar nearly square and seven feet above the ground.” 

There have been conflicting opinions whether any of this original 
Standing Stone still exists or not, some holding to the belief that it was 
used not only as a finger board at the crossing of the great Indian paths, 
but also contained the official record of the tribe. 

There is no doubt that the stone was carved with names and Indian 
characters, which depicted important epochs in the tribe’s history, its 
wars, mighty deeds, its prowess in battle, and, perhaps,' its skill in the 
chase. It also is quite possible that the stone was a sacred tablet to the 
memory of one or more noble chiefs who fell in battle. The stone 
contained many heiroglyphics and each may have told a story in the 
Indian language. 









422 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


This stone was once the cause of a war, when the Tuscarora tribe, 
living about thirty or forty miles below on the river, declared war on 
the tribe at Standing Stone for some real or fancied insult, and for this 
purpose sent them repeated messages which the Standing Stone Indians 
failed to heed. The Tuscarora awaited a time when their enemy 
warriors were on a hunt, when they fell on the village with a great 
force, driving away those who were at home, and carried the stone 
away. Upon the return of the hunters the entire war force was im¬ 
mediately sent after their enemy, who were soon overtaken, when a 
bloody conflict ensued, and the stone was recaptured and carried back 
in triumph. 

It seems to be an undisputed fact that the original stone was removed 
by the Indians and carried away by them about 1755, at the time the 
Indians in that valley joined the French. 

A few white settlers seated themselves at Standing Stone in 1762 
and began the erection of a stockade fort, but in the following spring 
were forced to abandon it, as well as their houses and other improve¬ 
ments, and fly to Carlisle for protection from the Indians. 

Standing Stone was laid out as a town in 1767 by the Reverend 
William Smith, D. D., the proprietor at that time and for many years 
afterward provost of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Smith called 
the town Huntingdon, in honor of Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, in 
England, a lady of remarkable liberality and piety, who, at the solicita¬ 
tion of Dr. Smith, had made a handsome donation to the funds of the 
University. 

The old name Standing Stone, however, clung to the place for many 
years. Nearly all the traders and military officers of the eighteenth 
century used the old name, and it is marked Standing Stone on the 
Lewis Evans map of 1755 and 1770; it is “Standing Stone, Hunting¬ 
don,” on the Powell map of 1776. 

On the second stone erected at this place were found the names of 
John and Charles Lukens, Thomas Smith and a number of others, with 
dates varying from 1768 to 1770, cut or chiseled in the stone. This 
stone seems to have been erected by one or other of the men whose names 
it bore, on the same spot where the original stone stood. This stone 
was subsequently removed to a spot near the present court house in 
Huntingdon and forms the most valuable and interesting historic relic 
in the Juniata county seat. 

The only massacre to take place at Standing Stone occurred June 19, 
1777, at what was known as Big Spring, several miles west of the fort. 
The Indians had infested the plantations and the inhabitants fled to 
the fort. Felix Donnelly and his son, Francis, and Bartholomew 
Maguire and his daughter, residing near the mouth of Shaver’s Creek, 
placed their effects upon horses and, with a cow, started for the fort. 

Jane Maguire was driving the cow ahead of the party, the Donnellys 


MORAVIANS DEDICATE FIRST CHURCH 423 


and Maguire bringing up the rear on the horses. When nearly opposite 
the Big Spring, an Indian fired from ambuscade and killed young Don¬ 
nelly. His father, who was close to him, caught him as he was falling 
from his horse. Maguire rode to his side and the two men held the dead 
body of Francis upon the horse* 

The Indians rushed from their hiding place with terrific yells, and 
fired a volley at the party, one bullet struck Felix Donnelly, and another 
grazed Maguire’s ear. Donnelly fell to the ground as did the body of 
his dead son. The Indians rushed forward, scalped Francis and followed 
Jane, who succeeded in escaping, but not until she lost her dress when 
an Indian attempted to make her captive. 

Some men on the opposite bank of the stream, hearing the Indian 
yells and shooting, rushed to the scene. The Indians, not knowing their 
strength, disappeared in the woods. Maguire and his daughter reached 
the fort and alarmed the garrison, which started in hot pursuit of the 
savages but did not overtake them. The dead body of Francis Don¬ 
nelly was buried in a vacant spot which now is a garden in the heart of 
the borough of Huntingdon. 

Among those who figured in the thrilling drama about Standing 
Stone were the Bradys, who later moved to the West Branch of the 
Susquehanna; Colonel Fee, who gained renown in Captain Blair’s 
expedition against the Tories, and the Cryder family, consisting of father, 
mother and seven sons, every one a hero. 

At the organization of the new county in 1787, it took the name of 
Huntingdon, and Standing Stone became even more only a historic 
memory. 


Moravians Dedicate First Church West of 
Alleghenies June 20, 1771 

HE first church building dedicated to the worship of God west 
of the Allegheny Mountains was the chapel built by Reverend 
David Zeisberger, at Friedenstadt, on the Big Beaver, in now 
Beaver County, Pennsylvania. 

In 1743 Zeisberger \vas at Shamokin laboring as a Mora¬ 
vian missionary among the Indians, with the approbation and 
support of the great Shikellamy. This mission was broken up in 1756, 
and for several years Zeisberger assisted in ministering to the Christian. 
Indians, for whom the Provincial Government had provided a refuge in 
the barracks at Philadelphia. 

Peace having been concluded at the end of the Pontiac War, Zeis¬ 
berger led the remnant of these Indians to Wyalusing, on the North 
Branch of the Susquehanna River, in Bradford County. Here Zeis- 






424 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


berger established the mission of Friedenschuetten, “tents of peace. 
This mission prospered greatly, and much good was done among the 
Indians. 

In October, 1767, he traversed the solitude of the forest and reached 
the Munsee Indians, who were then* living in what is now Forest 
County. This pious missionary remained with these savages but seven 
days. They were good listeners to his sermons, but every day he was 
in danger of being murdered. Of these Indians he wrote: 

“I have never found such heathenism in any other part of the 
Indian country. Here Satan has a stronghold. Here he sits upon his 
throne. Here he is worshipped by true savages, and carries on his work 
in the hearts of the children of darkness.” 

He returned to Friedenschuetten and labored there until the Six 
Nations sold the land in that part of the State, November 5, 1768. 

The Six Nations had by this treaty sold the land from “under the 
feet” of the Wyalusing converts and the Reverend Zeisberger was 
compelled to take measures for the removal of these Christian Indians, 
with their horses and cattle, to some other field. 

This company penetrated through the wilderness to the Allegheny 
River, and established a church at a Delaware town of three villages 
called Goschgoschunk, near the mouth of Tionesta Creek in which 
is now Venango County. Here they built a log chapel, planted corn 
and commenced the work of evangelization. 

They were soon rewarded by gaining a number of converts, among 
whom was the blind old chief Allemewi, who was baptized with the 
name of Solomon. 

As usual, however, their success excited opposition and their lives 
were threatened by the hostile Indians, who called the converts “Sunday 
Indians” or “Swannocks,” a name of great opprobrium. 

Wangomen, an Indian prophet, declared that he had a vision in 
which he was shown by the Great Spirit that the white man had dis¬ 
pleased him by coming among the Indians; and the old squaws went 
about complaining that since their arrival the corn was devoured by 
worms, that the game was leaving the country, and that neither chest¬ 
nuts nor bilberries ripened any more. 

Some said, “The white men ought to be killed,” and, others agree¬ 
ing, said, “Yes, and all the baptized Indians with them and their bodies 
thrown into the river.” 

The name of the town, Goschgoschunk, meant “the place of the 
hogs,” and the missionaries believed it was well named. 

In 1769 they removed their converts to Lawunakhanna, on the op¬ 
posite side of the river about three miles above Goschgoschunk. A 
strange thing occurred here in the friendly attitude of their old 
enemy, Wangomen. He carried news of their success to Kuskuskee, a 
celebrated Delaware town on the Beaver, in the present Lawrence 


MORAVIANS DEDICATE FIRST CHURCH 425 


County. From this place Chief Pakanke sent Glikhickan, a celebra- 
ted Delaware warrior and orator, to refute the teachings of the mis¬ 
sionaries. 

Glikhickan listened to the preaching of Zeisberger, and received 
private instructions in the Gospel, and was completely won by them. 

On his return to Kuskuskee Glikhickan made a favorable report to 
Pakanke, who invited the missionaries and their converts to remove 
to Beaver, where a tract of land was promised them for their exclusive 
use. 

Zeisberger asked and received the consent of the Mission Board at 
Bethlehem to accept the invitation, and he promptly prepared to remove 
thither. 

April 17, 1770, the congregation at Lawunakhanna, set out in six¬ 
teen canoes, passed down the river to Fort Pitt, and on to the mouth 
of the Big Beaver, where they arrived in the forenoon of April 23 
and paddled up the stream to the falls. At this point a portage was 
necessary and it took four days to carry their baggage and canoes around 
the rapids. Here they were met by Glikhickan and others with horses, 
who assisted them in this labor. 

Five days later Zeisberger tarried at New Kuskuskee to visit with 
Pakanke, who received him with a genuine welcome. 

The site of their new encampment was reached May 7. Corn was 
planted, a large hut for meetings of the congregation and smaller ones 
of bark for dwellings were put up and all were happy in their new 
home. This town was called Friedenstadt, or “town of peace.” 

Glikhickan became a devoted friend of the Christians, and when 
he removed to Friedenstadt old Pakanke attacked him publicly. Colonel 
George Croghan used his influence to appease Pakanke and secure a 
fair hearing for the missionaries, and the labors of the brethren began 
to bear fruit. 

Gn June 12 the wife of the blind chief Solomon was baptized. Six 
months later Glikhickan and Genaskund were baptized. Glikhickan 
took the name of Isaac and became an assistant in the work of the 
Gospel. 

On July 14 Zeisberger was adopted into the Munsee tribe and 
Pakanke was present at the ceremony. 

July 23, Zeisberger laid out a new and larger town on the west 
side of the Beaver, near the present Moravia. This was a more 
permanent settlement. The houses were built of logs, with stone 
foundations and chimneys and the church was much larger. Here, too, 
they built a blacksmith shop and stockades. 

Other missionaries came from Bethlehem. On the one hand, they 
enjoyed success in their work, and, on the other, they were subjected 
to much disagreeable treatment by those still unfavorable to them, their 
lives being more than once seriously imperiled by visits of hostile and 


426 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


drunken savages. But they continued their labors undaunted by trials 
and persecutions. 

May 27, 1771, the foundation stone of the chapel was laid, and 
June 20 the house was dedicated with great rejoicings. In all probability 
this was the first church building dedicated to the worship of God west 
of the Allegheny Mountains. 


Revolutionary Forces Threaten Executive 
Council June 21, 1783 

CHANGE in the British Ministry had encouraged Dr. Benja¬ 
min Franklin-to renew his efforts for a peaceful adjustment, 
and after working with the utmost industry and skill through¬ 
out the summer and most of the autumn of 1782, he had the 
satisfaction of seeing his labors crowned with success. 

A preliminary treaty of peace between the Colonies and 
Great Britain was signed at Paris, November 30, 1782, but the news did 
not reach this country until March 12, 1783, when the packet George 
Washington, Captain Joshua Barney, arrived at Philadelphia with the 
joyful intelligence that a treaty had been concluded, acknowledging the 
independence of the United States. This was the initial step necessary 
in the negotiations for peace between all belligerents. 

On March 23 the French cutter Triumph arrived at Philadelphia 
from Cadiz, bringing the news that a preliminary treaty of peace had 
been signed January 20, 1783. 

M. de Luzerne, the French Minister, at once issued an official 
notification of the fact, directing French cruisers to cease hostilities. 
Intelligence of the state of affairs was also communicated to Sir Guy 
Carleton, who had succeeded Sir Henry Clinton as the British com¬ 
mander-in-chief at New York. 

On April 11, the British officers received official notice from home 
that peace had been concluded, and the same day Congress issued a 
proclamation enjoining a cessation of hostilities. 

On April 16 the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania made 
public announcement of the happy event at the Court House, where 
the official document was read by the Sheriff in the presence of an 
immense concourse of people. The State flag was hoisted as usual on 
such occasions, at Market Street wharf; church bells were rung amid 
general demonstrations of joy at the termination of the war. In the 
evening Charles Wilson Peale exhibited the patriotic transparencies 
which had done good service on previous occasions, and one week later 
Thomas Paine published the last number of the Crisis, in which he 
declared that “the times that tried men’s souls were over.” 






EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THREATENED 


427 


I he definite treaty of peace was signed at Versailles, September 3, 
1783, in which the United States was formally acknowledged to be 
sovereign, free and independent. 

One of the first measures made necessary by the cessation of the 
war was the exchange of prisoners. The soldiers of Burgoyne’s army 
were principally at Lancaster, and they were put in motion before the 
proclamation, and arrived in Philadelphia on their way to New York 
a day or two previous to the official announcement. The obstructions 
that had been placed in the Delaware River were removed and com¬ 
merce resumed. 

In June, 1783, a number of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers 
of the Pennsylvania Line wearied, and exasperated by the delay in 
the settlement of their claims, resolved to demand a redress of their 
grievances and a prompt settlement of their accounts. 

A body of them accordingly marched from Lancaster toward the 
city of Philadelphia, and although the Supreme Executive Council and 
Congress were informed of their coming, no measures were taken to 
check the advance of the malcontents. 

A committee of Congress requested the Executive Council to call 
out the militia in order to prevent the progress of the rioters, but the 
State authorities took no action, in the belief apparently that the troops 
could be conciliated. 

Orders were issued from the War Office that the soldiers be 
received into the barracks and supplied with rations. On reaching the 
city they marched to those quarters in good order and without creating 
any disturbance. 

Congress and the Executive Council both held their sessions in the 
State House at this time. 

On Saturday, June 21, Congress not being in session, having ad¬ 
journed from Friday until Monday, about thirty of the soldiers marched 
from the barracks to the State House, where the Executive Council was 
in regular meeting. 

They sent to that body a memorial in writing stating that as their 
general officers had left them, they should have authority to appoint 
commissioned officers to command them and redress their grievances. 
With this demand went a threatening message that in case they refused, 
the soldiers would be let in upon the Council, who must then abide by 
the consequences. Only twenty minutes were given for the deliberation, 
but so insolent were the terms that the Council at once unanimously 
rejected the proposition. 

This action created a widespread alarm. Other bodies of soldiers 
joined the mutineers, who now numbered 300. The president of Con¬ 
gress assembled that body in special session and demanded that the 
militia of the State should be immediately called forth in sufficient force 
to reduce the soldiers to obedience, disarm them and put them in the 


428 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


power of Congress. Prior to the assembling of Congress at Carpenters’ 
Hall the soldiers were at their barracks and all was quiet. 

A session of the Supreme Executive Council was held the following 
day, Sunday, at the house of President Dickinson. That body did not 
agree on the extreme measures of Congress. The result was that the 
latter, dissatified with the indisposition of the Council, adjourned to 
meet at Princeton, N. J. This action of Congress was neither necessary 
nor prudent. It was prompted by pride and a disposition to construe an 
undesigned affront into the wanton insult, or it was in consequence of 
fear that was unjustifiable by the succession of events. 

The promoters of this meeting escaped, but several of the ringleaders 
were arrested and court-martialed. Two of the sergeants of the Third 
Pennsylvania were sentenced to be shot, while several others were to 
receive corporal punishment, but all were subsequently pardoned by 
Congress. 

Congress remained during the summer at Princeton. The Assembly 
of Pennsylvania, the Council, and prominent citizens of the State 
invited it to return to Philadelphia, and although Congress seemed 
pleased and satisfied at the measures taken, yet they were ashamed to go 
back to a city they had deserted so precipitately and carelessly, and they 
adjourned at Princeton to meet at Annapolis, Md. 


Colonel Turbutt Francis Marches Provincial 
Troops to Wyoming June 22, 1769 

HE Connecticut people had gained complete possession of the 
Wyoming Valley at the conclusion of the so-called first 
Pennanite-Yankee War, in 1769. 

These Yankees entered with enthusiasm upon their agri¬ 
cultural pursuit, while their surveyors were employed in run¬ 
ning out the five townships which had been allotted to the 
actual.settlers by the Connecticut authorities. But no one supposed that 
peace and security were finally yielded them by their alert and powerful 
Pennsylvania opponents. 

Captain Amos Ogden with the civil magistrate, Sheriff John Jen¬ 
nings, of Northampton County, of which county the Wyoming Valley 
was then a part, appeared at the head of an armed party in the plains 
May 20. They found the Yankees too strongly entrenched and re¬ 
turned to Easton. 

Sheriff Jennings informed Governor John Penn that the intruders 
mustered three hundred able bodied men, and it was not in his power 
to collect sufficient force in Northampton County to dislodge them. 

At the same time that the Governor sent Sheriff Jennings to 






TROOPS MARCH ON WYOMING 


429 


Wyoming, he sent instructions to Colonel Turbutt Francis, who was 
then commandant of the garrison at Fort Augusta, to extend such aid 
as was necessary to secure the Proprietary settlements at Wyoming, and 
to hold his troops in readiness for any emergency or call that he might 
make for them. 

The records of Fort Augusta, or those published in the Archives 
do not give much detailed information of the instructions which Colonel 
Francis received, but in a long report of the committee of the Susque¬ 
hanna Company, written from Windham, Connecticut, and signed by 
four members, is this paragraph: 

“June 22nd, 1769, Colonel Francis, with sixty armed men in a 
hostile manner demanded a surrender of our houses and possessions. 
He embodied his forces within thirty or forty rods of their dwellings, 
threatened to fire their houses and kill our people, unless they sur¬ 
rendered and quitted their possessions, which they refused to do, and 
after many terrible threatenings by him, he withdrew. Our people went 
on peaceably with their business.” 

Miner, in his History of Wyoming, says of this event: “Col. Turbutt 
Francis, commanding a fine company from the city, in full military 
array, with colors streaming, and martial music, descended into the 
plain, and sat down before Fort Durkee about the 20th of June; but 
finding the Yankees too strongly fortified, returned to await reinforce¬ 
ments below the mountains.” 

On June 15 Major Durkee, and others of the New England ad¬ 
herents went to Easton to attend the Northampton County Court, but 
the case against the Yankees was continued to the September term, 
and the defendants returned with Major Durkee to Wyoming. 

It was during Major Durkee’s absence that the exciting events 
took place. 

Colonel Francis was a native of Philadelphia and a distinguished 
officer of the French and Indian War, since which service he had spent 
the greater part of his life in and about Fort Augusta. He was in 
command of the garrison at that fortress when Governor Penn sent 
him to Wyoming, and his troops were in the provincial service. 

A Yankee report of this event says: “The 22d of June our spies 
gave fresh information, that the mob was on their way, and they judged 
their number consisted of between 60 and 70, and in the evening 
they came and strung along the opposite side of the River for more than 
a mile, judging by their whooping, yelling and hideous noise and firing 
of guns. 

“The 23d, in the morning, one Captain Ogden, with two more, 
came to know if our committee could be spoke with by Colonel Francis, 
which was consented to. About 8 in the morning the Colonel came, 
seemingly in an angry frame by his looks and behavior. He told us he 
had orders from the Governor of Pennsylvania to remove us off (which 


430 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


he in a short time contradicted), and demanded entrance into our town, 
which was refused; and continued he—‘You have lost your case at 
Easton, and I have 300 men here with me, and 100 more coming, 
and my men are so unruly and ungoverned that it is hardly in my 
power to keep them from you; and they will kill your cattle and horses, 
and destroy your corn, and block up the way so as to cut you off from 
all communication for provisions, and your Government will not own 
you.’ 

“We told him that we had a good right to the land by Charter from 
the Crown, and Deed from the Indians, and that we could not, con¬ 
sistent with the votes of the Susquehanna Company, give it up, and 
should not. He then made proposals of agreement that we should 
possess the land on the East Branch, except that what Ogden and some 
others of them improved, and they enjoy the West Branch, till decided 
by law; and he would give us an hour to consider, and give him an 
answer. We sent him word that we would not comply with his terms, 
for it was not in our power. 

“Finally he concluded to move off with his mob to Shamokin (which 
is about 60 miles) and wait there about ten days for the committee to 
send our proposals, which, if he liked, it was well; if not, he could come 
again. And further, he desired our men might be kept in the Fort 
till his men should be gone, lest they should hurt us. Towards night 
they moved off, seemingly well pleased with their Conquest. As near 
as we could learn their number did not exceed 50 men, and a consider¬ 
able part of them in our favor.” 

Colonel Francis was called to Philadelphia in July and gave a full 
verbal report of his expedition to the Governor and Council. 

In September thirteen of the Connecticut settlers in three canoes 
loaded with flour were halted at Fort Augusta. They were on there 
way up the river with the cargo which they had purchased at Harris’ 
Ferry for the Wyoming settlement. 

The Yankees were detained by armed troops for three hours, but 
their cargoes were confiscated, even in spite of the fact they agreed to 
pay for the food. 

Thus the trouble between the Connecticut and Pennsylvania claim¬ 
ants continued for many years. 


TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD PLANNED 431 


Pennsylvanian Makes First Report in Con¬ 
gress for Railway to Pacific 
June 23, 1848 

AMES POLLOCK had exhibited unusual personal and politi¬ 
cal strength in carrying at three consecutive elections his 
Democratic congressional district. He was first chosen to 
fill a vacancy occasioned by the death of Congressman General 
Henry Frick, then again in 1844 and 1846 he won his re- 
election. He was one of the younger members, but during his 
nearly six sessions of service he exhibited not only great efficiency, but 
he was in advance of most of his older associates in heartily sustaining 
all progressive movements. 

Pollock was one of the few members of Congress who took kindly 
to Professor S. B. Morse, when he went to Washington and was 
shunned by nearly every Government official as a crank or lunatic 
because he proposed to utilize the lightning for the transmission of 
messages. 

Pollock also was one of the earliest public men to accept Benton’s 
idea of the great destiny of the West after the extension of our territory 
to the Pacific by Mexican annexation. He served on the Committees 
of Claims, Territories, and in the Thirtieth Congress he was on the 
important Committee of Ways and Means. 

On June 23, 1848, Pollock offered a resolution for the appointment 
of a special committee to inquire into the necessity and practicability of 
constructing a railroad to the Pacific Coast. As chairman of that com¬ 
mittee he made a report to the House in favor of the construction of 
such a road which was the first favorable official act on the subject on 
the part of the Congress of the United States. 

The report discussed the question in its international and domestic 
aspects, its feasibility and probable results. The opening paragraph is 
in these words: 

“The proposition at first view is a startling one. The magnitude of 
the work itself, and the still greater and more magnificent results 
promised by its acomplishment—that of revolutionizing morally and 
commercially, if not politically, a greater part of the habitable globe, 
and making the vast commerce of the world tributary to us—almost 
overwhelm the mind. But your committee, on examination, finds it a 
subject as simple as it is vast and magnificent, and sees no insurmount¬ 
able difficulties in the way of its successful accomplishment.” 

A bill accompanied the report, and was referred to the Committee 
of the Whole, but no further action was taken on it at that time, and 






432 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Pollock soon after left Congress. In the fall of 1848, however, he 
delivered a lecture on the Pacific Railroad, by invitation to a crowded 
house at Lewisburg, Union County, closing with the following remark: 

“At the risk of being insane, I will venture the prediction, that in 
less than twenty-five years from this evening a railroad will be completed 
and in operation between New York and San Francisco, Calif.; that 
a line of steamships will be established between San Francisco, Japan 
and China; and there are now in my audience, ladies who will, before 
the expiration of the period named, drink tea brought from China and 
Japan by this route, to their own doors.” 

That prophetic announcement was received by the audience with a 
smile of good-natured incredulity, but some of those very ladies, during 
the year 1869, were able to sip their favorite beverage in exact 
accordance with the terms of the speaker’s prediction. On May 10, 
1869, the last rail was laid, the last spike driven, and the great 
Pacific Railway, so long in embryo, became an accomplished fact. 

Pollock gave special interest during his Congressional service to the 
annexation of Texas, the Mexican War, the acquisition of California, 
the repeal of the Tariff Act of 1842, and the “Wilmot Proviso,” in its 
application to the newly acquired territories of the United States. In 
all the discussions on those exciting topics he was the leading factor. 
His speeches and votes demonstrated the consistency of his views, and 
the breadth and soundness of his understanding. 

In 1850 he became President-Judge of the eighth judicial district, 
then composed of the counties of Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, 
Sullivan and Lycoming. 

In 1854 he was nominated and elected by a large majority Gov¬ 
ernor of Pennsylvania. 

It was during his administration, May 16, 1857, that the main line 
of the public works of the State was directed to be sold. On July 25 
following Governor Pollock caused the same to be done, and on July 
31 the whole line of the public works between Philadelphia and Pitts¬ 
burgh was transferred to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at the 
price of $7,500,000. 

In the summer of 1857 a serious financial revulsion occurred, result¬ 
ing in the suspension of specie payments by the banks of Pennsylvania 
and other States of the Union, followed by the failure of many long- 
established commercial houses, leading to the destruction of confidence 
and to the general depression of trade, and threatening to affect dis¬ 
astrously the credit of the Commonwealth and the great industrial 
interests of the people. 

In order to release the banks from the penalties incurred by a sus¬ 
pension of specie payments, Governor Pollock convened the Legislature 
in “extraordinary session” October 6. 

On October 13 an act was passed “providing for the resumption of 


JOHN BINNS 


433 


specie payments by the banks and for the relief of debtors,” to go into 
immediate effect. The law had the desired result, the different branches 
of industry revived and the community saved from bankruptcy and ruin. 
He declined a renomination for a second term. 

While serving in Congress, Pollock became intimately acquainted 
with Abraham Lincoln, who was then also a member, and they boarded 
at the same house. 

This friendship was renewed after Lincoln became President, when 
he called Pollock to Washington to consult with him upon the grave 
questions confronting the country and to consult with him regarding 
certain men he was considering for his Cabinet. In 1861 President 
Lincoln appointed his Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, and it was 
through his efforts, while so serving, that the motto, ‘‘In God We 
Trust,” was placed upon our coins. 

Governor Pollock died at Lock Haven April 19, 1890, and his body 
was interred in the cemetery at Milton. 


John Binns, English Politician and Editor, 
Died June 24, 1860 



DITOR JOHN BINNS died in Philadelphia June 24, 1860, 
at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, each one of which 
was one of prominence, either in England or America. 

In 1854 he wrote the “Recollections of the Life of John 
Binns; Twenty-nine Years in Europe and Fifty-three in 
the United States.” In the introduction he says: 

“Soon after my arrival in the United States, which was on the first 
day of September, 1801, I was urged by the late Dr. Joseph Priestley, 
his son Joseph, and Thomas Cooper, Esq., to write my life. They 
were among my earliest American acquaintances, and continued my 
zealous and faithful friends to their death. Some few American gentle¬ 
men who have subsequently, in Philadelphia, read the account of my 
arrest and examination before the Privy Council in London, and my 
trials for sedition and high treason in 1797 and 1798, have also urged 
me to publish my Recollections. Let these facts be received as an apology 
for this publication.” 

John Binns was born in Dublin, Ireland, son of John and Mary 
Pemberton Binns. His father’s family were Moravians; his mother’s 
Episcopalians. His father was drowned at sea when John was two years 
old. He left a comfortable estate, and John and his brother and sister 
received a liberal education. His mother married again when John was 
yet in school. 

When fourteen years old John Binns was apprenticed to a soap 






434 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


boiler, but on the death of his grandfather he purchased his apprentice 
fee and took a deep interest in politics. He left Dublin April, 1794, 
and went to London. Then his troubles began. 

John Binns was first arrested March 11, 1796, at Birmingham, and 
confined in the dungeon, but his trial was postponed until August. In 
the interim he returned to Dublin, but returned for his trial, when he 
was acquitted. 

He was soon again arrested together with two celebrated politicians 
at Margate and imprisoned at London. He was discharged and again 
rearrested on a charge of high treason, then sent to the Tower of 
London, from which he was removed to Maidstone Jail. He was again 
tried and acquitted, following a serious riot in court, May 24, 1798. 
He was next arrested and imprisoned in Gloucester, where he was 
frequently visited by many persons of distinction. 

During this imprisonment Binns determined he would go to the 
United States as soon as liberated. July 1, 1801, he embarked for Balti¬ 
more, arriving there September 1 after a stormy and perilous voyage. 

Upon his arrival he loaded his goods on three wagons and set out on 
foot for Northumberland, Pa., where he purposed to reside. At Harris¬ 
burg he hired a boat to take his goods and himself as a passenger up 
the river to Northumberland. 

Binns was given a hearty welcome by Dr. Priestley and Judge 
Cooper, and soon became a most prominent resident. He was invited 
to deliver the oration on July 4, 1802, and his effort stamped him as a 
most learned and eloquent speaker. 

Binns established the Republican Argus at Northumberland, and his 
success exceeded his fondest expectations. It soon became one of the 
prominent papers of the State. He was a bold and determined man 
and wielded a severe pen. 

December 14, 1805, Binns fought a duel with Samuel Stewart, of 
Williamsport, a member of the Legislature. 

In January, 1807, friends in Philadelphia urged him to remove to 
that city and establish a Democratic newspaper. He sounded members 
of the Quid Party and found them willing to support Snyder, but 
they would not do so under the leadership of William Duane, editor of 
the Aurora. 

Binns removed to Philadelphia and established the Democratic 
Press, March 27, 1807. This was the first paper which used the word 
“Democratic” in its title. 

May 15 Binns delivered the “Long Talk” before the Tammany 
Society, which caused him in September to be dismissed from the society. 
Then the fight between the Aurora and Democratic Press opened in all 
its fury, and the battle for the leadership between Duane and Dr. Leib 
on one side and John Binns on the other was commenced. 

Binns came out against Dr. Leib for Assembly and Duane for the 


JOHN BINNS 


435 


Senate. The former was elected, but Duane was badly beaten. This 
was the Aurora’s first defeat and it groaned aloud. 

Binns was powerful in the election of Snyder in 1808. He had 
brought back the Constitutional Republicans into the fold and was able 
to control the party against both Duane and Leib. 

Dr. Leib was elected to the United States Senate early in 1809, but 
Governor Snyder’s course was by no means pleasing to Duane. The 
Press defended him, while the Aurora criticized everything he did. The 
Aurora threatened to impeach the Governor, and Binns called the 
Aurora and its supporters “The Philadelphia Junto.” 

Binns and his party favored war with England, and here again he 
came into opposition with “Leib, Duane & Co.,” as the Press called 
them. 

Duane and Leib lost all control of the Legislature. In 1811 the 
Federalists were successful, and Snyder was overwhelmingly re-elected. 
The Aurora published nothing about the impending war, the Press 
supported every movement which forwarded its progress, and this was 
the popular side. Governor Snyder appointed his friend Binns as aide- 
de-camp, and he was active throughout the war. 

Leib was appointed Postmaster at Philadelphia in February, 1814, 
but Binns succeeded in having Postmaster General Granger removed, 
and his successor immediately removed Leib, who then disappeared 
from the political fieltl. 

Duane soon followed Leib into political obscurity and Binns was 
in the zenith of his power. Had Binns not quarreled with Findlay soon 
as his election he would have held his power for many more years. It 
was particularly unfortunate that he opposed the election of Andrew 
Jackson in 1824 and afterward. 

He was appointed an alderman by Governor Hiester in 1822, a 
position he held for many years. 

The Democratic Press was issued for the last time on November 14, 
1829, it having been absorbed by the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

In 1840 Binns published “A Digest of the Laws and Judicial 
Decisions of Pennsylvania Touching of Authority of Justices of the 
Peace,” which was revised and republished under the title “Magistrate’s 
Manual,” a book popularly known as “Binns’ Justice.” 

Binns held a nurtiber of positions of honor and trust, among which 
was directorship of the Pennsylvania Bank. 


436 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


First Deed for Chester County Conveyed to 
William Penn, June 25, 1683 

HE territory now included in Chester County was honorably 
purchased of the Indians by William Penn and conveyed in 
several distinct deeds. The first, bearing date June 25, 1683, 
and signed by an Indian called Wingebone, conveys to William 
Penn all his lands on the west side of the Schuylkill, beginning 
at the first falls and extending along and back from that river, 
in the language of the instrument, “so far as my right goeth.” 

By another deed of July 14, 1683, two chiefs granted to the 
Proprietary the land lying between the Chester and Schuylkill Rivers. 
From Kekelappan and Machaloa, the Conestoga chiefs, he purchased 
half the land between the Susquehanna and the Delaware in September, 
and from Malchaloa all the lands from the Delaware to Chesapeake Bay 
up to the falls of the Susquehanna in October. 

These were all the land transactions Penn had with the Indians in 
1683 of which the conveyances have been recorded. 

By a deed of July 30, 1684, Shakhoppoh, Secane and Malibor con¬ 
veyed the land between the Chester and Pennypack Creeks. Another 
conveyance was made on October 2, 1685, for the greater portion of 
the lands constituting the present county of Chester. This last instru¬ 
ment is a quaint piece of conveyancing and shows the value attached by 
the natives to their lands. 

“This indenture witnesseth that we, Packenah, Jackham, Sikals, 
Portquesott, Jervis, Essepenaick, Felkstrug, Porvey, Indian kings, 
sachemmakers, right owners of all lands from Quing Quingus, called 
Duck cr., unto Upland, called Chester cr., all along S&id west side of 
Delaware River, and so between the said creeks backwards as far as man 
can ride in two days with a horse, for in consideration of these following 
goods to us in hand paid, and secured to be paid by William Penn, 
Proprietary of Pennsylvania and the territories thereof, viz.; 20 guns, 
20 fathoms match coat, 20 fathoms stroud water, 20 blankets, 20 kettles, 
20 pounds of powder, 100 bars of lead, 40 tomahawks, 100 knives, 40 
pairs of stockings, 1 barrel of beer, 20 pounds of red lead, 100 fathoms 
of wampum, 30 glass bottles, 30 pewter spoons, 100 awl blades, 300 
tobacco pipes, 100 hands tobacco, 20 tobacco tongs, 20 steels, 300 flints, 
30 pair of scissors, 30 combs, 60 looking glasses, 200 needles, 1 skipple 
of salt, 30 pounds of sugar, 5 gallons of molasses, 20 tobacco boxes, 100 
jews harps, 20 hoes, 30 gimlets, 30 wooden screw boxes, 103 strings of 
beads—do hereby acknowledge, &c., &c. Given under our hands and 
seals, at New Castle, 2d of the 8th month, 1685.” 




CHESTER COUNTY CONVEYED TO PENN 437 


The Quing Quingus Creek referred to Duck Creek, in present Dela¬ 
ware County, or to Appoquinimink Creek, which runs some distance 
north of Duck Creek. 

In June, 1692, Kings Tamment, Tangorus, Swampes and Hicko- 
queon gave a confirmatory deed of their former conveyances of land 
lying between Neshaminey and Poquessing Creeks, “upon the Delaware, 
and extending backwards to the utmost bounds of the Province.” Tam- 
iny, his brother, and his three sons executed a second deed in confirma¬ 
tion of his former ones, July 5, 1697, for lands between Neshaminy 
and Pennypack, extending backward from the Delaware “so far as a 
horse can travel in two summer days.” 

In this last deed the grantors are described as: “Taminy, sachem, 
and Weheelam, my brother, and Weheequeckhon (alias Andrew), who 
is to be king after my death; Yaqueekhon (alias Nicholas), and 
Quenameckquid (alias Charles), my sons.” Weheequekhon was none 
other than the celebrated Sassoonan, or Allummapees, head chief of the 
Delaware from 1715 to 1747. 

The title of the particular Indian chiefs to the lands claimed by them 
was not always very clear, but it was the policy of the Proprietary 
Government to quiet all claims which might be made by purchasing 
them. Accordingly, purchases were made from time to time of claims 
made by chiefs which they alleged had not been extinguished by pur¬ 
chase. 

The Indians, after the sale of their lands, continued to occupy them 
until needed by the settlers, and gradually abandoned them as the 
whites advanced and took possession. 

They were an amiable race, and when they left the burial places of 
their fathers, in search of new homes, it was without a stain on their 
honor. Considerable numbers, however, remained in Chester County, 
inhabiting the woods and unoccupied places, until the breaking out of 
the French and Indian War in 1755; about which time they generally 
removed beyond the limits of the county and took up their abode in 
the valley of Wyoming, at the Forks of the Susquehanna, and at Wy- 
alusing in the North Branch of the Susquehanna. 

At the making of the treaty of St. Mary’s, in 1720, there were 
present some chiefs of the Nanticoke, one of whom had withstood the 
storms of ninety winters, who told the commissioners that he and his 
people had once roamed through their own domains along the Brandy¬ 
wine. 

At the close of the Revolutionary War, the number of Indians resi¬ 
dent in the county was reduced to four who dwelt in wigwams in 
Marlborough Township. After the death of three of them, the remain¬ 
ing one known as Indian Hannah, took up her abode in a wigwam 
near the Brandywine, or as she considered it, her own lands. During 
the summer she traveled through different parts of the county, selling 


438 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


willow baskets of her own production and visiting those who would 
receive her kindly. 

As she grew old she quitted her wigwam and dwelt in friendly 
families. Though a long time domesticated with the whites, she re¬ 
tained her Indian character to the last. She had a proud haughty 
spirit, hated the blacks and did not even deign to associate with the 
lower order of the whites. 

Without a companion of her race—without kindred—she felt her 
situation desolate, and often spoke of the wrongs and misfortunes of 
her people. She died in the year 1803, at the age of nearly one hundred 
years—the last of the Lenni Lenape resident in Chester County. 


Colonel Timothy Pickering Abducted by 
Yankees at Wyoming June 26, 1787 

HE County of Luzerne was erected from parts of Northumber¬ 
land County by act of September 26, 1786. 

The act of December 27, 1786, provided, “That Timothy 
Pickering, Zebulon Butler and John Franklin notify the 
electors that an election would be holden to choose a Counsel- 
dor, member of the Assembly, Sheriff, Coroner, and Com¬ 
missioners on the first day of February.” 

Colonel Pickering was one of the eminent men in the Union. He 
had the confidence of Washington and Congress, having executed with 
fidelity the office of Quartermaster General of the Continental Army. 
A native of Massachusetts, after the peace he settled in Philadelphia, 
becoming a citizen of Pennsylvania. He was selected, in addition to his 
great abilities and weight of character, for the reason that he was a New 
England man, to organize the new county and introduce the laws of 
the State among the Wyoming people. 

Colonel Zebulon Butler was a hero of the French and Indian War, 
a colonel in the Revolution and an honored and respected citizen among 
the Connecticut people in the Wyoming Valley. He was now old 
and desired peace. 

Colonel John Franklin, except in education and polish, was in no 
respect the inferior of Pickering. It was a wise stroke of policy to 
endeavor to conciliate the great Yankee leader by naming him as one 
of the deputies. 

When Colonel Pickering arrived at Wyoming, January, 1787, he 
assured the Connecticut settlers that he had strong reasons to believe 
the Legislature would pass a law to quiet them in their possessions. 
Maj*or John Jenkins, a leader of the Yankees, replied they had too often 
experienced the bad faith of Pennsylvania. Colonel Franklin at that 








COLONEL PICKERING KIDNAPED 


439 


moment was consulting with the Susquehanna Company on means of 
defeating the pacific measures of Pennsylvania. 

Colonel Pickering was soon brought into collision with Franklin 
and Jenkins and their followers. Franklin became so aggressive in op¬ 
posing the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania that Chief Justice McKean or¬ 
dered his arrest by four resolute men. A scuffle ensued, in which Col¬ 
onel Pickering interfered and advised them to place Colonel Franklin 
on a horse, with his legs tied together, and in this condition he was 
carried to Philadelphia. This act, of course, exposed Colonel Picker¬ 
ing to the vengeful resentment of Franklin’s adherents. 

Colonel Pickering had taken up his abode in the Wyoming Valley, 
near Wilkes-Barre, to show the confidence he had that quiet would 
soon be restored. On June 26, 1788, at the dead of night, a party of 
armed men, with their faces blackened, broke into his bedroom, where 
he and his wife were asleep. His arms were secured with cords, and 
he was led off up the Susquehanna River. 

Immediately on the abduction of Colonel Pickering being known, 
vigorous measures were adopted for his rescue. Four companies of 
militia were ordered out, and a thorough search for him was pursued. 

It was evident from many circumstances that their object was 
merely to make reprisals for Colonel Franklin’s imprisonment and to 
endeavor to procure his release. No attempt was made upon Colonel 
Pickering’s life; even certain instances of respect were shown for his 
person and rank in society. 

The party crossed Lackawannock Creek and camped in the wild 
glens. The Colonel endured much suffering, incident to a march 
through a wilderness and on account of heavy rains. 

The fifth day of his captivity Colonel Pickering discovered that two 
of his captors were Gideon and Joseph Dudley, near neighbors of his; 
also two Earle brothers, two more by the name of Kilborn, and one 
Cady, all neighbors. 

The next day they formed an iron band, with a chain attached to it. 
round the Colonel’s ankle and fastened the chain to a tree. They told 
him their “great men” said that is the way Colonel Franklin is held in 
Philadelphia. At night the chain was fastened to one of the party, so 
the Colonel could not escape without awakening him. 

Colonel Pickering had no thought of escape, for he expected them to 
weary of their enterprise, as well as to come to an understanding of the 
seriousness of their crime. He also realized they could easily capture 
him at any time they determined. 

During breakfast one of the party, who had gone for provisions, 
returned in great haste and told his comrades that their militia had 
met in battle and Captain William Ross had been seriously wounded. 
This battle occurred near Black Walnut Bottom, about sixteen miles 
above Tunkhannock. 


440 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The next day they crossed the river and went to the home of the 
Kilborn boys, where they kept Colonel Pickering overnight. Then they 
pushed back into the woods about four miles from the river. Here the 
party wearied of their enterprise and began to make overtures to the 
Colonel, suggesting they would liberate him if he would intercede with 
the Supreme Executive Council for the discharge of Colonel Franklin. 
The Colonel would make no promises, which enraged them, and once 
he feared they might tomahawk him. 

Colonel Pickering agreed to endeavor to obtain their pardon, if they 
would name their “great men,” who had deceived them in planning his 
abduction. This they would not do. 

After an imprisonment of nineteen days, during ten of which he 
had worn the chain, and sleeping night after night in the woods, with 
stones for pillows, living on scanty rations of salt pork, venison, corn 
bread and wintergreen tea, and without change of clothing, the Colonel 
was released on his own terms—which were merely that he would write 
a petition for them to the Executive Council, take it in person to 
Wilkes-Barre, and send it to Philadelphia. 

In 1787 Colonel Pickering represented Luzerne County in the 
Pennsylvania convention to ratify the Federal constitution, but did not 
sign the ratification. At that period he was prothonotary, for that county, 
and was subsequently a member of the convention called to revise the 
Constitution of 1776. 

President Washington appointed him Postmaster General Novem¬ 
ber 7, 1791, which he held until January 2, 1795, when on the resigna¬ 
tion of General Knox he was appointed Secretary of War. December 
10, 1795, Washington made him Secretary of State, which position he 
held until May 12, 1800. 

He was poor on leaving office, and, building a log house for his 
family upon some wild land that he owned in Pennsylvania, he com¬ 
menced clearing it for cultivation, until discovered by some friends who 
enabled him to return to Salem, Mass., in 1801. He became Judge in 
1802, and United States Senator from 1803 to 1811, when he was 
made a member of the Council. During the War of 1812 he was a 
member of Board of War, and then served as a member of Congress 
from 1815 to 1817. He died at Salem, Mass., January 29, 1829. 


CONFEDERATE RAID ON CARLISLE 


441 


Ewell’s Force of Rebels Made Raid on 
Carlisle June 27, 1863 

ENERAL A. G. JENKINS, of the Southern Confederacy, 
with nearly 1000 cavalry, entered Chambersburg June 16, 
1863. On June 23 his advance force re-entered the town 
when the Union troops fell back. On June 27 this advance 
force moved eastward toward Carlisle. 

General Knipe, commanding the Union troops, abandoned 
Carlisle on the approach of the enemy, considering it a folly to offer 
resistance to so formidable an invader. Accordingly, the rebels were 
met by Colonel W. M. Penrose and Robert Allison, assistant burgess, 
and informed that the town was without troops and that no resistance 
would be made. The cavalrymen entered the town from the west 
about 10 o’clock Saturday morning, June 27, and rode their horses at 
a walk, but with their carbines in position to be used at a moment’s 
warning. 

This force consisted of nearly 500 mounted cavalry. They passed 
down Main Street to the junction of the Trindle Spring and Dillsburg 
roads, where some of them proceeded to the garrison and the rest rode 
back and halted in the public square. The hotels were soon filled with 
officers and the streets with soldiers. 

General Jenkins made a requisition on the borough authorities for 
1500 rations, to be furnished in one hour and to be deposited in the 
market house. The demand was complied with, but not within the 
specified time. Soon as the troops were refreshed and their horses fed 
and watered the troopers remounted and rode through the streets of 
the town, visiting the garrison and other places of interest. 

At 2 o’clock in the afternoon General Ewell’s corps marched into 
Carlisle, Early’s division having crossed the mountains via Fayette¬ 
ville to York. The soldiers moved along shouting and laughing. The 
Confederate army was at this time in high spirits. The bands played 
“Dixie” as they swung through the town to the garrison. The condi¬ 
tion of the troops was pitiable. The men were miserably clad, many 
without shoes or hats, many really ragged and dirty. 

A brigade encamped upon the grounds of Dickinson College, and 
others at the United States garrison; guards were immediately posted 
and strict orders issued that no violence or outrage would be permitted. 
Most of the troops behaved like gentlemen, and so well did they obey 
their commander that but little trace of occupation by a hostile force 
was visible after their departure. 

General Ewell and his staff, numbering thirty officers, established 





442 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


headquarters at the barracks. The General then dispatched one of 
his aides to town, with an extravagant demand on the authorities of 
the borough for supplies. The general wanted 1500 barrels of flour, 
large supplies of medicines and several cases of amputating instruments. 
Especially urgent was his demand for a large quantity of quinine and 
chloroform. The authorities could not have complied with the de¬ 
mand, because the articles were not to be had in Carlisle. 

Strict orders were issued against the selling of intoxicating drinks 
to soldiers and the pillaging of private property by them. 

All communication with the outside world was cut off Sunday.- 
Services were conducted in the churches as usual and the army chap¬ 
lains of the rebel regiments encamped on the campus and at the gar¬ 
rison conducted services for their troops. All conversations with 
Southern officers and soldiers led the people to believe that their move¬ 
ment was directed toward Harrisburg and Philadelphia. 

On Monday, however, the railroad bridge was destroyed. A sigh 
of relief was had toward evening when rumors spread that the troops 
had orders to leave. 

Early Tuesday morning, June 30, the trains of Rode’s division 
began to move, then brigade after brigade passed until the main army 
had disappeared by 9 o’clock, leaving less than 200 cavalrymen on 
provost duty in the town. These left toward evening. 

Rebel pickets thronged the turnpike and the Trindle Spring road, 
some being very near Carlisle. Two o’clock in the afternoon about 
400 cavalrymen under Colonel Cochran, entered the town from the 
Dillsburg road, and were soon dashing wildly through the streets, 
shouting, screaming and acting like madmen. During the night 
the entire Confederate force left Carlisle and the town was clear of 
rebels. 

At sunrise on Wednesday Captain Boyd’s efficient command of 
Union troops entered Carlisle, and after a hearty meal he started in 
pursuit of the departing enemy. During all of this day regiment after 
regiment arrived and took position along the streets and in the public 
square. A battery of artillery arrived toward evening. 

After 6 o’clock General Smith arrived, bringing three regiments of 
infantry and about one hundred cavalry. The General posted his 
artillery for action. This had hardly been done, when, at 7 o’clock, a 
body of rebel cavalry under command of General Fitzhugh Lee, made 
its appearance at the junction of the Trindle Spring and Dillsburg 
roads. These troops at first were supposed to be a portion of our own 
forces. Their boldness was well calculated to produce such an im¬ 
pression. 

The call to arms brought the infantry into position. Members of 
the local militia companies, commanded by Captains Low, Kuhn, Black 
and Smiley, each on his own account, hurried to the eastern section of 


CAPTURE OF BRITISH FLAG 


443 


the town and, selecting secure positions, opened a very effective fire on 
the invading cavalry, which compelled them to fall back. 

Soon the shelling of the town commenced, which was kept up 
nearly an hour. This was followed by raking Main Street with grape 
and canister until nearly dark, when a rebel officer came in with a flag 
of truce to General Smith’s headquarters, demanding an unconditional 
surrender of the town. General Smith refused and the officer, bearing 
the flag of truce, returned to his command. 

Then began a second shelling of the town, more terrific than the 
first. To add to the general consternation the rebels applied the torch; 
the gas works, barracks, dwellings, stores, etc., were fired. Again an 
officer interviewed General Smith and again he refused to surrender. 

A third bombardment commenced, which, however, did not last 
long. By 3 o’clock Thursday morning the rebel command left by way 
of Boiling Spring road, thence across South Mountain for Gettysburg, 
to join General Robert E. Lee’s forces in the great battle which had 
opened there the previous day. 

During the bombardment of Carlisle not one citizen was killed, 
neither was a Union soldier, but fifteen of the latter were wounded. 


British Flag Captured by Pennsylvanians in 
Battle of Monmouth June 28, 1778 

UST before dawn June 18, 1778, the British began their 
evacuation of Philadelphia. They crossed the Delaware, and 
that evening encamped around Haddonfield, N. J. 

The news of this evacuation reached Washington, at Val¬ 
ley Forge, before morning. He immediately sent General 
Maxwell, with his brigade, to co-operate with the New Jer¬ 
sey militia, under General Dickinson, in retarding the march of the 
British. 

They were 17,000 strong, marching in two divisions, one under 
Cornwallis and the other led by Knyphausen. 

General Arnold, whose wounds kept him from the field, entered 
Philadelphia with a detachment before the rear guard of the British 
had left it. The remainder of the army, under the immediate com¬ 
mand of Washington, crossed the Delaware above Trenton and pursued. 

General Clinton had intended to march to New Brunswick and 
embark his army for New York, but, finding Washington’s army in his 
path, he turned toward Monmouth Court House. Washington fol¬ 
lowed him in a parallel line, prepared to strike him whenever an op¬ 
portunity should offer. But Clinton wished to avoid a battle, for he 
was encumbered with baggage, wagons and a host of camp followers, 








444 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


which made his line twelve miles in length. He encamped in Freehold 
on the night of June 27, and there Washington resolved to strike him 
if he should move the next morning. 

General Lee was in command of the advanced corps. Washington 
ordered him to form a plan of attack, but he failed to do so, or to for¬ 
ward any orders to Generals Wayne, Lafayette or Maxwell, who called 
upon him. 

On the morning of June 28, a hot Sabbath, Washington was told 
Clinton was about to move, and he ordered Lee to fall upon the British 
rear, but he was so tardy that the enemy had ample time to prepare for 
battle. When Lee did move he had no plan for battle, and his orders 
so perplexed his generals that they requested Washington to appear on 
the field with the main army immediately. 

Wayne attacked with vigor, with a sure prospect of victory, Lee 
ordered him only to make a feint. Clinton, at that moment changed 
front, and sent a large force against Wayne; Lafayette sensed the sit¬ 
uation and asked Lee for permission to gain the rear of the British. 
At first he refused, then ordered him to attack Clinton’s left. At the 
same time he weakened Wayne’s detachment by taking three regiments 
from it to support the right. While Wayne was in a desperate struggle 
Lee’s courage weakened and he withdrew, saying that the temerity of 
Wayne had brought against him the whole flower of the British 
army. 

Washington was pressing forward to the support of Lee, when he 
learned that his division was in full retreat. Washington, angered at 
the actions of Lee, ordered Wayne with three Pennsylvania regiments 
and two others from Virginia and Maryland to stop the British pursuit. 

The British, about 7000 strong, attempted to turn the American 
left flank, but were repulsed and disappointed. A severe battle en¬ 
sued, in which the Americans did great execution. For a while the 
result: seemed doubtful, when General Wayne came up with his troops 
and gave victory to the Americans. 

Colonel Henry Monckton tried to drive Wayne from his position, 
leading his troops in a bayonet charge. So terrible was Wayne’s storm 
of bullets that almost every British officer was slain, Colonel Monckton 
being among the killed. 

The battle ended at twilight, when both armies rested on their 
weapons, prepared for another conflict at dawn. But Clinton withdrew 
his army so silently, that he was far away when the American sentinels 
discovered his flight in the morning. Washington did not pursue. 

The British lost 1000 by desertion while crossing New Jersey, and 
they left 245 on the field. The Americans lost 228 killed, wounded 
and missing. 

It was during part of this action that Molly McKolly, wife of an 
artilleryman in Proctor’s regiment, carried water for the thirsty sol- 


CAPTURE OF BRITISH FLAG 


445 


diers, and when her husband was wounded, an officer ordered the 
piece to be withdrawn. 

Molly dropped her pitcher, seized the rammer and, displaying great 
courage and presence of mind, kept the gun in action. She performed 
the duty with a skill and daring that attracted the attention of all who 
saw her. On the following morning, covered with dirt and blood, 
General Greene presented her to Washington, who, admiring her 
bravery, conferred upon her the commission of sergeant. 

She was called Captain Molly, and became a heroine, always after¬ 
ward known as “Molly Pitcher.” A monument on the battlefield at 
Monmouth attests to her act, and her grave in the Carlisle, Pa., ceme¬ 
tery is marked by a stone and cannon. 

John Blair Linn, in his Annals of Buffalo Valley, says that the flag 
of the Royal Grenadiers and the sword of Colonel Monckton were 
captured on the field of Monmouth by Captain William Wilson, of 
Northumberland County. 

The flag is five feet four inches by four feet eight, lemon color 
ground, heavy corded silk; the device at upper right corner is twenty 
inches square, British Union, consisting of the cross of St. George and 
St. Andrew’s Cross. The field of the device is blue, the central stripes 
red, the marginal ones white. 

When Monckton waved his sword and ordered his grenadiers to 
charge and Wayne met them with a deadly fire, the colors were in ad¬ 
vance, to the right, with the colonel, and they went down with him. 
Captain Wilson and his company, who were on the right of the First 
Pennsylvania, made a rush for the colors and the body of the brave 
colonel. 

Captain Wilson gave Monckton’s sword to General Wayne, who 
presented it to General Lafayette, who took it with him to Europe. 
When he returned to the United States in 1824, he brought the sword 
with him, intending to restore it in person to Captain Wilson. 

Captain Wilson having died in 1813, General Lafayette handed the 
sword to Colonel Samuel Hunter, who turned it over to Judge A. S. 
Wilson, a son of Captain William Wilson. 

The flag has frequently been brought into requisition in patriotic 
demonstrations in subsequent years. It is still in the possession of 
decendants of Captain Wilson, now residents of Bellefonte. 


446 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Duke of York Receives New Patent for His 
Grant, June 29, 1674 

HE English claimed the right to the country upon the South, 
or Delaware River, because of the fact that John Cabot sailed 
up and down the Atlantic coast. 

Captain Thomas Young and his nephew, Robert Evelin, 
under a commission from King Charles “to go forth and dis¬ 
cover lands in America,” arrived in the South River July 24, 
1634. They remained at the mouth of the Schuylkill five days, and 
made two attempts to pass beyond the falls near Trenton. They built 
a fort at a place called Eriwoneck, probably the site of Philadelphia. 

In 1635 the governor of Virginia sent fifteen armed men, under 
command of Captain George Holmes, to the South River, and they 
took possession of Fort Nassau and the contiguous country. The Dutch 
governor of New Netherland promptly sent a force which recaptured 
the fort and made prisoners of Holmes and his invaders. 

In 1641 New Haven merchants and planters sent George Lam- 
berton and Nathaniel Turner to make land purchases on the South 
River. They bought from the Indians and built a block house, to 
which place about sixty persons from Connecticut settled. The ven¬ 
ture proved profitable, and soon other colonists arrived, and many 
houses were built near the mouth of the Schuylkill. 

The Swedes and Dutch both protested and in May, 1642, two 
sloops arrived from Manhattan with instructions to expel the English 
quietly, if possible, but by force, if necessary. The Dutch were com¬ 
pelled to use force, sent the English prisoners to Manhattan and burned 
their improvements. 

Charles II having been restored to the throne of Great Britain, he 
granted to his brother, James, Duke of York, later King of England, 
the lands lying between the Connecticut and Delaware Rivers. The 
duke fitted out an expedition, sailed to the mouth of the Hudson, and 
demanded the surrender, which was made August 27, 1664. 

This expedition then proceeded to the Delaware and November 3 
forced the surrender of that colony. Colonel Robert Carr was ap¬ 
pointed Deputy Governor. 

This conquest caused a war between Great Britain and Holland, 
which ended in favor of the former. The City of New Amsterdam 
became City of New York; Fort Orange became Albany; the South 
River became Delaware River, and New Amstel became New Castle. 

Colonel Richard Nicholls governed the territory with justice and 
good sense until August, 1668, when he was succeeded by Colonel 
Francis Lovelace. 








DUKE / OF YORK RECEIVES PATENT 


447 


The first rebellion in the country was stirred up about this time, 
1669, when Konigsmark, known as the “Long Finn,” with another 
Finn, named Henry Coleman, who understood the Indian language, 
went about preaching sedition and creating disturbances among set¬ 
tlers and Indians. 

Madame Papegoja, daughter of former Governor Printz, and 
Carolus Lock, the Swedish preacher, were said to have been adherents. 
Konigsmark was finally captured, put in irons, publicly whipped, 
branded with the letter “R” (for Rebellion), and sold into slavery in 
Barbados. 

George Fox, the founder of the sect of Quakers, arrived from Eng¬ 
land and rode through New Jersey, crossed the Delaware where is 
now Burlington by swimming his horse. He then rode thirty miles 
that day and slept on some straw in the house of a Swede. This was 
in 1672, and the coming of this visitor had great significance for the 
future of Pennsylvania. 

The Maryland Government sent a surveyor in April, 1672, to 
survey lands in the Delaware Colony for Lord Baltimore. In a few 
months a more warlike demonstration was made, when a detail of 
thirty, commanded by one Jones, rode into the Horekill and “bound 
the magistrates and inhabitants, despitefully treated them, rifled and 
plundered them of their goods,” and when it was demanded “by what 
authority were these proceedings,” it was answered with a “cock’t pis¬ 
tol to the breast of the impudent questioner.” Jones seized all the 
Indian goods and skins, drove a spike into the touch-hole of the great 
gun, and seized all the small arms and mill stones. 

War again broke out between Great Britain and Holland in March, 
1672, and had its consequent effect on the affairs along the Delaware. 

In August Governor Lovelace declared that the war included those 
in America. The blow fell suddenly at New York, and Lovelace was 
taken while on a visit in Connecticut. 

A Dutch fleet appeared before New York, July 30, 1673, of such 
superior strength that effective resistance was impossible. The fort 
capitulated and New York again became a Dutch city. 

The Delaware colony made no resistance; the English were too few 
in numbers, the Dutch too willing, and the Swedes too indifferent. 
Peter Alricks again became the commander of the Delaware River. 

The renewed Dutch Government lasted only a year, when, by the 
treaty of Westminster, February 19, 1674, New Netherland was 
finally ceded to Great Britain. 

On June 29, 1674, King Charles gave a new grant to the I?uke of 
York, who appointed Major Edmund Andros governor. 

Andros set up a court at Upland in which were settled the con¬ 
troversies of the settlers. He reinstated in office those who had been 
magistrates at the time of the Dutch conquest, Peter Alrick excepted. 


448 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The administration of Andros continued quite seven years, during 
which the only courts in what is now Pennsylvania were held at Up¬ 
land. Nearly always the justices were Swedes. 

The settlers above Christina Creek formed what later became the 
Pennsylvania Community. The settlers above the creek attended court 
at Upland, those below obtained justice at New Castle. This marked 
division was made November 12, 1678, and from that date the designa¬ 
tion “county” became commonly employed. 

Swedes’ Mill on Cobb’s Creek set up by Printz, in 1643, con¬ 
tinued in use, but another was now built below New Castle. Others 
were built afterward. 

At this time there were no roads, simply paths for man or horse, 
and cartways where merchandise was to be transported. Such were 
indicated by blazed trees. November, 1678, the court ordered “that 
every person should within the space of two months, as far as his land 
reaches, make good and passable ways from neighbor to neighbor, with 
bridges where needed, to the end that neighbors on occasion may come 
together.” 

The time now approached when the lands along the shores of the 
Delaware became a place of refuge for all the sect of Quakers, and 
March 4, 1681, William Penn received a patent for the lands in 
America, to which the King gave the name Pennsylvania. 


Provincial Government and Indians Open 
Conference June 30, 1742 

N SEPTEMBER, 1737, occurred the so-called “Walking Pur¬ 
chase,” by which there passed from the lands of the Dela¬ 
ware Indians into those of the Proprietaries, the upper portion 
of Bucks County, a large slice of Carbon County, and one- 
fourth each of Monroe and Pike counties, an area of 1200 
square miles. The “walk” upon which the purchase was made 
was a deception and as a consequence caused trouble for the Proprie¬ 
taries for many years. 

The lands at the “Forks” of the Delaware were still in the occu¬ 
pancy of the Delaware in 1741, although the Six Nations had ordered 
the Delaware to remove to the Susquehanna. 

In October, 1741, a Cayuga deputation returned to their county 
from Philadelphia bearing with them to the “Long House” of the Six 
Nations a message from the Lieutenant Governor urging the Six Na¬ 
tions “to come down and force the Delaware to quit the ‘Forks’.” 

In response to this appeal 230 Indians from the Six Nations, in¬ 
cluding the principal chiefs and sachems, arrived at Philadelphia June 
30, 1742, and found awaiting them a number of Pennsylvania Indians, 







CONFERENCE WITH INDIANS 


449 


including Shikellamy, the vicegerent of the Six Nations; Allummapees, 
King of the Delaware, also from Shamokin, and a large delegation 
from the Forks of the Susquehanna, representing the different clans. 
All the tribes of the Six Nations were represented except the 
Mohawk. 

In a message to the Provincial Assembly, Governor Thomas stated 
the coming of the Six Nations at this time “was not necessary for the 
present peace of the province, but for the province’s future security, 
likewise, in case of a rupture with the French, who will leave no 
methods unessayed to corrupt the Six Nations’ fidelity and to persuade 
them to turn their arms against us.” At this time declaration of war be¬ 
tween England and France was daily expected. 

The conference between the Governor and the Council on the one 
side and the Six Nations on the other lasted until July 12, during which 
time eight sessions were held. The Council opened in the house of 
James Logan, then met at “the Great Meeting House,” where the last 
meeting was held in the presence of “a great number of the inhabitants 
of Philadelphia.” Conrad Weiser was present as interpreter for the 
Government and the Six Nations and Cornelius Spring and Nicholas 
Scull appeared for the Delaware. 

In opening the conference the Governor referred to the fact that 
the Six Nations, at the time they had released their claim to all the 
lands on both sides of the Susquehanna as far north as the Kittatinny 
Mountains, had declined to take their pay for the lands on the west 
side of the river, preferring to receive the same at some future time. 
He then announced that the goods to be given in payment for those 
lands were ready for delivery to the Indians. 

In reply to the Governor, Canassatego, chief of the Onondaga and 
principal speaker of the Indians at the conference, said, among other 
things: “The Six Nations have obligated themselves to sell none of 
the land that falls within the province of Pennsylvania to any but our 
Brother Onas, and that to sell lands to any other is an high breach 
of the league of friendship.” 

The Governor replied that they were correct in their position. 

On the seventh day the Governor referred to the trouble with the 
“Forks” Indians, to which Canassatego replied that the deputies would 
take the matter into consideration and give an answer in a few days. 
Three days later Canassatego arose and said: 

“The other day you informed us of the misbehavior of our Cousins 
the Delawares, with respect to their continuing to claim and refusing 
to remove from some land on the Delaware notwithstanding their an¬ 
cestors had sold it by deed upwards of fifty years ago, and notwith¬ 
standing they themselves had about five years ago ratified that deed 
and given a fresh one. We have concluded to remove them and oblige 
them to go over the river Delaware and to quit all claim to any lands 


16 


450 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


on this side for the future, since they have received pay for them and 
it has gone through their guts long ago.” 

Then turning toward the Delaware and holding a belt of wampum 
in his hand, Canassatego continued: “Cousins—Let this belt of wam¬ 
pum serve to chastise you. You ought to be taken by the hair of the 
head and shaked severely till you recover your senses and become sober. 
You don’t know what ground you stand on, nor what you are doing. 
Our Brother Onas’ case is very just and plain * * * on the other 
hand your cause is bad. 

“But how came you to take upon you to sell land at all? We con¬ 
quered you! We made women of you! You know you are women 
and can no more sell land than women. Nor is it fit you should have 
the power of selling lands, since you would abuse it.” The old’chief 
concluded his cutting arraignment as follows: 

“We don’t give you the liberty to think about it. You are women. 
Take the advice of a wise man and remove immediately. We there¬ 
fore assign you two places to go—either to Wyoming or Shamokin. 
You may go to either of these places and then we shall have you 
more under our eye and shall see how you behave. Don’t deliberate, 
but remove away and take this belt of wampum.” 

The old chief handed them the wampum and told the Delaware 
that, as there was other business to transact, they should depart from 
the council. There was no diplomatic mincing of words in the speech 
of the Onondaga chief. He spoke with the air of one having author¬ 
ity. This speech scattered seed which in time caused more bloodshed 
in peaceful Pennsylvania than the “Walking Purchase” ever did. 

In 1815, John Watson, of Bucks County, wrote of this speech: 
“When this terrible sentence was ended, it is said that the unfeeling 
political philosopher (Canassatego) walked forward, and, taking strong 
hold of the long hair of King Nutimus, of the Delaware, led him to the 
door and forcibly sent him out of the room, and stood there while all 
the trembling inferiors followed him. He then walked back to his 
place like another Cato, and calmly proceeded to another subject as 
if nothing had happened. The poor fellows (Nutimus and his com¬ 
pany), in great and silent grief, went directly home, collected their 
families and goods, and, burning their cabins to signify they were 
never to return, marched reluctantly to their new homes.” 

Leaving their wigwams on the banks of their favorite Delaware, the 
once powerful Lenni Lenape commenced their march westward. A 
portion went to Shamokin, a few settled on the Juniata, near Lewis- 
town, but the greater part of them, under their chief Tadame, went 
to Wyoming. 


Decisive Battle of Gettysburg Opened 
Wednesday, July 1, 1863 

HE Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3, 1863, marked the 
high tide of the Civil War. Here General Robert E. Lee 
hoped to win a victory which would compel the withdrawal 
of Union troops from other parts of the country, secure 
recognition of the Confederacy by foreign Governments, carry 
panic into the North and furnish supplies for his hungry troops. 

Fresh from his brilliant victory at Chancellorsville, he moved north 
until his van was within sight of Harrisburg, and there, learning that 
General George G. Meade was in close pursuit, Lee turned his army 
to meet him, and Gettysburg became the scene of the decisive battle. 

The battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest of the Civil War and the 
most terrible battle in the world’s history previous to the World’s War, 
and probably greater than any single action in that gigantic conflict. 

The Union losses in the three days’ battle were 23,000, and the 
Confederate losses were probably as high in killed, wounded, captured 
and missing, as 29,000. 

At Gettysburg was concentrated Lee’s magnificent and confident 
army of Confederate troops, which had invaded Pennsylvania through 
the Cumberland Valley, and was then on its way to Philadelphia, and 
then to Baltimore and Washington. The advance of Ewell’s corps 
marched as far as Wrightsville, seventy-five miles from Philadelphia, or 
only four days’ march and had watered their horses in the Susquehanna 
River. There the mile-long Columbia-Wrightsville bridge was burned 
to prevent the rebels from crossing the river. 

The concentration of his forces at Gettysburg was forced upon 
General Lee by the rapid movement of General Hooker with the Federal 
army, who hurried northward, as soon as Washington was uncovered, to 
intercept the invading host, and so to loosen the grip it had upon the 
fair valleys, rich with ripe grain and teeming with money, horses, cattle, 
clothing, shoes and provisions. Curiously, the Southern army came into 
Gettysburg from the North and the Northern army came in from the 
South. 

Lee’s army was in fine condition and Hooker’s was recently 
reorganized into a great machine. The two armies were well matched. 
Each had approximately 80,000 men, including 10,000 cavalry to each; 
the Union had 327 pieces of artillery, and the Southern army only forty 
less pieces. The main difference was in commanders, for the Federal 
army had at Gettysburg, a new and untried commander, General Meade, 
who only three days before the battle had superseded General Hooker, 
and had with him two new corps commanders, Sykes and Newton, while 

451 







452 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the Confederate army under Lee had their able and accomplished Long- 
street as well as the competent A. P. Hill and renowned Ewell in com¬ 
mand of their three corps. 

Excluding the ground of the great cavalry fight between Gregg and 
Stuart on the afternoon of July 3, on the Rommel farm three miles east 
of Gettysburg, where for hours these skillful generals fought for pos¬ 
session of the field in the immediate rear of the Union army, the area 
of the battlefield was about twenty square miles. 

Lee’s intention had been to have Stuart’s cavalry strike the Union 
army from the rear the same moment Pickett was carrying the line in 
the front. The first skirmish in the great battle occurred June 27, 
when part of Early’s command, on their way to the Susquehanna, drove 
the Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Emergency Regiment out of the borough. 

On June 30, Buford’s cavalrymen, reconnoitering out on the Cash- 
town road, one of the seven prominent roads which converge at Gettys¬ 
burg, ran into some of Pettigrew’s infantry and in the evening of that 
day, Colonel Gamble stationed his pickets along Marsh Creek. 

Early in the following morning, July 1, Pettigrew’s Division 
advanced toward the town, and at Willoughby Run, with his whole 
brigade dismounted, Gamble held back the Confederates for two hours. 
Buford had advised General John F. Reynolds of this expected en¬ 
counter; he placed the first division of his First Army Corps upon the 
road, and he then hurried forward the few miles to meet General 
Buford. 

The two rode out the Cashtown Pike, where a conference was held 
at 9 o’clock. Reynolds then hurried back to his advancing troops to 
spur them forward and as he was leading the foremost regiment into 
the woods he was struck in the head and instantly killed. So passed 
away the greatest soldier in the Army of the Potomac. 

An hour later Archer’s Brigade was captured by the Federals near 
Willoughby Run. Then followed two hours’ lull, during which the 
Confederates were preparing their lines to sweep the Union troops off 
Seminary Ridge. General Doubleday skillfully met this attack by 
throwing his two Pennsylvania brigades (of the Third Division, First 
Corps) into the front line, Biddle’s on the north of the woods and Stone’s 
on the south, both in open ground; the Second Division to the woods on 
the road toward Carlisle. 

For three hours these fresh troops received the assaults of the enemy 
ten times their number, and when night came it was learned that Double¬ 
day’s Corps had been reduced from 9403 officers and men to 2400, the 
150th Pennsylvania Volunteers out of 380 men and seventeen officers 
brought back eighty men and only one officer not wounded. The 121st, 
142d, 143d, 149th and 151st Pennsylvania all lost quite as heavily. 

While the First Corps was thus engaged, General Howard with the 
Eleventh Corps came down the Emmetsburg road onto the field. Three 


BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG 


453 


divisions were started for Oak Hill, that they might hold it against 
Ewell’s Corps, coming back from near Harrisburg. Unfortunately the 
enemy had already seized the hill and Howard was forced into the 
open, but his two divisions were skillfully placed, and for two hours 
he sustained an unequal and hopeless fight, being forced back to Ceme¬ 
tery Hill, just as Doubleday had been, and at about the same time. 

Among the incidents of the first day’s fight was the appearance on 
the field of John Burns, citizen, who came out from town dressed in a 
swallow tail coat with brass buttons on it, wearing a tall hat and his 
pockets full of powder and balls and a musket which he had used in the 
Mexican War. He approached the firing line, where Major Thomas 
Chamberlin, of the 150th Pennsylvania Volunteers was standing, and 
begged to be allowed to fight with that regiment. While discussing the 
matter, he was advised to go into the woods and fight from behind a 
tree, which the old man did, receiving three wounds, for which Penn¬ 
sylvania has erected to his memory a handsome statue, located on the 
ground where the 150th fought. 

One civilian killed was Jennie Wade, eighteen years old, who was 
struck by a stray shot as she was baking bread in her home. 


Sickles’ Corps Holds Confederates Off Both 
Round Tops at Gettysburg July 2, 1863 

URING the night of July 1 the two army commanders hurried 
up their troops to Gettysburg, but it was on the night of July 
2 before the last of Sedgwick’s Sixth Corps and the last of 
Longstreet’s First Corps came into position. Meantime, at 
Hanover Junction, twelve miles east of Gettysburg, Kilpatrick 
was fighting Stuart, and, having whipped him and forced the 
enemy cavalry around to the left and rear of the Confederate Army, he 
took his position on the west of the Emmetsburg road, a mile and a half 
from Peach Orchard, on the left flank of the Union Army. 

On July 2 General Daniel E. Sickles, with his Third Corps, came 
up. He was assigned to a position on the “left of Hancock,” and 
occupied the Emmetsburg road as far as the Peach Orchard, throwing 
his left toward Round Top. He was hardly in position before Long- 
street enveloped the Union line, where, for five hours, from 3 until 8 
o’clock, the battle raged furiously, the scene changing from the Peach 
Orchard to the Wheatfield and from there to the valley between Round 
Top and back again to the Devil’s Den and again back to the 
Wheatfield. 

The interposition of Sickles’ corps between the Confederate Army 
and Round Top was what Longstreet least desired, for he intended to 










454 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


make a vigorous attack upon that strategic position, but the Union forces 
obtained the eminence just as the enemy was ascending the western slope. 

In the desperate struggle for Little Round Top four Union generals 
were killed. On the Wheatfield two colonels were killed, and near the 
Peach Orchard General Sickles lost his leg. 

In the second day’s fight Hood was wounded, but, minus a leg and 
an arm, he commanded the Western Confederate Army and fought 
Sherman near Atlanta. 

The Confederate forces had pushed the Federal line back half a 
mile, but had failed to seize either Big or Little Round Top, and each 
side had suffered frightfully in killed and wounded. 

When Longstreet opened his battle behind Cemetery Hill and Culp’s 
Hill it was expected that Ewell would attack the Union lines in front. 
He did not hear Longstreet’s guns and failed to attack until 7 o’clock 
in the evening, when, supported by numerous guns in a hot artillery 
fire, the Louisiana Tigers and North Carolina brigade of Early’s division 
stormed East Cemetery Hill, carrying everything before them, even to 
clubbing Wiedrich’s artillerymen in their hastily thrown up intrench- 
ments. But Carroll’s brigade of infantrymen was back of the guns 
across the Baltimore pike, and this brigade Hancock personally led 
against the foe, with the result that the Union guns and positions 
were saved and the Louisiana Tigers as an organization went out of 
existence. 

Ewell, failing to win East Cemetery Hill, at 7 o’clock pushed John¬ 
son’s troops against the enemy on the east side of Culp’s Hill, and, after 
an hour’s fighting, gained a lodgment in part of the works of the Twelfth 
Corps, which had been vacated by troops called to aid in defending the 
line on the extreme left against the attack of Longstreet. 

Johnson’s troops pushed their advance by 9 o’clock as far as the 
Baltimore road; but on account of darkness and fearful of being led 
into a trap, did not go farther. In this contest the Confederates secured 
Spangler’s Spring, but all through the long night boys of both sides 
filled their canteens at the gurgling fountain. 

At daybreak on the morning of July 3 General Slocum, of the 
Twelfth Corps, made a successful attempt to drive the Confederates 
from the Union breastworks they had gained the previous night, and 
for six hours the woods howled with shot and shell, as this was one of 
the most desperate battles. Slowly, but surely, foot by foot, the Union 
troops advanced until the breastworks were wrested from the enemy, 
who was forced back across Rock Creek. This ended the Battle of 
Gettysburg, so far as Ewell’s and Slocum’s corps of the two sides were 
considered. 

From 10 until 1 there was an ominous silence over the whole field 
in both armies. Then came the shot and shell from 150 Confederate 
guns posted along Seminary Ridge, directed upon the center of the 


BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG 


455 


Union line, and immediately 150 guns on the Union side responded, 
and for nearly two hours the earth trembled. 

General Hunt ordered the Federal pieces to cease firing to cool off, 
while he replaced disabled guns with fresh ones and replenished his 
supply of ammunition for the assault which was sure to come. 

Lee thought the Union guns were silenced from exhaustion and 
promptly gave orders for 15,000 of Longstreet’s and A. P. Hill's choicest 
troops to force the Federal line. Pickett was in front with his 5500 men, 
and bravely they marched on and on when the charge commenced. 
From there it was a rush, until on and beyond the stone wall, at the 
Angle, both sides mingled in wildest disorder, shooting and clubbing 
each other in a hand-to-hand struggle that seemed to have no end. One 
by one the Confederates threw down their arms and sought retreat. 

Of Pickett’s 5500 men, 224 had been killed, 1140 wounded and 
1499 surrendered. Out of fifteen Confederate flags, twelve were left 
with the Federals, only three with the few brave troops making their 
way back to the Southland. 

On this third day of the battle General Hancock was carried off the 
field badly wounded. 

While Pickett was making his charge, Stuart, with the Rebel cavalry, 
endeavored to break the Union line in the center of the rear, but there 
he met General David McMurtrie Gregg, of Berks county, in command 
of the Union cavalry, and was defeated in the most important cavalry 
battle of the war. 

All night long after the battle, Lee pushed his trains to the river 
through Fairfield Gap, and on July 4 he commenced to move his army; 
by the 14th he had carried it safely across the Potomac into Virginia. 

Gettysburg was a drawn battle, yet, strange to state, was the de¬ 
cisive battle of the war and was treated by both sides and by the world 
as a great Union victory. The Gettysburg campaign was the last of 
several incursions upon Northern soil. Lee was afterward on the 
defensive. ; ^ | J 

While all the Northern states contributed their courage and man¬ 
hood, Gettysburg, in its location, its leadership, and its incidents, was 
essentially a Pennsylvania battle. 


456 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


British and Indians Massacre Hundreds 
at Wyoming July 3, 1778 

HE year 1778 brought great distress and fear to the frontier 
generally, but particularly to Wyoming. The defeat and 
surrender of Burgoyne, at Saratoga, in October, 1777, had left 
the British without sufficient available force in America to carry 
on a regular campaign for this year, and as the war was to 
be continued, the only resource left to the British commanders 
was to employ the Indians and Tories almost exclusively in carrying 
on a war of desolation on the frontier. 

Late in June Colonel John Butler, with his own Tory rangers, a 
detachment of Sir John Johnson’s Royal Greens, and a large body 
of Indians, chiefly Seneca, descended the Susquehanna. This force 
numbered about 400 British and Tories, and 700 Indians. 

At Fort Jenkins, the uppermost in the valley, were gathered the 
families of John Jenkins, Hardings, Gardners and others. This fort 
capitulated July 2, to a force under Captain Caldwell. Four defenders 
were killed and three taken prisoners. 

Wintermoot’s Fort was one mile below Fort Jenkins, with a view, 
as afterward appeared, to aiding the Tories. Soon as the enemy appeared 
Wintermoot’s Fort at once threw open its gates, and here the British 
and Tories assembled. 

There were several stockades at Wyoming, but no other means 
of defense than small arms. No one of the forts was able to hold out 
an hour against such a force as the enemy mustered. Some of the old 
men formed themselves into companies to garrison these forts and yield 
such protection as they could. 

Colonel Zebulon Butler happened to be home from the Continental 
Army, and assumed command of the settlers. History does not record 
an instance of more courage displayed or more gallant devotion. There 
was no alternative but to fight and conquer, or die, for to retreat with 
their families was impossible. 

On July 3 they marched out to meet the enemy. Colonel Butler 
commanded the right wing, aided by Maj’or Garrett. Colonel Dennison 
commanded the left, assisted by Lieutenant Colonel George Dorrance. 
The field of fight was a plain only partly cleared. Opposed to Colonel 
Zebulon Butler, of Wyoming, was Colonel John Butler, with his Tory 
rangers, in their green uniforms. 

It was between 4 and 5 o’clock when the engagement began, but the 
enemy outnumbered the defenders nearly three to one, and they were 
soon able to outflank them, especially on the left, where was a swamp 
exactly suited for savage warfare. 






WYOMING MASSACRE 


457 


The Wyoming men fell rapidly, and it became impossible to maintain 
the position. Colonel Dennison gave an order to fall back, so as to 
present a better front to the enemy, but the command was mistaken as 
a signal for retreat. 

The fiendish enemy sprang forward, raised horrid yells, rushed in 
with tomahawk and spear, and slaughtered the Americans. 

There are related many instances of personal and heroic bravery on 
part of both officers and men. They deserved a better fate, but the 
battle was lost. 

Then followed the most dreadful massacre in the annals of Penn¬ 
sylvania—the most heart-rending tortures. The brave soldiers were 
slaughtered without mercy, principally in the flight, and after surrender¬ 
ing themselves prisoners of war. 

Prisoners taken under solemn promise of quarter were gathered 
together, and placed in circles. Sixteen men were arranged around one 
large stone, since known as the bloody rock. Surrounded by a body 
of powerful Indians, Queen Esther Montour, a fury in the form of 
a woman, assumed the office of executioner, and with the death maul or 
tomahawk, she passed round the circle and dashed out the brains of each 
prisoner. 

Three strong men named Hammond, Lebbens and Joseph 'Elliott 
escaped by a desperate effort. In another similar ring nine persons were 
slain in the same manner. Many were shot swimming the river and 
hunted out and killed in their hiding places. Only sixty of those who 
went into the battle survived. The forts were filled with widows and 
orphans. It is said that 150 widows and six orphans were the result 
of the battle.* 

About two-thirds of those who went out fell. Naked, panting and 
bloody, a few who had escaped, rushed into Wilkes-Barre Fort where 
they told the dreadful news that all was lost. Mr. Hollenback, who 
swam the river amid the shots of the enemy, was the first to spread 
the appalling news. They fled to the mountains and down the river. 
Their sufferings were terrible, and they were almost famished for want 
of bread. In one party of nearly a hundred there was but a single man. 

In Forty Fort they heard the firing distinctly, and their spirits were 
high, until they learned the dreadful news. The first fugitives reached 
the fort in the evening, and then a few others arrived during the night. 
Colonel Dennison also came in, and rallied the little band for defense. 
He succeeded the next day in entering into a capitulation for the settle¬ 
ment with Colonel John Butler, by which doubtless many lives were 
saved. 

The enemy marched in, six abreast, the British and Tories at the 
northern gate, the Indians at the southern. On paper the terms of 

*It is believed that the Indians secured 227 scalps in this battle. The poet, Campbell, 
has told this dread tale in his “Gertrude of Wyoming.” 



458 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


capitulation were fair, but the Indians immediately began to rob and 
burn, plunder and destroy. Even when appealed to, Tory Butler did 
not put a stop to it. But the Indians did not take life within the fort, 
only confined themselves to wanton plunder and insult. 

When night fell the blaze of twenty dwellings lighted up the valley. 
In almost every house and field the murderous work was performed. 

When the moon rose, the terrified survivors of the massacre fled to 
the Poconos and beyond to Stroudsburg. In the morasses of the dreadful 
wilderness many women and children perished, these places are still 
called “Shades of Death.” 

In a few days Colonel Butler led the chief part of his army away, 
but the Indians continued in the valley burning and plundering, until 
nearly every building was consumed and it was clearly shown that the 
articles of capitulation afforded no security. 

Soon after the battle Captain Spalding, with a company from 
Stroudsburg, took possession of the desolate valley, and rebuilt the fort 
at Wilkes-Barre. Colonel Thomas Hartley marched from Fort Muncy, 
on the West Branch, along the Sheshequin trail up into what is now 
Bradford County, and burned the Indian villages at Wyalusing, Sheshe¬ 
quin and Tioga, and cut off a part of the enemy who were taking a 
boat-load of plunder from Wyoming. 


Declaration of Independence Adopted 
by Congress July 4, 1776 

ONTINENTAL Congress was confronted with a serious 
situation when it convened in the early winter of 1775. 

John Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, continued to be one of 
the most important members. He was placed on the committee 
to correspond with foreign Powers and was intrusted with the 
1 framing of the Articles of Confederation. 

The majority of Congress were now determined to destroy the 
authority of the British King, and, although Dickinson held the Penn¬ 
sylvania delegation, with the exception of Benjamin Franklin, to his 
own views, the progress of events changed the public sentiment in the 
province. Many were to be found who, while they regretted the cruel 
necessity, were now ready to give up the name Englishmen. The 
Assembly sensed this growing feeling and at length released the delegates 
from former instruction and left the matter to their own judgment. 

A committee with John Dickinson, the author of the Farmer’s 
Letters, at its head, reported: 

“The happiness of these Colonies has during the whole course of 
this fatal controversy been our first wish; their reconciliation with Great 





DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 


459 


Britain our next. Ardently have we prayed for the accomplishment of 
both. But if we must renounce the one or the other we humbly trust in 
the mercies of the Supreme Governor of the universe that we shall not 
stand condemned before His throne if our choice is determined by the 
overruling law of self-preservation which His divine wisdom has thought 
proper to implant in the hearts of His creatures.” 

Congress now resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the 
question of independence. Many of the illustrious members of Congress 
advocated it with great warmth, principally John Adams, of Massa¬ 
chusetts; R. R. Livingstone, of New York, and Edward Rutledge, of 
South Carolina, while James Wilson, of Pennsylvania, joined with John 
Dickinson in opposing it. 

Wilson avowed, that notwithstanding the recall of the instructions 
against independence by the Assembly, his own sentiments remained the 
same. Dickinson declared that America could be wisely governed by 
the King and Parliament, not as independent, but as subject States. He 
believed the restraining power of the King and Parliament was indis¬ 
pensable to protect the Colonies from disunion and civil war. The 
debate was adjourned until July 1, and when Congress again took up 
the question James Wilson had turned for independence. 

Adams led the debate in favor, and Dickinson on the side opposing 
it. The time had not come for independence; he feared disunion among 
the Colonies. He pointed out that foreign aid would not be obtained 
without success in battle. He believed the Colonies ought at least have 
agreed upon the terms of their own confederation, as had been begun, 
and it would have been well to have fixed the bounds of each colony. 
Dickinson’s argument was sound and proved he had a correct grasp on 
public affairs, for even after the long war for independence the Colonies 
were divided. 

^Pennsylvania had been maintaining a border war with Virginia for 
the possession of the lands west of the Allegheny Mountains, and another 
and more serious war with Connecticut because of the conflicting or 
misunderstood boundaries. 

New York had a similar dispute with Connecticut and New Hamp¬ 
shire, the latter contesting the region which has since become the State 
of Vermont. Further trouble was also to be expected as population 
pushed toward the West, the older colonies claiming under their original 
charters as far as the Pacific Ocean. 

In committee, when Richard Henry Lee’s resolution declaring 
independence was up for vote, Dickinson, Morris, Willing and Hum¬ 
phreys voted against it, making a majority of the delegation from Penn¬ 
sylvania, but every other colony, excepting Delaware, voted in favor of 
the resolution. Franklin, Wilson and Morton voted in favor of 
independence. 

As far-seeing a man as John Dickinson was, he could not fully 


460 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


comprehend the idea of a separate existence of the Colonies from the 
mother country, and yet no purer patriot breathed the air of freedom. 
A zealous advocate of liberty, it was his words that startled the Colonies 
and struck the keynote which aroused the energies of the provincialists 
and made them contend for independence. Noth withstanding his over¬ 
cautiousness, the declaration having been determined on, Dickinson 
entered heartily into its support and took an active part in all the affairs 
transpiring in the Colonies—even wielding his sword in the cause. 

On July 2, 1776, the resolution being reported by the Committee of 
the Whole, came before the House. Dickinson and Morris made no 
further opposition, but by absenting themselves allowed the Keystone 
State, which Pennsylvania’s population and geographical position made 
her, to be put into the national arch then being erected. 

John Morton is credited with casting the decisive vote. He felt the 
great responsibility and with it odium which he incurred in the locality 
which he lived. His health broke and he died the following year. From 
his deathbed he sent this protest to the friends who had turned from 
him: “Tell them they will live to see the hour when they shall acknowl¬ 
edge my signing of the Declaration of Independence to have been the 
most glorious service that I ever rendered my country.” 

Pending the consideration of this important question of independence, 
a committee, consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin 
Franklin, Roger Sherman and R. R. Livingstone, was appointed to pre¬ 
pare a Declaration of Independence. Jefferson and Adams were named 
a subcommittee, and the original draft of this eloquent manifesto was 
made by Jefferson. It was adopted by the committee without amend¬ 
ment and reported to Congress on June 28. 

On July 4, having received some alterations, it was sanctioned by 
the vote of every Colony. Of the Pennsylvania delegation, Dickinson 
and Morris were absent when the vote was taken; Franklin, Wilson 
and Morton voted for, and Willing and Humphreys voted against it. 


Massacre at Wyoming Followed by “The 
Great Runaway” on July 5, 1778 

HE great massacre at Wyoming occurred on July 3, 1778, 
and as the news passed down the North Branch of the Sus¬ 
quehanna and spread over the hills and valleys leading to the 
West Branch Valley it caused a general stampede, a wild, 
precipitate flight of the settlers from the upper region which 
has ever since been known as the “Great Runaway.” 

The history of Pennsylvania has failed to record any flight of its 
inhabitants, either in numbers or the harrowing details of its move¬ 
ment, comparable with this catastrophe. 










THE GREAT RUNAWAY 1 


461 


Within two days following the massacre the news had penetrated 
the entire North Branch Valley and had reached as far up the West 
Branch Valley as Fort Antes, now Jersey Shore. 

On July 9 Colonel Samuel Hunter, the county lieutenant and com¬ 
mandant of the garrison at Fort Augusta (Sunbury), wrote to the 
Governor: 

“Nothing but a firm reliance upon Divine Providence and the vir¬ 
tue of our neighbors induces the few to stand that remain; and if they 
are not speedily re-enforced they must give way; but will have this con¬ 
solation, that they have stood in defense of their liberty and country as 
long as they could. In justice to this county (Northumberland) I 
must bear testimony that the States never applied to it for men in 
vain. 

“I am sure the State must know that we have reduced ourselves to 
our present feeble condition by our readiness to turn out upon all oc¬ 
casions when called for in defense of the common cause. Should we 
now fall for want of assistance, let the neighboring counties reconcile 
themselves, if they can, the breach of brotherly love, charity and every 
other virtue which adorns and advances the human species above the 
brute creation. I will not attempt to point out the particular cruelties 
or barbarities that have been practiced on our unhappy inhabitants, but 
assure you that for the number history affords no instance of more 
heathenish cruelty or savage barbarity than has been exhibited in this 
county.” 

Colonel Matthew Smith wrote from Paxtang July 12 that he “had 
just arrived at Harris’ Ferry and beheld the greatest scenes of distress 
I ever saw. It was crowded with people who had come down the river, 
leaving everything.” 

If the distress was the worst this old patriot ever beheld, it was 
truly, a sad scene, for Colonel Smith had suffered in both the French 
and Indian and Revolutionary Wars. He was in command of a com¬ 
pany in the Arnold expedition to Quebec, when the troops for long 
months experienced nothing but suffering and distress. 

On the same day Peter DeHaven wrote from Hummelstown: 
“This day there were twenty or thirty passed through this town from 
Buffalo Valley (Union County) and Sunbury, and the people inform 
me that there are 200 wagons on the road coming down.” 

Another letter, written by William Maclay, later the first United 
States Senator from Pennsylvania, dated Paxtang, July 12: “I left 
Sunbury and almost my whole property on Wednesday last. I will 
not trouble you with a recital of the inconveniences I suffered while I 
brought my family by water to this place. I never in my life saw such 
scenes of distress. The river and roads leading down it were covered 
with men, women and children flying for their lives. In short, North¬ 
umberland County is broken up. 


462 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


“Colonel Hunter only remained, using his utmost endeavors to rally 
the inhabitants to make a stand. I left him with a few—I cannot 
speak confidently as to numbers—but he had not 100 men on whom he 
could depend. Mrs. Hunter came down with me. As he is now dis¬ 
encumbered of his family, I am convinced he will do everything that can 
be expected from a brave and determined man. Something in the way 
of charity ought to be done for the miserable objects that crowd the 
banks of this river, especially those who fled from Wyoming. You 
know I did not use to love them, but I now sincerely pity their 
distress.” 

Colonel Hunter the same day sent a most pathetic appeal to the 
president of the Supreme Executive Council, dated Fort Augusta, 
July 12: 

“The calamities so long dreaded and of which you have been more 
than once informed must fall upon this country, if not assisted by Con¬ 
tinental troops or the militia of the neighboring counties. At this date 
the towns of Sunbury and Northumberland are the frontiers where 
a few virtuous inhabitants and fugitives seem determined to stand, 
though doubtful whether tomorrow’s sun shall rise on them free men, 
captives or in eternity.” 

Robert Covenhoven wrote: “I took my own family safely to Sun¬ 
bury, and came back in a keel-boat to secure my furniture. Just as I 
rounded a point above Derrstown (now Lewisburg) I met the whole 
convoy from all the forts above. Such a sight I never saw in all my 
life. Boats, canoes, hogtroughs, rafts, hastily made of dry sticks, every 
sort of floating article had been put in requisition, and was crowded 
with women, children and plunder. There were several hundred 
people in all. 

“Whenever an obstruction occurred at any shoal or ripple, the 
women would leap out into the water and put their shoulders to the 
boat or raft, and launch it again into deep water. The men of the 
settlement came down in single file, on each side of the river to guard 
the women and children. The whole convoy arrived safely at Sunbury, 
leaving the entire range of farms along the West Branch to the ravages 
of the Indians.” 

Several persons are known to have been killed by the Indians during 
the “Great Runaway,” but it remains a most remarkable fact that 
almost the entire population moved from the settlements and for sev¬ 
eral days were in the open along the river and yet but few were killed. 

In answer to the appeal from Colonel Hunter and those who really 
knew the situation, Colonel Daniel Brodhead with his Eighth Regi¬ 
ment, then on a march to Fort Pitt, was suddenly ordered to the West 
Branch. He arrived at Fort Muncy, July 24. 

Colonel Thomas Hartley, with a small regiment, was ordered to the 
Susquehanna and arrived at Fort Augusta August 1, and marched to 


THE EPHRATA SOCIETY 


463 


the relief of Colonel Brodhead at Fort Muncy, reaching there a week 
later. 

Colonel Hartley was the master of the situation and using the good 
advice of General Potter, Colonel John Kelly, Colonel Samuel Hunter 
and others, who knew how to fight Indians, led a successful expedition 
against them, which allowed the more venturesome of the settlers to 
return to their fields and reap their harvests. 


John Conrad Beissel, Founder of Ephrata 
Society, Died There July 6, 1768 

HE founder of the German religious society of Seventh Day 
Baptists at Ephrata was Reverend John Conrad Beissel, who 
died there July 6, 1768. 

Beissel was born in Eberbach, Germany, in 1690, learned 
the trade of a baker, and came to America in 1720. He em¬ 
braced the religious views of Alexander Mock, lived as a re¬ 
cluse for several years and at different points, and finally located on the 
banks of the Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County, February 4, 1732. 
Here he continued to live as a hermit and advocated the doctrine of 
celibacy and the seventh day of the week as the proper day of rest and 
religious worship. 

He was well versed in New Testament theology; possessed a com¬ 
manding appearance, a fluent talker, and in most respects was well 
calculated to gather around him a large class of both sexes. 

He was soon joined in his new home by Martin Brener, Samuel 
Eckerline, and another whose religious name was “Brother Jethro.” 
These were soon followed by Anna and Maria Eicher, from the Cones¬ 
toga Church, two of Beissel’s former converts, who could not endure the 
pangs of separation from their spiritual teacher. 

This nucleus of a church was joined in 1733 by Israel and Gabriel 
Eckerline, and in the following year by a large number from Oley and 
Coventry, in Chester County, as well as a large congregation of Ger¬ 
mans who came from Schoharie County, N. Y., and placed themselves 
under the spiritual guidance of Beissel. Soon the congregation at Falk- 
ner Swamp joined them and Beissel had suddenly become the teacher 
of a large settlement named Lager, meaning an encampment, but the 
name of which was subsequently changed to Ephrata, by which the 
place is still known. 

Peter Miller came to America in 1730, and soon became pastor of 
a small Reformed congregation at Tulpehocken. He was a classical 
scholar and a good theologian, and after an interview with Beissel, 
he became one of his apostles, casting his lot with the Brotherhood of 

Ephrata. 








464 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Within five years the people of this religious community had ac¬ 
cumulated a large area of landed property which was held as common 
stock. 

Soon after the founding of this society the monastic system was in¬ 
augurated, and Beissel invested with the title of father, and assumed the 
name of “Friedsam, ,, to which was added the suffix “Gottrecht,” to¬ 
gether meaning Peaceable , God-right. 

The first building erected under the monastic system, in 1735, was 
on “Mount Zion,” and named Kedar. It contained one principal room 
for religious worship, love-feasts, and the ceremony of feet-washing. 
Besides this there were other rooms, very small, for the use of the 
brethren and sisters, those of the latter being in the upper story. An¬ 
other building larger in dimensions, and called “Zion,” was built on the 
same hill in 1738. These, as well as several buildings of a later 
erection, were covered with shingles on the roof and outside walls, and 
remain thus covered to the present time. 

In the year 1740 there were in the Ephrata cloisters thirty-six single 
brethren and thirty-five sisters; and at one time in later years, when 
the society was at the height of its prosperity, the whole congregation, 
including those living outside the principal buildings, but in the im¬ 
mediate neighborhood, numbered about three hundred. 

The buildings in this cloister afforded but rude and poor accom¬ 
modations to the inmates. With ceilings barely seven feet in height, 
passages so narrow that two persons could not pass each other in them, 
with very low and narrow doors, swinging on wooden hinges and fas¬ 
tened by wooden latches, with cells hardly large enough to hold a cot, 
and each having only the light and ventilation afforded by a single 
window, eighteen by twenty-four inches in size, and containing only 
the most indispensable articles of furniture, and that of the rudest 
description, these houses were certainly anything else than abodes of 
luxury for those who inhabited them. 

It is stated that the brethren slept on wooden benches, with wooden 
blocks for pillows. Probably the dormitories of the sisters were a little 
better furnished in that particular. 

In each cell was an hour-glass, and the walls were covered with 
German text passages of scripture, and verses of original poetry by 
Beissel. 

These people wore a cowl and gown of white—linen in summer, 
woolen in winter. The cowl of the sisters differed but little from that 
of the brethren. The difference between monk and nun could scarcely 
be discovered at a little distance. Both sexes went barefooted, except 
in extreme weather. They lived on food of the plainest kind, con¬ 
sisting almost entirely of bread, vegetables, and mush. No animal food 
was on their tables, and even butter, cheese, and milk were discounte¬ 
nanced. 


PHILADELPHIA RIOTS 


465 


All their vessels for communion and ordinary drinking purposes, 
also their trays, plates and other articles for table service, and even 
their candle-sticks, were of wood, and manufactured by the brethren. 

In the beginning of Ephrata the plow was drawn by the brethren, 
ranged in a long line on each side of a rope, and even the sisters often 
assisted in this labor. But in a short time oxen and horses were pro¬ 
cured to perform this work. 

A paper mill was built and paper manufactured for use on their 
own printing presses, which had been introduced as early as 1742, the 
first book being printed for Israel Eckerline in 1744. Many very fine 
publications came from these presses. 

A saw mill, a flour mill, a fulling mill, and a mill for making oil 
from flaxseed were put in operation. All these served the outside com¬ 
munity and the workmen were renowned for scrupulous honesty. 

Singing schools were begun in 1742 and a Sabbath school was 
started as early as 1740. This was the first Sabbath School in America. 
The building for the latter was used in the fall of 1777 as a hospital 
for the wounded from the Battle of Brandywine. 

After more than forty years of spiritual leadership Beissel died in 
1768, and Peter Miller succeeded him, but the society steadily declined, 
until the year 1875, when disputes divided them into two factions, and 
consequently into legal entanglements and the effect of the community 
as a religious enterprise became inconsequential. 


Riots in Philadelphia Brought to an 
End on July 7, 1844 

ETWEEN the years 1843 and 1844 a spirit of turbulence, riot 
and disorder seemed prevalent throughout the United States. 
Philadelphia felt the influence, which first manifested itself 
in 1834. 

On August 12, 1834, a riot took place which was much 
more serious than any occurrence of that character previously 
known. A meeting house, near the Wharton Market, was torn down 
and many colored people assaulted and badly beaten and their houses 
ransacked. 

In October following occurred the Robb’s Row riot, in the Moy- 
amensing district. A row of houses on Christian Street, west of Ninth, 
was burned by the mob and many persons injured. This disturbance 
was created by heated political antagonism, and was fought between rival 
partisans. 

Another riot in which the blacks suffered, and many of their houses 
burned, occurred in July, 1835. 






466 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


On May 17, 1838, occurred the Pennsylvania Hall riot, during 
which a large and elegant building dedicated three days before, to the 
purpose of public discussion by the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition 
of Slavery, was broken into, set on fire and totally destroyed. 

The Kensington railroad riots took place in 1840, and were a man¬ 
ifestation of opposition to an attempt by the Philadelphia and Trenton 
Railroad Company to lay their tracks on Front Street, in the business 
and builtup section of the city. In this disturbance the rails were torn 
up, houses burned and many persons injured. 

Another riot in which Negroes were the victims, took place on 
August 1, 1842, during which Smith’s Beneficial Hall was destroyed 
by fire. This building was erected by Stephen Smith, a prominent col¬ 
ored man, to be used for the meetings of the literary and beneficial so¬ 
cieties of colored people. 

The Negro riots ceased at midnight, but on the next day the Irish 
laborers in the coal yards on the Schuylkill got mixed up with a band of 
colored laborers and the ensuing riot required militia to quell it. 

Then came the weavers’ riots in Kensington, early in 1843. This 
was in consequence of disputes in regard to wages. 

But the most terrible riots known in the history of Philadelphia took 
place in 1844, and resulted from political and sectarian prejudices which 
were aroused into activity by the formation of the Native American 
Party. 

The movement for the organization of this party took place early in 
1844. On May 6 a meeting was called, which was intended to be held 
on an open lot at the southeast corner of Second and Master Streets. 
Before the proceedings were concluded some difficulty arose between the 
persons holding the meeting and outsiders, who had gathered on the 
edge of the crowd, and assumed a rather menacing attitude. 

Soon there was an attack made upon those in meeting and with 
such force that the participants were dispersed. They soon rallied their 
numbers and proceeded to a market house nearby, on Washington 
Street above Master. The meeting was reorganized, but the distur¬ 
bances were as promptly renewed, and at this time firearms were brought 
into play by the assailants. 

This unfortunate affair took place in a locality where the majority 
of the inhabitants were of the Roman Catholic faith, and although there 
was nothing to show that the latter were combined for purposes of 
breaking up the meeting, the feelings of the persons assailed led them 
to a bitter extremity. They soon obtained firearms and an attack was 
made on the buildings in the neighborhood. Seven persons were killed. 
The Native Americans being victors set fire to the houses attacked. 

Other outrages were perpetrated and other buildings burned, in¬ 
cluding a female seminary under charge of the sisters of a religious 
order. 


WIDOW SMITH’S MILL DESTROYED 


467 


Troops were called out and quelled the rioting. 

The Native Americans celebrated July 4 with a large and showy 
procession and ended the day’s program of festivities with a grand dis¬ 
play of fireworks. All dispersed in good order. 

On the evening of July 6 persons were discovered carrying muskets 
into the church of St. Philip de Neri, on Queen Street. Crowds soon 
assembled, but a Sheriff’s posse promptly appeared upon the scene. 

An unfortunate arrest of a member of the posse, who was kept undei 
military guard in the church through the night, caused a mob on the 
morning of July 7 to assemble determined to release the prisoner. A 
cannon loaded with slugs was fired against the rear of the church. Then 
it was brought to the front, but further trouble was prevented by the 
citizens and the prisoner was released. 

Those in the church marched out and were chased and dispersed. 
The city was thoroughly excited with these proceedings and the people 
gathered in great crowds, many intent on destroying the church. 

A committee, many of whom were Native Americans, organized to 
protect the church property and it seemed as if the trouble was at an 
end. But at this moment the military marched upon the scene, followed 
by a crowd of Sunday idlers. The soldiers attempted to clear the 
streets with fixed bayonets, when some one hurled a brick, striking a 
soldier. The captain gave orders to fire, and two volleys were sent into 
the crowd of men, women and children. Several were killed and many 
wounded. 

The crowd now procured artillery and small arms and the most 
sanguinary street battle ensued, which continued through the night of 
the 7th and the morning of July 8. Two soldiers were killed and many 
wounded. Seven citizens were killed and several wounded. 

The militia were withdrawn, the trouble subsided, and the most 
serious riot in the history of Philadelphia brought to an end. 


Widow Smith’s Mill Destroyed by Indians 
on July 8, 1779 

URING the year 1774 Catherine Smith, widow of Peter Smith, 
commenced building a large grist mill near the mouth of White 
Deer Creek, in the present Union County, which she completed 
the following year. 

When Peter Smith died in the fall of 1773, he left his 
widow and ten children with no estate to support his family, 
except a location for three hundred acres of land, including the mouth 
of White Deer Creek, whereon was an excellent mill seat. His widow 
was of the type who did not sit idly by and let her neighbors help sup- 








468 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


port her family, but realizing that a grist and saw mill were both much 
wanted in that new country at that time, and being urged to erect these 
mills, she set about the task. 

The widow Smith was able to borrow some money and by June, 
1775, she had both mills in operation. They served the inhabitants in 
the White Deer Valley and for many miles on the east side of the West 
Branch of the Susquehanna. 

During the summer of 1776, there was an urgent demand for rifles 
for the Continental Army and for the use of the old men and boys who 
remained at home to protect the women and children from the sudden 
attacks of the Indians, while they were doing the work about the farm 
and the fireside. So Catherine Smith installed a boring mill, and the 
records show that a great number of gun barrels were bored in this mill. 
She also added a hemp mill. 

Her eldest son went to the army and this made her work the heavier, 
as he was her best help. He was killed in the service. 

The Indians became active following the great Wyoming massacre, 
July 3, 1778, and after Colonel Thomas Hartley had chastised them 
during his successful expedition in the late autumn of 1778, they again 
became bolder when the soldiers were withdrawn and the year 1779 
was one of the most terrible along the frontier of the Susquehanna 
Valleys. 

Nearly all the inhabitants had left during the “Great Runaway,” in 
July, 1778, and only the most venturesome had returned. The militia 
were recruited locally and were under the command of Colonel John 
Kelly. 

In May a band of nearly a score of Indians killed John Sample 
and wife in White Deer. Christian Van Gundy and Henry Vandyke 
with four others learned of the murder and went to the scene to bring 
away any who survived the massacre. Six more men were to follow the 
next day. 

When Van Gundy arrived at Sample’s he had slabs put up against 
the door and water carried up in the loft. After dark an Indian ap¬ 
proached the house, barking like a dog, and rubbing against the door, 
but no attention was paid to him. The party inside lay down and 
slept until three o’clock, when Van Gundy got up to light a fire. The 
Indians surrounded the house, and mounting a log on their shoulders, 
tried to beat in the door. Those inside fired, wounding two, whom the 
Indians carried off, but not before they set fire to the house. 

Van Gundy mounted the roof, and knocked off enough boards to 
reach the fire, which he extinguished. An Indian shot him in the leg 
and one of the others was shot in the face. 

At daybreak they voted whether to remain and fight or attempt 
escape. 

Twb voted to stay, four to go. On opening the door they dis- 


WIDOW SMITH’S MILL DESTROYED 


469 


covered the Indian chief lying dead in front of it. Van Grundy secured 
his rifle and Vandyke his powder horn. 

The Indians came from ambush and the men separated. Van 
Grundy, with his two guns, took into a ravine, and tried to get the 
others to follow him. They refused. The Indians killed the old people, 
who were scalped. 

Colonel Kelly pursued these Indians and came upon five of them 
sitting on a log. He placed his men and at a signal four of the Indians 
were killed at one volley, the fifth escaped. 

The Widow Smith’s mills were now the f-rontier and the only place 
of refuge, except a small stockade, named Fort Meninger, which was 
built about eighty rods from the river, on the north bank of White 
Deer Creek, covering Widow Smith’s mills. The fort was situated 
west of the mills forming an apex of an irregular triangle of which the 
mills formed one base, and a small stone house, the home of Widow 
Smith, the other. This stone house, with a modern addition, is still 
standing. 

The fort and mills were abandoned at the time of the Great Run¬ 
away, July, 1778, and the fort and mills were burned by the Indians, 
July 8, 1779. One man was killed in the attack. 

Widow Smith returned to the ruins in 1783, and was urged to re¬ 
build the grist and saw mills, which she accomplished with much dif¬ 
ficulty. Ejectments were brought against her by Messrs. Claypoole and 
Morris, and she did not have the means to support actions at law and 
lost her improvements. 

She petitioned the Legislature, which, of course, could grant no re¬ 
lief under the circumstances and her petition was dismissed. The facts 
set forth in her petition were certified to by William Blythe, Charles 
Gillespie, Colonel John Kelly, General James Potter and many promi¬ 
nent citizens of Northumberland County. 

She is said to have walked to Philadelphia and back thirteen times 
in this business.* 

How long the litigation continued is not a matter of record, but 
in 1801, Seth Iredell took possession of the premises as tenant of Clay- 
pool & Morris. 

She died there and is buried in the old settlers’ graveyard. Her 
bones were disturbed when a barn was erected many years later, being 
identified by a venerable neighbor, by her peculiar protruding teeth. 

A few years after this incident a man came to the place, having 
traveled from Ohio to see the old mill site. He said he was a son of 
Catherine Smith, and that if justice had been done her, they would still 
own the place. 

A part of the foundation of the second mill, built by Widow Smith, 
serves the same purpose in a fine modern mill of today. 


*The distance she traveled was no less than 160 miles each way. 



470 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


When soldiers were sent into that vicinity they used the Widow 
Smith’s stone house. General James Potter, under date of September 
18, 1780, says: “I marched the remainder, consisting of 170 men up 
the West Branch to Fort Swartz. I then went to Colonel Kelly, who 
lay at the mouth of White Deer Creek, with eighty men.” This was 
the Widow Smith’s Mill. 


General Braddock Defeated by French 
and Indians July 9, 1755 

ENERAL EDWARD BRADDOCK arrived in March, 1755, 
at Alexandria, Virginia, and at the head of two Irish regi¬ 
ments, under Colonels Dunbar and Halket, marched to Fred¬ 
ericksburg, Maryland. 

This distinguished officer was sent to command an expe¬ 
dition against the French at Fort Duquesne. He commenced 
his march from Wills Creek, now called Cumberland, Md., June 10, 
1755, with 2000 men,’regulars and provincials. 

Braddock was haughty and egotistical and entertained no doubt of 
his success. He advised the Governors of Pennsylvania, Maryland and 
Virginia, that soon as he captured Fort Duquesne he would leave there 
the guns, ammunition and stores he captured in it, but if the enemy 
first destroyed the fort, he would build another. 

By forced marches he reached Little Meadows June 18, when 1200 
men were chosen to continue the expedition, the balance remained in 
camp under command of Colonel Dunbar. A halt of two days was 
made twenty-five miles from their objective, to await reports of the 
Indian scouts. That was fatal. 

On the morning of July 9 the little army forded the Monongahela 
River and advanced in solid platoons along the southern shore of that 
stream. Colonel Washington saw the perilous arrangement of the troops 
after the fashion of European tactics, and he ventured to advise Brad¬ 
dock to disperse his men in open order and employ the Indian mode of 
fighting in the forests. 

The haughty General angrily replied: “What! a provincial 
colonel teach a British General how to fight!” 

The army moved forward, recrossing the river. Meantime the 
French commander Contrecoeur had decided to withdraw, but Cap¬ 
tain Beaujeu gained his permission to resist Braddock’s passage at the 
second ford. Beaujeau’s command was reinforced by several hundred 
savages. 

When Captain Beaujeu came in sight of the English they had al¬ 
ready crossed the river, and had advanced so that both flanks would 





DEFEAT OF GENERAL BRADDOCK 


471 


be exposed about two hundred yards to an enemy occupying the deep 
ravines, thick with tangled forest growth and vines. 

Braddock marched directly into the worst ambuscade known in 
American history. Into these ravines the Indians glided while their 
white comrades blocked the English path in front and the head of the 
marching column went down under a storm of lead. Shaken for a 
moment, the vanguard moved against the concentric ring and, after 
another terrible discharge, returned the fire with such deadly effect that 
every enemy in sight was swept before it. Beaujeu and dozens of 
others fell victims. 

The Indians turned to flee, but rallied by other French officers, 
they returned to cover and under their unerring fire the English ad¬ 
vance broke and retreated. Mixing with the rear in the narrow path, 
both became mingled in a mob which Braddock could not restore to 
order. Huddled in a twelve-foot roadway, shut in by a forest alive 
with yells and filled with invisible fire, they lost all sense or perception, 
and twice shot down bodies of their own men who had gained slight 
vantage points, mistaking their smoke for that of the enemy. Fifty 
Virginians were thus slain at one blow. 

The regulars refused to charge, though Braddock, with four horses 
successively shot from under him, and other officers strove to hearten 
them to invade the woods. The Provincials fought Indian fashion 
from behind trees and fallen logs, but Braddock with furious threats 
and blows drove them back again into the ranks, where they fell in 
scores. Washington and Halket both pleaded to have them allowed to 
leave the ranks and fight the Indians in their own way, but Braddock 
still refused. 

A this point the supply of ammunition failed; the baggage train was 
attacked; all Braddock’s aides excepting Washington were shot down; 
three-fourths of the officers and three-fifths of the entire army were 
killed or wounded, and only then would the ill-judging but heroic Brad¬ 
dock give the signal for retreat. Shortly afterward Braddock received 
a ball through his lungs, and not one English soldier remained to carry 
him off the field. He was picked up by one English and two American 
officers and carried to a spot across the river a half mile distant. 

The dying commander tried to rally his troops, by establishing a 
camp to care for the wounded. Here he waited for Washington to 
return from Dunbar’s camp, where he had been sent by Braddock. The 
French and Indians did not follow Braddock across the river, yet the 
hundred or more English soldiers he had induced to halt there, stole 
away and fled. 

On the 10th the officers who remained with General Braddock 
marched with him until 10 o’clock at night, when they halted and met 
the convoy sent by Dunbar. Braddock never ceased to give calm, skill¬ 
ful and humane orders. He reached Dunbar’s camp on the 11th, where 


472 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the news of his rout had already reached the soldiers under Dunbar, 
and they were fleeing in wild panic. 

Braddock by this time realized that any further attempt to pursue 
the expedition was futile, and he must have known his wounds were 
fatal, for he ordered the stores destroyed lest they fall into the enemy’s 
hands, saving only sufficient for a flying march. He then proceeded 
with the remnant of his army toward Great Meadows, where he died 
and was buried in the center of the road. The entire army marched 
over the spot in order that the remains of the unfortunate general 
might not be desecrated by the savages. In 1802, his body was rein¬ 
terred at the foot of a large white oak tree. 

After the retreat of Braddock’s army, the savages, unwilling to 
follow the French in pursuit, fell upon the field and preyed on the rich 
plunder which lay before them. Three years later (1758) by direction 
of General Forbes, the remains of many of the slain in Braddock’s army 
were gathered up and buried. 

Of 1460 men in the battle, 456 were killed and 421 wounded; 63 
of the 89 commissioned officers, and every field officer, were killed or 
wounded. The enemy’s casualties were only about sixty. 

The entire borders were left defenseless and this defeat was not 
only a fatal termination of a campaign which had been expected would 
inflict a decisive blow upon the French and their Indian allies, but it 
gave the signal to the disaffected Indians to make the frontiers of the 
Province the scene of a predatory warfare in which every section was 
severely scourged. 


“Sawdust War” in Williamsport Lumber 
Regions Began July 10, 1872 

N THE decade from 1870 to 1880, Williamsport was the 
largest lumbering center in the United States. Everywhere 
Williamsport was known as “The Lumber City.” 

It was customary to send gangs into the woods in winter to 
cut down the trees, saw them into logs and pile them on the 
banks of small streams and afterward, when the water was at 
flood height in the spring, to roll them into the streams whence they 
floated down the river to Williamsport, where they were caught in the 
big boom and rafted to the various mills to be sawed and manufactured 
into lumber. 

After the men were through their work in the woods it was cus¬ 
tomary to bring them to Williamsport and place them in the mills to 
help saw up the logs. As the season was short and it was important 
to clean up the work of sawing before the next winter, the mills 
operated twelve hours a day. 






THE “SAWDUST WAR” 


473 


The “sawdust war,” as it was called, was a strike on the part of 
the workmen in the mills for a ten-hour day instead of twelve. There 
was no question of wages involved, and the principal advocates for the 
change were men who were not employed in the lumber industry, but 
were simply labor agitators. 

The move for the ten-hour day began in June, 1872, and was char¬ 
acterized by frequent public meetings at which the speakers urged the 
men to go on strike. This finally culminated in a large number of men 
walking out, July 1, 1872, and adopting as their slogan, “ten-hour day 
or no sawdust.” 

The strike reached to Lock Haven, where the men followed the 
lead of their Williamsport fellow-workmen. 

Many of the mills were compelled to shut down on account of a 
depleted force until July 10, when an attempt was made to start up the 
mills, but without success. This precipitated the “Sawdust War.” 

Parades and marches were held every day, the strikers going to the 
several mills and endeavoring to induce the workers still on the job to 
quit. Meetings were held every night. Thomas H. Greevy, by reason 
of being secretary of the local union and secretary of the State Labor 
Organization, was a prominent figure and always addressed these meet¬ 
ings. 

After the strike had been in progress for a few weeks some of the 
men were induced to go back to work, but others, who were not willing 
to return, interfered, when a number of breaches of the peace took place. 

The marches to the mills finally resulted in assaults being made 
upon the loyal workmen, and several attacks were made on mill owners 
on the streets of the city. These assaults finally became so frequent and 
so serious that Mayor S. W. Starkweather and Samuel Van Buskirk, 
sheriff of the county, called upon Governor John W. Geary for militia 
to be sent to Williamsport. 

This request was complied with, and on July 22 troops were ordered 
to the city. They arrived the next day, July 23, and consisted of the 
following units: City Grays, Harrisburg, Captain Thomas Maloney; 
City Zouaves, Harrisburg, Captain Robert V. Vaughn; Middletown 
Zouaves, Middletown, Captain James Stanley; Washington Zouaves, 
Lebanon, Captain B. Y. Hean; Coleman Guards, Lebanon, Captain J. 
P. S. Gobin; City Grays, Williamsport, Captain A. H. Stead; Taylor 
Guards, Williamsport, Captain John H. White. 

Williamsport was placed under martial law. On the same day, 
July 23, Thomas H. Greevy, James M. Birmingham, A. J. Whitten, 
Thomas F. Blake, Henry Crook and Alem Tate were arrested on 
charge of inciting to riot and at a hearing on July 25, before the City 
Recorder, were held in $10,000 bail for their appearance at the Sep¬ 
tember term of court. Bail was promptly furnished, but an hour later 
Greevy was rearrested and $15,000 additional bail demanded. As other 


474 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


charges were pending, the men were taken to jail to await trial. On 
July 27 motion was made for a writ of habeas corpus and reduction of 
the amount of bail, which, on July 29, was refused by the court. 

Subsequent arrests were made on the same charge and all held for 
the next term of court, but those above mentioned were the principals. 
On July 31 all defendants were released on bail. 

On July 25 the troops on duty in the city went into camp at Herdic 
Park under command of Brigadier General Jesse Merrill, of Lock 
Haven. On July 27 the troops were reinforced by the Packer Guards, 
Sunbury; Sanderson Guards, Mill Hall; Langlon Fencibles, Shamo- 
kin. On July 30 five companies on duty were relieved and sent home. 
The others were relieved a few days later. 

At the September term of court for Lycoming County, on Septem¬ 
ber 7, all the twenty-nine defendants were brought to trial before Judge 
James Gamble. James M. Birmingham, Thomas H. Greevy, A. J. 
Whitten, Thomas H. Blake, Patrick Conlin, Jacob Wolf, Timothy 
Shannon, Jr., Henry Crook, Patrick Dugan, Louis Plant, Michael 
Eustice, John Benway, William lam, Daniel McMullen, David Deau- 
champ, Thomas Hackett, Joseph Ludget, James Spulong, James Sladen, 
John Bezel and Joseph Shear were found guilty and sentenced to jail 
for periods of thirty, sixty and ninety days, pay a fine of one dollar and 
the costs of prosecution, except James M. Birmingham, A. J. Whitten, 
Thomas H. Greevy and Thomas F. Blake, who, because they were out¬ 
siders and in no way connected with the lumber industry, were sen¬ 
tenced to one year in the penitentiary and costs of the prosecution. 

They were sentenced on September 14; and on September 16 Peter 
Herdic who was then one of the leading and most influential men in 
the State, went to Harrisburg and induced Governor Geary to pardon 
them all. 

The parties soon after left Williamsport, and except for two of them, 
all other records are lost. James M. Birmingham became a prominent 
citizen of Kansas City, Mo., as did his son. Thomas H. Greevy re¬ 
moved to Altoona, and became a prominent citizen of the State. 

Greevy was engaged in journalism and edited the Labor Reform 
Journal of Williamsport. He also held important offices in the local 
and State organizations. 

The first labor convention in Pennsylvania was held at Danville, 
in 1871, and Greevy was elected secretary, a position he held at the 
time of the Sawdust War. John Siney, of Schuylkill County, was State 
president. 

After taking up his residence in Altoona, Mr. Greevy studied law, 
was admitted to the bar and since has become one of the leading at¬ 
torneys of the State. He is a prominent adviser of the Democratic State 
Committee, and was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor. In every 
walk of life he is one of the leading citizens of the country. 


MORAVIANS VISIT GREAT ISLAND 


475 


Moravians Visit Indian Town of Great 
Island, July 11, 1748 

REAT ISLAND, situated on the West Branch of the Susque¬ 
hanna River, a short distance east of Lock Haven and op¬ 
posite the mouth of Bald Eagle Creek, was a favorite camp¬ 
ing place and council grounds for the Indians. An Indian 
village was situated on this island, which is frequently men¬ 
tioned in the early records of the Province. 

In the year 1745 David Brainerd, a missionary stationed at Shamo- 
kin, tells in his journal of a journey which he took up the West Branch. 
In this he speaks of extending his journey to Great Island and of the 
sufferings he endured. 

In the summer of 1748 David Zeisberger and John Martin Mack 
made a missionary trip up the West Branch for the purpose of visiting 
the Indians, who were undergoing terrible hardships as a result of a 
famine. On July 11, 1748, two days after their start from Shamokin, 
we find the following entry in Mack’s journal: 

“July 11. Toward evening reached Great Island and found In¬ 
dians at home residing on this side of the island. They asked us whence 
we came and whether we had ought to sell. When told that we were 
not traders, but had only come to visit them, it was incomprehensible to 
them. But a few old squaws were living on the island; the men had 
been driven away by famine. We consequently remained on this side 
of the island and asked an Indian whether we could lodge in his hut. 
He took us in cordially and spread a bear skin for us to sleep on, but 
he had nothing for us to eat. Ascertained that he was a Five Nation 
Indian and his wife a Shawnese. Whereupon Brother Zeisberger con¬ 
versed with him. His father, who is upward of seventy years, was dying 
of smallpox and was a most pitiful object. His care and that of the 
Indians here enlisted our sympathies and silent prayers. 

“In the evening we were visited by a number of Indians—Shawnese 
and Cayugas. Here dwell in three houses Shawnese, Maquas and Dela¬ 
ware; among the latter an Indian from Albany, who spoke Low Dutch. 
In all three houses were cases of smallpox. In one hut hung a kettle 
in which grass was being stewed, which they ate with avidity. 

“July 12. Brother Zeisberger learned from our host that many In¬ 
dians passed and repassed his hut. Today he brought out some dried 
venison and gave us some, and we in turn gave his child some of our 
bread, for which they were very thankful. 

“In the afternoon told our host we desired to visit the island to see the 
Indians there, and he, unasked, went with us, and led us to all the huts. 







476 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


“We found some clever people here who had just returned from 
the woods and who shared with us grapes, green and hard, which they 
ate with avidity. We prayed silently to the Lord to have mercy on this 
people. 

“Returned to our lodgings, and our host again asked us why we 
had come so far and had we not come in search of land ? He said there 
was fine land in the neighborhood. We explained that was not our 
object. 

“July 13. We found an opportunity to speak to our host of the 
Saviour. He had heard somewhat of God, and said he believed what we 
had told him was good and true. He then gave us some dried venison 
and we in turn some needles and thread to his wife. 

“Set out on our return down the Susquehanna. At night camped 
on a large flat by a creek, ate some mouldy bread, the last of our stock 
and built four fires to keep off the vermin.” 

In the year 1758 Christian Frederic Post, another Moravian mis¬ 
sionary, was sent by the Government of Pennsylvania to the Delaware, 
Shawnee and Mingo Indians settled on the Ohio. In his journal under 
the date of July 29 we find the following entry: 

“29th. We crossed the Susquehanna over the Big Island. My com¬ 
panions were now very fearful and this night went a great way out of 
the road, to sleep without fire, but could not sleep on account of the 
mosquitoes and vermin.” 

On his return from his mission under the date of September 18, 
he records: 

“Came to the Big Island, where having nothing to live on, we were 
obliged to stay and hunt. 

“19th. We met twenty warriors, who were returning from the 
habitations with five prisoners and one scalp; six of them were Dela¬ 
ware and the rest Mingo. We sat down all in one ring together. I 
informed them where I had been and what was done; they asked me 
to go back a little and so I did, and slept all night with them. I 
informed them of the particulars of the peace proposed; they said if 
they had known so much before they would not have gone to war. 
They killed two deer and gave us one.” 

Post’s mission had been undertaken with the object of making peace 
with the Indians, for, following Braddock’s disastrous campaign against 
Fort Duquesne, the Indians had attacked the settlements, and the entire 
West Branch Valley as far down as Sunbury was in complete control 
of the French and their Indian allies. 

In 1755 Andrew Montour, who had been employed on various oc¬ 
casions as interpreter for the province, and who at this time was captain 
of a company of Indians in the English service, following an attack 
upon settlers on Penn’s Creek, in which a number of the settlers were 
killed, was summoned to the Great Island by the friendly Delaware 


RACE RIOTS IN PHILADELPHIA 


477 


living there. Here he was informed that the French had made over¬ 
tures to the Indians to go on the war path against the English settlers 
in Pennsylvania. 

In November these Indians also sent word that two messengers had 
come from Ohio to Great Island; and seeing an Englishman who hap¬ 
pened to be there at the time, said “Kill him.” “.No,” said the Indians 
of the Great Island, “we will not kill him nor suffer him to be killed. 
We have lived in peace many years with the English; if you are so 
bloodthirsty go somewhere else for blood. We will have no blood spilt 
here.” 

At this period as well as at the time of Post’s mission, three years 
later, Great Island was being visited by both French and English in 
their desires to secure the Indians as their allies. It was at this period 
also that the Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania issued a procla¬ 
mation which encouraged the whites to scalp the Indians by the offer of 
a bounty for every Indian scalp brought in. 


Riots in Philadelphia Caused by Boy 
Assaulting Master, July 12, 1835 

EELINGS of animosity against people of color had been mani¬ 
fested in Philadelphia for several years, and were again 
brought forth conspicuously through a most unfortunate cir¬ 
cumstance July 12, 1835. 

Robert E. Stewart, a prominent citizen of Philadelphia, 
who had been United States Consul to Trinidad, resided on the 
east side of Sixth Street, between Prune and Walnut. 

He had in his service an African boy, called Juan, who was a native 
of the Eboe nation, the representatives of which bore the character of 
being vindictive, revengeful and easily moved to anger. Juan had 
been brought to the United States from the West Indies by Mr. Stewart. 

For some reason not known Juan determined to take the life of his 
master. The attack was made upon Mr. Stewart while he was sleeping 
in the afternoon in his chamber. The butt end of a hatchet was used 
in a shocking manner upon his head. He was frightfully mutilated and 
injured, and it was supposed that he could never recover. He died 
several years afterward. 

The brutal attack upon Stewart was made July 12. A statement of 
the circumstances in the newspapers of the next day created intense 
excitement, and soon as the story was read crowds began to assemble, 
and by evening a large crowd had gathered in the neighborhood of 
Sixth and Locust Streets. 

By this time the city authorities had learned something from the 







478 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


events of former years, when the racial hatred had caused many fatal 
clashes, and a large body of watchmen and police were dispatched to 
that section of the city. 

Crowds began to join those already in that neighborhood, and they 
were made up of men and half-grown boys, usually in an angry mood. 
The citizens soon dispersed about the neighborhood, talking together, 
in small groups. 

The presence of the police rendered any outburst impossible so they 
carried their destructive propensities into an adjoining district, and there 
commenced an attack upon houses occupied by colored people in Small 
Street between Sixth and Seventh. The inmates were beaten and put 
to flight, and their furniture destroyed. 

From that place their ravages were resumed upon the colored resi¬ 
dents in Seventh and Shippen Streets. Thence the destruction was 
transferred to “Red Row”—a block of eight houses on Eighth Street 
below Shippen. 

The mob here made a discrimination. All the young colored men 
who could be found were brutally assaulted, because the colored youth 
were generally saucy and impudent, but the old men and women of 
color were not molested or in any manner injured. 

During the proceedings “Red Row” was set on fire and all the 
houses destroyed. The mob had now become so infuriated that they 
were unrestrained even by the presence of police, and from the burning 
homes in “Red Row” they proceeded to Christian and Ninth Streets, 
where several brick and frame houses occupied by colored people were 
attacked. 

Several of those houses were defended by the owners, and others 
who had sought refuge in them. Several shots were fired from behind 
doors and windows, and two persons in the mob were wounded. By the 
time the houses were finally entered the residents had escaped. 

The houses in flames in “Red Row” had brought the firemen to the 
scene, but when they set up their apparatus, they were opposed by the 
mob. The hose was cut and no water could be brought into play. 
The firemen, however, fought their way and succeeded in saving from 
total destruction all the houses, except the one in which the fire was 
started. The mob became even more determined and attacked houses 
which had been passed by at the beginning of the attack. 

By these occurrences the colored people in the lower part of the 
city were frightened to a degree of terror which had not affected them 
in previous years. 

On the day after this riot hundreds of families moved out of the 
neighborhood, or, locking up their houses, sought refuge where they 
could find it. Numbers of men, women and children bivouacked in the 
woods and fields, and not a few fugitives were given shelter in barns 
and outbuildings. 


INDIANS BURN HANNASTOWN 


479 


On Tuesday evening, July 14, crowds again began to assemble in 
the vicinity of Sixth and South Streets, on the rumor that a house on 
St. Mary Street was garrisoned by armed Negroes. 

The mob proceeded to this house and upon their arrival found that 
the statement was true. Fifty or sixty colored men were in the build¬ 
ing, armed with knives, razors, bludgeons and pistols, besides a great 
stock of bricks and paving stones, which were stored on the third floor, 
where they could be hurled with effect upon an attacking party. These 
men were desperate and were rendered savage by the occurrences of 
the two previous days. 

The city police force was promptly upon the scene and prepared to 
prevent the assault intended to be made by the whites upon the house. 
The police, at the same time, had the difficult task of getting the colored 
men away from the building in safety. This they were able to do. 

With this attack frustrated, the trouble was finally quieted and 
there were no further racial disturbances. 


Hannastown, Seat of Justice for Westmore¬ 
land County, Burned by Indians 
July 13, 1782 

HE county of Westmoreland was established by the Provincial 
Assembly, February 26, 1773, and the courts directed to be 
held at Hannastown. This was the first place west of the 
Allegheny Mountains where justice was dispensed according 
to the legal forms by the white man. 

Hannastown contained about thirty habitations and a few 
crude cabins. Most of the former were two stories high and built of 
hewn logs. There was also a wooden court house, a jail and a stock¬ 
ade, both built of logs. 

Robert Hanna, the first presiding Judge, was a member of the fam¬ 
ily from whom the town derived its name. Arthur St. Clair, after¬ 
ward the distinguished general in the Continental Army, was the first 
prothonotary and clerk of the courts. 

On the morning of July 13, 1782, a party of townsfolk went to 
O’Connor’s fields, about a mile north of the village, to cut wheat. The 
reapers had completed one field when one of their number reported that 
he had seen a number of Indians approaching. Every one rushed for 
town, each intent upon his own safety, each seeking his own wife and 
children, to hurry them into the stockade. 

After a period of frightful suspense, it was agreed that some one 
should reconnoiter and relieve the balance from uncertainty. David 
Shaw, James Brison and two other young men, armed with rifles, 







480 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


started on foot through the highlands between the fort and Crabtree 
Creek, pursuing a direct course toward O’Conner’s fields. 

An officer who had been on duty in the town pursued a more cir¬ 
cuitous route on horseback, and no sooner arrived at the fields than he 
beheld the whole force of the savages there assembled. He turned his 
horse to escape, but was followed. He met the four others who were on 
foot and warned them to fly for their lives. 

The four young men were hotly pursued by the Indians, who did 
not fire upon them, for they expected to take the inhabitants by a sur¬ 
prise attack. Shaw rushed into the town to learn if his kindred had 
gone into the fort. As he reached his father’s threshold he saw all 
within desolate and, as he turned, discovered the savages rushing toward 
him with their brandished tomahawks, and yelling the fearful war- 
whoop. He counted upon making one give the death halloo, and raising 
his rifle, the bullet sped true, for the savage at whom he aimed bounded 
in the air and fell dead. Shaw then darted for the fort, which he 
reached in safety. 

The Indians were exasperated when they found the village deserted, 
pillaged the houses and then set them on fire. 

An Indian who had donned a military coat of one of the inhabitants 
and paraded himself in the open was shot down. Except this one and 
the Indian killed by Shaw, it is not believed any others were killed. 

Only fourteen or fifteen rifles were in the fort, and but few of the 
men of military experience, as a company had been recruited there but 
a short time before and marched away with Lochry’s ill-fated campaign, 
leaving not more than a score of men in the village. A maiden, Janet 
Shaw, and a child were killed in the fort. 

Soon after the Indians had set fire to the buildings of the village 
some of them were observed to break away from the main body and 
go towards Miller’s Station. 

Unfortunately there had been a wedding at that place the day before 
and many guests were still at the scene of the festivities. Among them 
was John Brownlee, known along the frontier for his courage in scout¬ 
ing against the savage marauder. The bridal party was in the midst 
of their happy games, when, like a lightning flash, came the dreaded 
warwhoop. 

Those in the cabins and the men in the fields made their escape. 
In the house, where all was merriment, the scene was instantly changed 
by the cries of women and children mingled with the yell of the savage. 
Few escaped. 

Among those who got away are two incidents of intense interest. 
A man was carrying his child and assisting his aged mother in the 
flight, the savages were gaining on them, the son and father put down 
and abandoned the child, the better to assist his mother. The next 
morning the father returned to his cabin and found his little innocent 


INDIANS BURN HANNASTOWN 


481 


curled up in his bed, sound asleep, the only human thing left amidst 
the desolation. 

The other incident occurred when a powerful young man grasped 
a child, who stood near him and made his escape, reaching a rye field 
and taking advantage of some large bushes, he mounted a fence and 
leaped far into the tall rye, where he lay down with the child. He 
heard the quick tread of the savages as they rushed by and their slower 
steps as they returned, voicing their disappointment. 

The wedding party were made prisoners, including the bride and 
groom, and several of the Miller family. 

When the Indians were all assembled and the prisoners secured, 
the latter were loaded with plunder and the march commenced. They 
had proceeded less than a mile when one of the Indians recognized 
Brownlee and communicated it to the others. As he stooped to readjust 
the child on his back, who he carried in addition to the luggage they 
had put on him, an Indian buried a tomahawk in his head. When he 
fell the child was killed by the same Indian. 

One woman screamed at the sight of this butchery and the same 
tomahawk ended her agony. These bodies were found next day and 
decently buried. 

At nightfall thirty men assembled and determined to give succor to 
those in the fort. They armed themselves and hastened with great cau¬ 
tion, knowing that if the Indians intended to attack the fort at dawn 
that they had retired to the low land at Crabtree Creek. 

Fifty rifles were too few to attack 300 Indians and sixty white sav¬ 
ages, so they put in action strategy which won. They mounted all the 
horses they had and trotted back and forth across a bridge of plank, 
near the stockade, two drums and a fife completed the deception that 
re-enforcements were arriving in great numbers. The ruse had the 
desired effect. The cowardly Indians, fearing the retribution they de¬ 
served, stealthily fled during the night. 

The prisoners were surrendered by the Indians to the British and 
taken to Canada. After the peace eighty-three prisoners who survived 
were freed and returned to their homes. 


16 


482 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


George Ross, Lawyer, Iron Manufacturer, 
Soldier, Statesman, Patriot, Signer of 
Declaration of Independence, 

Died July 14,1779 

HE Philadelphia Packet, July 15, 1779, contained this item: 

“Yesterday died at his seat near this city, the Honorable 
George Ross, Judge of Admiralty of this State.” He was in¬ 
terred in the churchyard of Christ’s Church, Philadelphia, 
the day following his death. The Supreme Executive Coun¬ 
cil attended the obsequies in a body. 

George Ross, the son of Reverend George Ross, minister of the 
Established Church, and Catherine Van Gezel Ross, was born in New 
Castle, Lower Counties, May 10, 1730. He was of excellent Scotch 
stock, his family traced their descent from the Earls of Ross. 

George received an excellent education, with special instruction in 
the classics; studied law in Philadelphia, with his half brother, John, 
and was admitted to the bar at Lancaster in 1750. He rose rapidly 
in his profession, and was interested in the manufacture of iron, which 
he continued to the time of his death. 

Soon after settling at Lancaster, in 1751, he married Miss Anne 
Lawlor. 

He was made prosecutor for the Crown and took a deep interest 
in the welfare of the growing town of Lancaster, which was soon 
recognized by his neighbors and he was elected to the Assembly of 
Pennsylvania in,1768. From this time on his short life of forty-nine 
years was crowded with civic and patriotic duties; while the State and 
Federal Governments honored him with many positions of trust. 

He immediately became a leader in the Assembly where he was a 
most pronounced Whig. By successive elections he was continued in 
that body until 1774, when he was a member of the Provincial Con¬ 
ference and then a member of the first Continental Congress. 

George Ross was one of a committee to whom was referred the 
patriotic communication of the House of Burgesses of Virginia, recom¬ 
mending a Congress of the colonies for the purpose of resisting British 
arbitrary enactments, and in Congress he consistently furthered those 
measures which finally led to American Independence. 

In 1775, Governor John Penn having written a message disap¬ 
proving any protective measures on the part of the colonies, Mr. Ross 
drew up a strong and convincing reply. 

He was a true friend of the Indians, and served as one of the 
Commissioners to Fort Pitt in 1776. 








GEORGE ROSS 


483 


Mr. Ross was made a member of the Committee of Safety for 
Pennsylvania; vice president of the Constitutional Convention of 1776; 
colonel of the First Battalion of Associators for Lancaster County; and 
as a fitting climax, he signed the Declaration of Independence. 

During his service as a member of the Continental Congress he was 
named on the committee with General George Washington and Robert 
Morris to prepare a design for a new flag. It was through his sug¬ 
gestion that the committee called on his niece, Betsy Ross, and with 
her help the beautiful flag of the United States was designed and 
adopted. 

Ill health forced Colonel Ross to resign from Congress and on leav¬ 
ing office the citizens of Lancaster voted him a piece of silver to cost 
£150, which he declined to receive. 

After varied and valuable labors in the service of the colonies and 
of Pennsylvania he was appointed a judge of the Court of Admiralty, 
as a minute of the Supreme Executive • Council for March 1, 1779, 
records the following: 

“Resolved, That the Honorable George Ross, Esquire, be commis¬ 
sioned Judge of the Admiralty of this State, under the Act of As¬ 
sembly; that this Board highly approve the firmness and ability he has 
hitherto shown in the discharge of his said office.” 

During his incumbency, which lasted but a brief period, he was re¬ 
garded as learned and prompt, a happy combination. 

Judge Ross probably knew the standing of every merchant in Phil¬ 
adelphia. 

His house in Lancaster stood on the site of the present Court House, 
and his country home was a farm in what was then a suburb of Lan¬ 
caster, now a part of the city, called in his honor, Rossmere. 

He was interested in several iron furnaces, the most important of 
which was the Mary Ann furnace of York County. This was the 
first blast furnace west of the Susquehanna. His partners were George 
Stephenson, one of the first lawyers in York County, and William 
Thompson, the latter’s brother-in-law, later distinguished as a general 
in the Revolution. George Ross also owned Spring Forge III, also in 
York County, and he was a partner with George Taylor, of Easton, 
another signer of the Declaration of Independence, in a furnace in 
New Jersey called Bloomsbury Forge. 

His half brother John Ross, was also much interested in the iron 
business, and seems to have been a rather picturesque character. He 
was an officer of the King, and Graydon says of him: “Mr. John 
Ross, who loved ease and Madeira much better than liberty and strife, 
declared for neutrality, saying, that let who would be king, he well 
knew that he would be a subject.” 

His health seems to have been poor for some time before his death 
as a letter from Edward Burd to Jasper Yeates, July 16, 1779, says: 


484 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


“Poor Mr. Ross is gone at last. I was one of his Carriers. He 
said he was going to a cooler climate, and behaved in the same cheer¬ 
ful way at his exit as he did all thro the different trying scenes of life.” 

He was a Churchman by inheritance, and was vestryman and war¬ 
den of St. James’ Church, Lancaster, contributing liberally to its varied 
interests. Genial, kind and considerate, his sense of humor evidently 
lightened the cares of his strenuous life. 

A memorial pillar was erected in 1897, on the site of his house in 
Lancaster. 


Provincial Convention Ends Proprietary 
Government July 15, 1776 



URING the debate in the Continental Congress upon the 
Declaration of Independence, the old Provincial Government 
of Pennsylvania received such a mortal blow, that it soon ex¬ 
pired without a sigh, ending forever the proprietary and royal 
authority in Pennsylvania. 

In the meantime the Committee of Correspondence for 
Philadelphia issued a circular to all the county committees calling for a 
conference in that city on June 18, 1776. This conference unanimously 
resolved “that the present Government of this Province is not com¬ 
petent to the exigencies of our affairs, and that it is necessary that a 
Provincial Convention be called by this Conference for the express pur¬ 
pose of forming a new Government in this Province on the authority 
of the people only.” 

The delegates to this convention to frame a constitution for the 
proposed new Government consisted of the representative men of the 
Province. It is only natural that in time of excitement the men chosen 
for such important duty should be those most active in the military or¬ 
ganizations, or local committeemen, men whose ability, patriotism and 
personal popularity was unquestioned. It was to be expected that the 
old statesmen would be crowded out unless they were leaders in the 
revolutionary movement. 

As such they met in Philadelphia, July 15, each taking without 
hesitancy the prescribed test oath and then organized by the selection of 
Benjamin Franklin, president; George Ross, of Lancaster, vice presi¬ 
dent, and John Morris and Jacob Garrigues, secretaries. 

On July 18, Owen Biddle, Colonel John Bull, the Reverend Wil¬ 
liam Vanhorn, John Jacobs, Colonel George Ross, Colonel James 
Smith, Jonathan Hoge, Colonel Jacob Morgan, Colonel Jacob Stroud, 
Colonel Thomas Smith and Robert Martin were appointed members 
of a committee to “make an essay for a declaration of rights for this 
State.” 







PROPRIETARY GOVERNMENT ENDED 


485 


On July 24 the same persons were directed to draw up an essay 
for a frame or system of Government, and John Lesher was appointed 
in place of Colonel Morgan, who was absent with leave. 

The same day the convention established a Council of Safety to 
exercise authority of the Government until the new Constitution went 
into effect. At the head of the Council was Thomas Wharton, Jr. 

During the convention the delegates not only discussed and per¬ 
fected the measures for the adoption of a Constitution, but assumed the 
supreme authority of the State, and legislated upon matters foreign to 
the object for which it was convened. Not only did it form the Coun¬ 
cil of Safety, but it approved of the Declaration of Independence, re¬ 
cently adopted by the Continental Congress, and also it appointed jus¬ 
tices of the peace, who were required, before assuming their functions, 
to each take an oath of renunciation from the authority of King George 
III, and one of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania. 

July 25, Colonel Timothy Matlack, James Cannon, Colonel James 
Potter, David Rittenhouse, Robert Whitehill and Colonel Bertram 
Galbraith were added to the Committee on the Frame of Government. 

The convention completed its labors on September 28, by adopting 
the first State Constitution, which went into immediate effect, without 
a vote of the people. 

The Constitution as finally adopted vested all legislative power in 
the General Assembly of the Representatives of the freemen to be com¬ 
posed for three years of six persons annually chosen from the City of 
Philadelphia and six from each county of the State including Phila¬ 
delphia, outside the city, afterwards the representation to be appor¬ 
tioned every seven years to the number of taxable inhabitants. 

Laws, except in sudden necessity, were not to be passed until the 
next session after proposal. The executive power was vested in a Su¬ 
preme Executive Council of twelve elected members, one from the City 
of Philadelphia, and one from each of the counties, including Philadel¬ 
phia, so chosen that one-third would retire each year and no member, 
after serving three years, should be eligible within four years. 

A president and vice president were to be annually chosen from this 
body, by the joint ballot of the Councillors and Assemblymen. New 
counties were each to have a councillor. The president and the Coun¬ 
cil, five of whom constituted a quorum, were to appoint all Judges, the 
Attorney General, etc. 

The right to vote was given to all freemen over twenty-one years 
of age who had resided within the State a year before the election and 
paid taxes, but the sons, twenty-one years old, of Freeholders were not 
required to pay taxes. The freemen and their sons should be trained 
and armed for defense of the State under regulations and with excep¬ 
tions according to law, but with the right to choose their own colonels 
and officers under that rank. 


486 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


A debtor, except for fraud, should not be kept in prison, after 
giving up his real and personal estate for the benefit of his creditors. A 
foreigner having taken the oath of allegiance could purchase and trans¬ 
fer real estate and after a year’s residence have all the rights of a nat¬ 
ural-born subject, but be ineligible as a member of Assembly until after 
two years’ residence. 

A Council of Censors of two members chosen from each city and 
county every seven years beginning with 1783 should inquire into the 
violation of the Constitution and whether the legislative and executive 
branches of the Government had exercised greater powers than they 
were entitled to, and could impeach or, by a two-thirds vote of those 
elected, call a convention to amend the Constitution. 

Articles to be amended were to be published six months before 
election, in order that the people might have opportunity of instructing 
their delegates concerning them. 


Gibson’s Lambs Start on Expedition for 
Powder, July 16, 1776 

OWDER has always been an essential product in every epoch 
of the stirring history of our country. The situation was 
always serious, but on the western side of the Allegheny Moun¬ 
tains there were many times when the settlers were in desperate 
situation on account of little or no powder. 

In times of peace the powder used in these western counties 
was purchased with furs, and every farmer had a quantity in his home 
for both hunting and defense, but when the Revolution broke out the 
demand was greater than the supply, and the Indian hostilities stopped 
the fur trade. 

Companies of rangers were organized and a patrol maintained along 
the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, so that the Indian marauders could be 
detected and pursued. The work of the frontiersmen was of no use 
without gunpowder, and in their desperation these hardy pioneers planned 
an exploit to New Orleans, where they could purchase a quantity from 
the Spanish Government. 

The band of volunteers was under the leadership of Captain George 
Gibson and Lieutenant William Linn. The former, the son of a 
Lancaster tavern keeper, was a trapper and had gone to Pittsburgh with 
his brother John, where they engaged in the fur trade. In his youth 
he had made several voyages at sea and nearly all his life had traveled 
through the Indian country. William Linn was from Maryland, a 
farmer and skilled hunter. He had fought under Braddock and had 
been used as a scout along the Monongahela River. 










GIBSON’S LAMBS 


487 


Captain Gibson selected fifteen of the hardiest and bravest of his 
command. These came to be known as Gibson’s Lambs, on account of 
their fearlessness. Flatboats were built in Pittsburgh and the expedition 
started from that place Tuesday, July 16, 1776. A trip down the Ohio 
was extremely dangerous, as all along the river and especially the lower 
part, the Indians kept a constant watch. 

The “Lambs” left behind them every evidence that they were 
soldiers. They retained rifles, tomahawks and knives, but were clad 
in coarse clothes resembling boatmen or traders. So clever was their 
disguise that even when in Pittsburgh their errand remained a secret. 
The impression was that they were venturing on a trading trip. The 
expedition successfully passed the British posts at Natchez and reached 
New Orleans in safety after five weeks on the water. 

Louisiana was then a Spanish province, under the governorship of 
Don Luis de Ungaza, to whom Captain Gibson bore letters of com¬ 
mendation and credit, as well as to Oliver Pollock and other American 
merchants, then resident in New Orleans. Pollock was a wealthy 
Philadelphian and exercised great influence with the Spanish authorities. 
He assisted in negotiating for the powder. Spain was at peace with 
Great Britain, but willing to give secret aid to the Americans. 

The British agents in New Orleans soon learned of the arrival of 
the Gibson party and, sensing their mission, made complaint to the 
Spanish authorities that rebels against the British Government were 
in the city. 

Captain Gibson was arrested and lodged in a Spanish prison, where 
he was treated with the greatest consideration. While he was confined, 
Oliver Pollock obtained the powder and secreted it in his warehouse. 
The purchase amounted to 12,000 pounds and cost $1800. 

The powder was divided into two portions. Three thousand pounds 
of it was packed in boxes, falsely marked as merchandise of various 
kinds, and quietly conveyed to a sailing vessel bound for Philadelphia 
by way of the gulf and ocean. 

There was a coincidence in the fact that on the very night the ship 
sailed Captain Gibson “escaped” from prison, got on board the vessel 
and accompanied the precious powder to its destination. 

The balance of the powder was turned over to Lieutenant Linn, as 
this was to be used on the Western frontier. This was in half casks, 
each containing about sixty pounds. These were smuggled during the 
night to the barges which were tied up in a secluded place above the 
city. 

Lieutenant Linn hired a score of extra boatmen, mostly Americans, 
and on September 22, 1776, the little flotilla made a fine getaway without 
discovery and began its long journey up the Mississippi. The work was 
hard and the trip took seven months. 

At the falls of the Ohio it was necessary to unload the cargoes and 


488 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


carry the heavy casks to the head of the rapids, when the barges were 
dragged over the shallow stream and reladen. Several times the expe¬ 
dition was forced to tie up by ice and many hardships were experienced 
before the return of the spring weather. 

May 2, 1777, the expedition reached the little settlement of Wheel¬ 
ing, where Fort Henry had been erected. There Lieutenant Linn turned 
over his precious cargo to David Shepherd, county lieutenant of the 
newly erected Ohio County, Virginia. 

Linn’s responsibility ended at Wheeling. County Lieutenant Shep¬ 
herd sent the powder to Fort Pitt, under heavy guard, where it was 
turned over to Colonel William Crawford and safely stored in the brick 
magazine of the fort. The safe arrival of this powder was the cause 
of great rejoicing and nothing was too good for Lieutenant Linn and 
the fearless “Lambs.” 

Virginia paid for the powder, but it was turned over for “the use 
of the continent.” Portions were distributed to the frontier rangers 
and to the two regiments then being mustered in Southern Pennsylvania 
for continental service. It was from this powder that Colonel George 
Rogers Clark drew his supply, in the spring of 1778, for his famous and 
successful expedition to the Illinois country. 

George Gibson was promoted to rank of lieutenant colonel in the 
Virginia service and Lieutenant Linn was made a captain and placed 
in command of the “Lambs.” To each of these officers the Virginia 
Legislature made a grant of money in addition to their regular pay. 

Both these brave men performed other acts of heroism during the 
Revolution and both were killed by the Indians. Linn made a settle¬ 
ment ten miles from Louisville. While riding alone, March 5, 1781, on 
his way to attend court, he was surprised by a small party of Indians 
in the forest. Next morning his mutilated body was found, with his 
horse standing guard over it. Colonel Gibson was mortally wounded 
at St. Clair’s defeat in Northwestern Ohio, November 4, 1791. 


Virginia Sends Captain John Neville to Com¬ 
mand Fort Pitt, July 17, 1775 

Y THE original charter of Virginia the northern boundary 
of that colony was supposed to be at the end of the fortieth 
degree, which was as far north as Philadelphia. This charter 
was dissolved in 1624, and instead of narrowing the limits of 
Virginia it apparently increased them. 

Virginia became a royal province without any definite 
boundaries, and she considered herself as a keeper or trustee for the 
King of England of all contiguous territory not lawfully granted to 
another colony. 







VIRGINIA-PENNSYLVANIA CONFLICT 


489 


The Maryland grant to Lord Baltimore was taken out of the domain 
of Virginia, and she acquiesced in it. But west of Maryland she insisted 
that her ownership extended for an indefinite distance northward and 
westward, and she had made it good by occupation as far north as 
Pittsburgh. 

This was certainly a broad claim of title, and the only remnant of 
it now is that curious narrow strip of land, called the Pan-Handle, which 
extends northward between Pennsylvania and Ohio for some distance 
above the fortieth degree. 

The Indian trade at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monon- 
gahela had always been an object of Virginia’s desire. In 1752 Virginia 
determined to erect a fort there, and Pennsylvania was willing because 
the fort would stop the advance of the French, their common enemy, 
but she reminded Virginia that the land belonged to the Penns. 

The French, in 1754, had seated themselves at Logstown, and the 
Governor of Virginia began to construct a fort on the site of Pittsburgh, 
but the French surprised the little garrison, captured the works, finished 
it, and named it Fort Duquesne. 

The French held the fort until English forces, under General John 
Forbes, invested it November 25, 1758. It was abandoned in 1771. 

Some time prior to 1756 Virginia erected the District of West 
Augusta, covering the territory of Pennsylvania west of the Laurel 
Hills and south of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers, and in that year 
divided it into three counties, viz: Monongalia, Yohogania and Ohio. 

Pennsylvania also erected upon this disputed territory Bedford 
County, in 1771, and Westmoreland County, in 1773 Penn’s Manor of 
Pittsburgh, too, was surveyed for the proprietaries early in 1769, and in 
the beginning of 1771 magistrates were appointed by Pennsylvania and 
for some time discharged the duties of their offices without having their 
authority questioned. 

The new Governor of Virginia was John, Earl of Dunmore, or Lord 
Dunmore, of whom Bancroft says: “No royal governor ever showed 
more rapacity in the use of royal power.” He at once determined on 
seizing control of the “Forks of the Ohio,” for Virginia and for himself. 
He appointed Dr. John Connolly, a man of much energy and talent, 
but without principle, to be “captain commandant of Pittsburgh and its 
dependencies.” 

Connolly arrived in Pittsburgh late in December, 1773, and early 
in January, 1774, took possession of the dismantled fort, which he 
renamed, calling it “Fort Dunmore,” required and commanded the 
people to assemble themselves there as a militia. 

He mustered the militia under Virginia law, intimidated the Penn¬ 
sylvania magistrates, marched some of them off to prison and established 
the authority of Virginia throughout all the region between the Monon- 
gahela and the Ohio. 


490 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


While a large part of the inhabitants of that region were Virginians 
by birth and predilection, there were some fearless and loyal Pennsylva¬ 
nia adherents who did all in their power to resist Connolly’s high-handed 
proceedings. 

One of these, Arthur St. Clair (afterward General St. Clair), then 
prothonotary of the new county of Westmoreland, issued a warrant 
against Connolly and had him committed to jail at Hannastown, from 
which he was soon released on giving bail for court appearance there. 

Connolly returned to Virginia, was sworn in as a Justice of the 
Peace for Augusta County, and when court met at Hannastown, he 
appeared with his militia, armed and with colors flying, and refused to 
admit the Pennsylvania magistrates. He arrested three of the magis¬ 
trates and sent them to Staunton, where they were confined in jail. 

Subsequently, Simon Girty led a mob to Hannastown, stormed the 
jail and released such prisoners as were Virginia partisans. 

The Tory conduct of Connolly at Pittsburgh became so bold and 
obnoxious that in June, 1775, he was seized by twenty men, under orders 
of Captain St. Clair, and carried to Ligonier, with the intention of 
delivering him to the Continental Government at Philadelphia. He was 
released, however, and fled from Pittsburgh by night and made his way 
to Portsmouth, Virginia, where he joined Lord Dunmore on a man-of- 
war, taking refuge in Canada. 

Virginia had revolted from Dunmore’s tyranny at home, but showed 
no disposition to repudiate his aggressions in Pennsylvania nor the 
machinations of Connolly. 

The boundary dispute was maintained, although, in view of the 
troubles with the mother country fast approaching, the Virginia and 
Pennsylvania delegates in Congress, including such men as Thomas 
Jefferson, Patrick Henry and Benjamin Franklin, had united in a 
circular urging the people in the disturbed region to mutual forbearance. 

This action of Congress and the constant fear of an Indian uprising 
persuaded the Virginia Provincial Convention, in session at Williams¬ 
burg, July 17, 1775, to pass a resolution which sent Captain John 
Neville with one hundred men from the Shenandoah Valley to take 
possession of Fort Pitt. 

The following year the Virginia counties in the disputed territory 
were organized with their loyal and administrative machinery, but the 
rancor of the contest had, however, somewhat diminished and there 
were no such acts of violence committed as during the regime of Con¬ 
nolly and his master. 

Captain John Neville continued to command until the Continental 
Congress determined to take Fort Pitt under its care and provide a 
garrison at the continental expense. The offer was accepted by Vir¬ 
ginia and General Washington selected Brigadier General Edward 
Hand to relieve Captain Neville of his command. 


SUSQUEHANNA COMPANY ORGANIZED 491 


Susquehanna Company Organized in 
Connecticut, July 18, 1753 

ARLY charters granted to Massachusetts, Connecticut, 
Virginia and the Carolinas made the Pacific Ocean the nominal 
western ‘boundary of those colonies. Prior occupancy by the 
Dutch and the settlement of the boundaries had created an 
exception in favor of New York and New Jersey, but all the 
country west of the Delaware River within the same parallel 
of latitude with Connecticut was still claimed by that colony as part 
of her domain. 

The southern boundary was to be a straight line beginning at the 
mouth of Narragansett Bay. The line extended west would have 
entered Pennsylvania near Stroudsburg and crossed the North Branch 
of the Susquehanna at Bloomsburg, the West Branch at Milton, and 
passing through Clearfield and Newcastle would cut the State nearly 
through the middle. Penn’s charter fixed the northern boundary of his 
province at the forty-second degree of latitude. A large strip of territory 
was thus granted to both Connecticut and Pennsylvania. 

On July 18, 1753, about 250 men, mostly from Connecticut, met 
at Windham, that State, and organized “The Susquehanna Company.” 
Then, with the consent of the Connecticut Assembly, application was 
made to the Crown for leave to plant a new colony west of the Delaware. 
It was granted, and the company sent agents to the Indian treaty at 
Albany, June, 1754, who succeeded in obtaining from representatives of 
the Six Nations the cession of a tract of land on the northern branch 
of the Susquehanna River, where eleven years before King Tedyuskung 
and his tribe had built the town of Wyoming. 

The Proprietaries of Pennsylvania protested against this purchase, 
and claimed that this land was within the limits of their charter. They 
also claimed that the purchase had not been made in open council, but 
had been effected after making the Indians drunk. 

As this council at Albany had been called to form a union of the 
Colonies with the Six Nations as their allies against the French, the 
purchase was not then seriously opposed. Besides, Pennsylvania bought 
a large tract of land from the Six Nations at the same treaty, and in a 
way not satisfactory to the Indians. 

The French and Indian War prevented any attempt at settlement 
of the Wyoming Valley until 1762, when about 200 colonists and their 
families entered the valley and commenced building and planting near 
the site of the present Wilkes-Barre. Before winter set in, extensive 
fields of wheat had been sown upon lands covered with forest trees in 








492 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


August. But owing to the scantiness of provisions, the settlers returned 
to Connecticut for the winter. 

About the same time another Connecticut association, called the 
“Delaware Company,” had begun a settlement on the Delaware River. 
Proclamations were issued and writs of ejectment were placed in the 
hands of the Sheriff of Northampton County. 

Early in the month of May, 1763, the settlers returned, accompanied 
by many others. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of Northampton 
County, to which the Wyoming Valley then belonged, settlements were 
made at Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Plymouth and Hanover. 

Several hundred acres were improved with corn and other grain, 
and a large quantity of hay cut and gathered, and everything was moving 
forward in a prosperous and happy manner when, without the least 
warning, on October 15, the settlers were attacked while dispersed and 
engaged in their work, and about twenty of them slain. 

Men, women and children fled to the mountains, from which they 
saw their homes plundered and burned and their cattle taken away. 
They abandoned their settlement and made their way back to Connecti¬ 
cut or to Orange County, New York. This is known in the history of 
Pennsylvania as the first massacre of Wyoming. It was the work of 
the Delaware Indians, led by Captain Bull, son of King Tedyuskung. 

Some believe the Iroquois convinced the Delaware that the white 
settlers had murdered Tedyuskung and that this massacre was committed 
in retribution. 

For six years after this assault no settlement was attempted. The 
Indians, anticipating revenge for the massacre, left the valley. 

Meanwhile the Penn family made every effort to prove that the 
title given to the Susquehanna Company was not complete and that 
their charter was valid. Finally some chiefs, assisted by Sir William 
Johnson, openly disclaimed the sale to the Susquehanna Company. Then 
the Six Nations assembled in council at Fort Stanwix and on November 
5, 1768, gave a deed of the disputed lands to the Penns. 

Meanwhile Pennsylvanians took possession of the Wyoming Valley 
and built a fortified trading house there. They laid out two manors, 
one on each side of the river, and extending over the farms abandoned 
by the New Englanders. 

In February, 1769, the Susquehanna Company sent forty men into 
the valley, to be followed shortly by 200 more. They were given land 
and 200 pounds Connecticut currency to provide themselves with farm¬ 
ing tools and weapons, on condition that they would stay in the valley 
and defend it against Pennsylvania. They built a blockhouse called, 
from their numbers, Forty Fort. Their leader was Colonel Zebulon 
Butler, a hero of the French and Indian War, a brave partisan 
commander. 

A civil war prevailed for some years known as the “Pennamite and 


TOM QUICK 


493 


Yankee War.” Forts were constructed and many sieges and skirmishes 
followed. Both parties led men to prison, drove women and children 
away and committed other outrages. 

The Connecticut men were generally successful in this strife. They 
organized a separate State, but could not maintain it. So in 1774 they 
attached themselves to Connecticut, as the town of Westmoreland, in 
the County of Litchfield. 

During the Revolution there was a lull in the strife in Wyoming. 
However, as soon as the war ended the old feud broke out in all its 
former fury. 

Pennsylvania having, in 1779, succeeded the heirs of William Penn, 
now appealed to Congress to settle the dispute. A commission met at 
Trenton in 1782 and, after five weeks of deliberation, decided that 
Connecticut had no right to the land, and that the jurisdiction of the 
same belonged to Pennsylvania. 


Tom Quick, the Indian Killer and Picturesque 
Character, Born July 19, 1734 

ARLY in the year 1733 a Hollander, named Thomas Quick, 
came to the colony of New York, a few months later located 
on the Delaware River, on what afterward became known as 
Upper Smithfield, near where Milford, Pike County, now 
stands. He appears to have been the pioneer settler on the 
Pennsylvania side; here he cleared lands, erected a log cabin 
and barns, and raised wheat and maize. A son was born July 19, 1734, 
named Thomas, and he was familiarly known in after years as Tom 
Quick, the Indian killer. 

He was the pet of the household, and even the Indians who roamed 
over that region frequently visited Quick’s place and much admired the 
fine looking, stout lad, and often made him presents of plumes, feathers, 
skins and other articles. 

Tom grew up among these Indians, learned their language, and 
was taught by them how to hunt wild animals, and fish after the manner 
of the Indians. He grew fond of the Indian life, and became such an 
expert hunter, trapper and fisherman, that his father could never induce 
him to follow any other occupation. He even refused to attend school 
with his sisters, and in fact became almost an Indian by nature. 

In the meantime Thomas Quick, Sr., had become the prosperous 
owner of a grist and saw mill on a small stream entering the Delaware 
near Milford, called the Vandemark. But Tom, Jr., never became an 
employe, but did learn much of the beautiful Minisink Valley, with 
its high cliffs on the Pennsylvania side and receding hills on the New 







494 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Jersey side, as it extends from Port Jervis to the Delaware Water Gap. 
The romantic water falls and rocky glens were his hunting and fishing 
grounds. This knowledge afterward served his purpose in waylaying 
and murdering Indians. 

The Delaware Indians viewed with alarm the steady encroachments 
of the whites, and many had already taken up arms against the English. 
The Quick family, however, had always lived on friendly terms with 
them, but the Indians were not unmindful of the fact that this sturdy 
Hollander had been the very first to push that far into their favorite 
hunting grounds. 

The prospect of plundering an opulent man like Quick overcame 
any feelings of gratitude that might linger in the savage breast. 

When the French and Indian War commenced, the Quicks were 
uneasy and their alarm increased as the Indians grew less sociable, and 
finally withdrew altogether from the Delaware River. 

Quiet reigned until the Quicks became careless and one day the 
father crossed the river to grind grist, accompanied by Tom and his 
brother-in-law, all unarmed. As they rounded a point near the river 
they were fired upon from ambush, and the old man fell mortally 
wounded. 

The young men endeavored to carry him across the frozen river 
but as they stepped on the ice they were fired on and Tom was hit in 
the foot. They soon got out of danger, but not before they saw the 
savages take Tom Quick’s scalp. 

Young Tom was frantic with rage and grief, and that moment 
swore that he would never make peace with the Indians as long as 
one remained upon the banks of the river. 

From this time forth the demon of unrelenting savage hatred entered 
Tom’s heart and he became more like the savages he pursued than 
like a civilized man. He never entered the army but took Indians at 
all times, whether in peace or war, and without regard to age or sex. 

He seems to have operated about the close of the Indian War, at 
a time when they began to again visit their former haunts, supposing 
they would be well received. 

Among the Indians who returned was a drunken vagabond named 
Muskwink, one who had assisted in murdering Tom’s father. 

Tom met Muskwink at Decker’s Tavern, on the Neversink, where 
he had become very bold and abusive, claiming Tom’s acquaintance and 
desiring him to drink with him. Tom refused and cursed him, which 
caused a heated exchange of words, during which Muskwink boasted 
of the part he played in the murder of Tom Quick, Sr. He bragged 
that he scalped him with his own hands, and at the same time mimicked 
the grimaces of the dying man, to corroborate his assertion, exhibited the 
sleeve buttons worn by his victim at the time. 

Tom seized a musket, which was hanging in the bar room, and 


TOM QUICK 


495 


ordered Muskwink to leave the place. He arose slowly and departed, 
pursued by Tom until they had gone about a mile, when Tom overtook 
the savage and shot him dead. Tom returned to the tavern, gave up 
the musket, drank a glass of rum, and left the neighborhood. 

His next exploit was when he espied an Indian family in a canoe 
near Butler’s Rift. Tom concealed himself in the tall grass and as the 
canoe glided nearer he recognized the Indian as one who had committed 
many outrages on the frontier. 

Only a few words were exchanged when Quick shot the man and 
tomahawked the woman and three children. He sank the bodies and 
destroyed the canoe, and did not tell of this crime for years, when he was 
asked why he killed the children. He replied, “Nits make lice.” 

There are many stories told of Tom Quick, which have been 
preserved by tradition and which are firmly believed by descendants of 
the older families of Pike County. 

One story is told in which several Indians caught him splitting rails 
and told him to go along with them. Tom asked them to assist him 
split open the last log and as they put their fingers in the crack to help 
pull it apart Tom knocked out the wedge and caught them all. He 
then killed each one at his leisure. 

He went on a hunting trip with an Indian and they killed seven 
deer. He took the meat but gave the Indian the skins. He threw them 
across his shoulder, Tom fell behind and shot the Indian and took the 
kins as well as the meat, saying he had shot a buck with seven skins. 

He was hunting with another Indian and pushed him off of the high 
rocks. 

Tradition says that on his death bed he claimed to have killed 
ninety-nine Indians, and that he begged them to bring an old Indian, 
who lived near, in order that he might bring his record to an even 
hundred. 

In his old age he was regarded as a hero by the pioneer hunters and 
trappers. He died at James Rosencrantz’s in 1795, and was buried on 
his farm. 

The time has long since passed when such a revengeful murderer 
can be exalted to the rank of a hero, yet Tom Quick, the Indian slayer, 
weather-beaten, and with wornout accoutrements and costume in keep¬ 
ing, presented a picturesque and Rip Van Winkle-like appearance that 
would have formed no bad subject for an artist’s pencil. 


496 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


William Maclay, First United States Senator, 
Born in Chester, July 20, 1737 

ILLIAM MACLAY, son of Charles and Eleanor Query 
Maclay, was born July 20, 1737, in New Garden Township, 
Chester County, Pa. He attended the classical school of the 
Reverend John Blair, in Chester County. He studied law 
and was admitted to practice at the York County bar in 1760. 
During the French and Indian War he served as a lieutenant 
in Colonel Hugh Mercer’s battalion, and distinguished himself during 
General Forbes expedition in 1758. In 1763 he participated at the 
Battle of Bushy Run, and during the subsequent progress of Colonel 
Bouquet’s campaign was stationed in command of a company at one of 
the stockades on the route of the expedition. 

On account of this service he never practiced his profession. Much 
of his time was taken up in surveying lands allotted to officers, but at a 
later period Governor John Penn was instrumental in having him 
admitted to the Cumberland County bar, and for a short time he acted 
as Prothonotary. 

At the close of the French and Indian War he visited England and 
had an interview with Thomas Penn, one of the Proprietaries, relative 
to surveys in parts of the Province, and on his return became an assistant 
of Surveyor General Lukens on the frontier. 

In April, 1769, he married Mary McClure Harris, daughter of 
John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg. 

On the organization of Northumberland County March 21, 1772, 
he was appointed Prothonotary and Clerk of the Courts. 

In July, 1772, he laid out the town of Sunbury and erected for 
himself a fine stone house, which, with modern improvements, is still 
standing.* 

At the outset of the Revolution, although an officer of the Proprietary 
Government, William Maclay took a prominent and active part in favor 
of independence, not only assisting in equipping and forwarding troops 
to the Continental Army, but marched with the associators which par¬ 
ticipated in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. He held the position 
of assistant commissary of purchases. 

During the “Great Runaway,” following the Wyoming massacre, 
July 3, 1778, William Maclay fled with his family from Sunbury to 
Harris’ Ferry, and in a letter to the president of the Executive Council 
he gave a very graphic picture of the distress. Again after the attack and 
destruction of Fort Freeland by the British, Tories and Indians, July 

*For many years the residence of Hon. Simon P, Wolverton, and now that of his 
widow. 





WILLIAM MACLAY 


497 


28, 1779, Maclay again wrote to the seat of government in which he 
described the forlorn situation of the frontiers. In a later letter he 
deplored the removal of soldiers from the West Branch Valley, where 
the Indians had committed such terrible depredations. 

In 1781 he was elected to the Assembly, and from that time forward 
he filled the various offices of member of the Supreme Executive Council, 
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, deputy surveyor, etc. After the 
Revolution he made a visit to England in the interest of the Penn 
family. 

In January, 1789, he was elected to the United States Senate, taking 
his seat there as the first Senator from Pennsylvania. He drew the 
short term, and his position terminated March 3, 1791, his colleague, 
Robert Morris, securing the long term. 

Maclay’s election to this body raised him upon a higher plane of 
political activity, but contact with the Federal chiefs of the young 
Republic only strengthened his political convictions, which, formed by 
long intercourse with the people of Central Pennsylvania, were intensely 
democratic. 

Maclay differed with the opinions of President Washington; he did 
not approve of the state and ceremony attendant upon the intercourse of 
the President with Congress, he flatly objected to the presence of the 
President in the Senate while business was being transacted, and in 
that chamber boldly spoke against his policy in the immediate presence of 
President Washington. 

Maclay was the original promoter and later the actual founder of 
the Democratic Party. Long before Thomas Jefferson’s return from 
Europe, William Maclay assumed an independent position, and in his 
short career of only two years in the Senate propounded ideas and 
gathered about him elements to form the opposition which developed 
with the meeting of Congress at Philadelphia, October 24, 1791, in a 
division of the people into two great parties, the Federalists and Demo¬ 
crats, when, for the first time, appeared an open and organized opposition 
to the Administration. 

The funding of the public debt and chartering the United States 
Bank were opposed by Maclay, even at a sacrifice of personal popularity, 
for he was succeeded in the Senate by James Ross, a pronounced 
Federalist. 

While in the Senate Maclay preserved notes of his discussions, both 
in open and executive sessions, with observations upon the social customs 
of the statesmen of the Republic, which have since been published. 

On his retirement from the Senate William Maclay resided on his 
farm adjoining Harrisburg, where he erected a fine stone mansion, 
afterward, for many years, occupied by the Harrisburg Academy. 

In 1795 he was elected a member of the Pennsylvania House of 
Representatives and was again elected in 1803. He was a presidential 


498 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


candidate in 1796, and from 1801 to 1803 was one of the Associate 
Judges of Dauphin County. 

William Maclay’s brother, Samuel, was almost as distinguished a 
citizen as his older brother. He, too, was a soldier in the Continental 
Army, a surveyor and statesman. He served as Associate Judge, was 
in the Fourth Congress, State Senate and Speaker of that body, and 
December 14, 1802, he was elected to the United States Senate. Wil¬ 
liam and Samuel Maclay are the only brothers to sit in that body. 

William Maclay was the father of nine children. He died at his 
home at Harrisburg April 16, 1804, and was interred in the old Paxton 
Presbyterian Church graveyard at Paxtang. An elegant stone marks the 
final resting place of this distinguished Pennsylvanian. 


Colonel James Cameron, First Pennsylvania 
Officer Killed in Civil War July 21,1861 

T MAY not be generally known that the first officer of his 
rank to be killed in the Civil War was none other than Colonel 
James Cameron, who commanded the Seventy-ninth New York 
Highlanders, yet was a native of Lancaster County, Pa., a 
resident of this State, and a brother of the distinguished Gen¬ 
eral Simon Cameron. 

The Cameron family in America is of fighting stock, descendants of 
the Camerons of Scotland, who shared their fortunes with the disastrous 
Charles Edward, whose star of hope went down on the bloody field of 
Culloden. Donald Cameron, their great-grandfather, was a participant 
in that memorable battle, and having escaped the carnage made his way 
to America, arriving here about 1746. He afterward fought under the 
gallant Wolfe upon the heights of Abraham at Quebec. 

On his mother’s side, Colonel James Cameron was descended from 
Conrad Pfoutz, one of those sturdy German Protestants, whose faith 
no terrors could conquer. An exile from his native land for conscience 
sake, he sought the western wilds, and was for a time the companion 
of that famous Indian fighter, Captain Samuel Brady, the history of 
whose life is more captivating than romance. 

James Cameron was born at Maytown, Lancaster County, March 1, 
1801, and spent his boyhood there. He was apprenticed to his older 
brother, Simon, in the printing trade, and as early as 1827 he became 
associated with John Brandon in the publication of the “Lycoming 
Gazette,” at Williamsport, but only for a short time, as the business 
was not successful, and in December of that year the paper was sold 
to William F. Packer, who later became Governor of Pennsylvania. 

James Cameron returned to Lancaster County and in 1829 obtained 










COLONEL JAMES CAMERON 


499 


control of “The Political Sentinel,” which he published for a few years 
only. In 1839 he was appointed superintendent of motive power on 
the Columbia Railroad, succeeding Andrew Mehaffy. In 1843 he was 
appointed Deputy Attorney General of the Mayor’s Court, at Lan¬ 
caster, succeeding S. Humes Porter. 

Thus we find he worked his way through various steps from an 
orphan in poverty to a position of distinction in business and society. 

When the Northern Central Railroad was constructed he held an 
official position under the management with headquarters at Sunbury. 
It was about this time that he purchased a magnificent farm along the 
beautiful Susquehanna River, just below the borough of Milton. 

James Cameron was also stung with the political bee which seemed 
to hunt Cameron victims for many years in Pennsylvania. In 1856 he 
sought a seat in Congress, but was defeated for the Democratic 
nomination. 

When the Civil War broke out he was called to the command of the 
Seventy-ninth New York Regiment of Volunteers, known as the “High¬ 
landers,” and he marched at the head of his command on the ever- 
memorable advance on Bull Run. 

He repeatedly rallied his men, who seemed paralyzed at the reverse, 
and none of his men felt this more than the brave colonel. He dropped 
his sword from his hand as he stared at the retreating mass of troops. 
Some of his command were still firing, when one of his lieutenants 
rushed forward to receive orders about the wounded soldiers. The 
colonel turned suddenly towards him, when at that instant a minnie 
bullet pierced his heart and he fell without uttering a word. 

After the death of Colonel Cameron the rout became complete and 
the army fell back in great confusion on Washington. 

Colonel Cameron’s body with hundreds of others, was left on the 
field and afterwards buried in a trench. Through the efforts of his 
brother, General Simon Cameron, then Secretary of War in President 
Lincoln’s Cabinet, his grave was located and his body identified by the 
peculiar buckskin shirt he wore, and was removed from the place of its 
rude burial. The remains were taken to Lewisburg and reinterred with 
the military honors due such a hero. Colonel Cameron left a wife, 
but no issue. 

Colonel Cameron was the first soldier from Northumberland County 
to lose his life in the war. He was the first officer of his rank in the 
Union Army and the first officer from Pennsylvania to fall in battle in 
the Civil War. 

The Northumberland County Soldiers’ Monument Memorial 
Association was organized May 25, 1872, and incorporated August 5, 
following. 

On July 4, 1872, a site at the eastern end of Market square in 
Sunbury, was marked out by Judge Alexander Jordan and General 


500 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Simon Cameron, and from that time plans were perfected for the erec¬ 
tion of a memorial which should do justice to the boys from “Old 
Mother Northumberland” who had made the supreme sacrifice in that 
greatest of all civil wars in the world’s history. 

The cornerstone was laid May 30, 1874, with a great Masonic 
ceremony. Robert L. Muench, of Harrisburg, district deputy grand 
master, acting for the grand master, was in charge of the exercises, 
assisted by Maclay C. Gearhart, Henry Y. Fryling, James M. McDevitt, 
Jacob R. Cressinger and William Hoover, the elective officers of Lodge 
No. 22, Free and Accepted Masons, of Sunbury. 

There were many distinguished members of the order in attendance, 
hundreds of veterans of the Civil War, including a large delegation 
of the Seventy-ninth New York Cameronian Volunteers and thousands 
of citizens from Sunbury and the nearby towns. 

The monument itself is an imposing shaft, resting upon a pedestal 
elevated upon a mound. At the outer edge are mounted four cannon 
used in the Civil War. 

This shaft is surmounted by a lifesize statue in granite, of the 
gallant Colonel Cameron. It represents him clad in his military uniform 
and standing “at ease.” A tablet in one of the panels bears this 
inscription: 

“James Cameron, of Northumberland County, Colonel of the 
Seventy-ninth New York Cameronian Volunteers. Fell at the head of 
his regiment at the Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, aged sixty-one 
years. 


Battle of Minisink Fought Opposite 
Lackawaxen July 22, 1779 

N JULY 22, 1779, near what is now the little town of Lack¬ 
awaxen, Pike County, Pa., was fought one of the fiercest In¬ 
dian battles on record. This massacre actually took place in 
the State of New York at Minisink, where the town of Port 
Jervis, Orange County, now is. Only the Delaware River 
separated the battleground from Pike County, in this State. 

The Shawnee at Minisink are said to have built a town on the east 
side of the Delaware, three miles south of the mouth of Flat Brook, 
which was called Pechoquealin. They also had a town on the Pennsyl¬ 
vania side of the river which had the same name, and probably stood 
near the site of the present town of Shawnee, at the mouth of Shawnee 
Run, in what is now Lower Smithfield Township, Monroe County. 

Secretary James Logan stated in a letter to Governor Clark, of New 
York, dated August 4, 1737, that when the Shawnee came from the 





BATTLE OF MINISINK 


501 


South in 1692 one party of them “was placed at Pechoquealin, near 
Durham, to take care of the iron mines.” Their village was probably 
on the high ground back of the lower end of Rieglesville, and near the 
furnace, where traces of an Indian town still are to be seen. 

The territory known as the Minisinks was often the scene of strife 
with the red men, and almost every dell, in what is now Pike County, 
Pa., and Orange County, N. Y., has its local tradition. 

Count Pulaski and his legion of cavalry were stationed at Minisink, 
during part of the winter of 1778-79. In February he was ordered to 
South Carolina to join the army under Lincoln. The settlement was 
thus left wholly unprotected, which being perceived by Joseph Brant, 
the accomplished Indian warrior, he resolved to make a descent 
upon it. 

Early in July, Joseph Brant, the daring and treacherous Mohawk 
chief, left the Susquehanna with some 400 warriors. The settlers had 
received timely warning and threw out scouts to watch the approach 
of the invaders. 

On the night of July 19 the Indians, with Tories disguised as sav¬ 
ages, stole upon the little town of Minisink, where Port Jervis now 
stands, and before the people were aroused from their slumbers several 
dwellings were set on fire. Without means of defense, the inhabitants 
sought safety in flight to the mountains. Their small stockade fort, a 
mill and twelve houses and barns were burned, several persons killed, 
some taken prisoners, cattle driven away and the booty carried to 
Grassy Brook, where Brant had left the main body of his warriors. 

While these events were being enacted a call for volunteers was 
responded to and 150 men met the following morning, determined to 
pursue the savages. 

Colonel Tusten, who knew the craftiness of Brant, opposed pur¬ 
suit, but was overruled. Major Meeker, mounting his horse, shouted, 
“Let the brave men follow me; the cowards may stay behind.” The 
line of march was formed, and they traveled seventeen miles, then 
encamped for the night. 

The march was resumed the morning of July 22, and at Half- 
Way Brook came upon the Indian encampment of the previous night. 
The number of smoldering fires indicated a large savage force, and the 
two colonels, with the more prudent, advocated a return rather than 
further pursuit. The majority determined to pursue. 

A scouting party was sent forward, but was discovered and the cap¬ 
tain slain. The volunteers pressed onward, and at 9 o’clock the enemy 
could be seen marching in the direction of the fording place. Brant 
had already deposited a large part of his plunder in Pike County. The 
commander of the volunteers determined to intercept them at the ford, 
but Brant had been watching the movements of his pursuers and, com¬ 
prehending their designs, he wheeled his column and by a stragetic move- 


502 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


ment brought his whole force in the rear of the Americans. Here he 
formed an ambuscade and deliberately selected his battleground. 

The volunteers were surprised and disappointed at not finding the 
enemy where they expected him to be, and were marching back when 
they discovered some of the Indians. One of them, mounted on a 
horse stolen at Minisink, was shot. This was a signal for action, and 
the firing soon became general. It was a long and bloody conflict. 

The Indians greatly outnumbered the whites, and as the ammuni¬ 
tion of the latter was limited, they were careful not to fire at random, 
but to make every shot count. The fight began at 11 o’clock and at 
twilight was yet undecided. The ammunition of the militia was ex¬ 
pended and the enemy attacked and broke through their line. 

The survivors attempted to retreat. Behind a ledge of rocks, Doctor 
Tusten was dressing the wounds of seventeen who were injured. The 
Indians fell upon them furiously, and all, including the doctor, were 
slain. 

Some attempted escape by swimming the river; the Indians killed 
many, but a few reached the wilds of Pike County. A few more es¬ 
caped under the cover of darkness. Of the whole number that went 
forth, only thirty returned to relate the dreadful scenes of that day. 

This massacre of the wounded is one of the darkest stains upon 
the memory of Brant, whose honor and humanity were often more 
conspicuous than that of his Tory allies. 

He made a weak defense of his conduct by asserting he had offered 
good treatment if they would surrender and that his humane proposi¬ 
tion was answered by a bullet from an American musket, which pierced 
his belt. 

In the year 1822, the bones of friend and foe were picked up, put in 
boxes, taken to Goshen, in Orange County, and given a decent burial, 
and a beautiful monument marks the spot where the mortal remains 
of the heroes lay who fought what is known as the battle of Minisink. 


BRITISH CAPTURE PHILADELPHIA 


503 


General Howe Sails From New York to 
Capture Philadelphia, July 23, 1777 

ENERAL HOWE, commander of the British forces in Amer¬ 
ica, sailed with his army from New York, July 23, 1777, to 
make a mighty effort to end the Revolution by capturing Phil¬ 
adelphia, the seat of government of the Continental Congress. 
His intentions were to approach the city by the Delaware. 
Soon as this became known every effort was made for the 
defense of the river. Howe experienced much difficulty, therefore, in 
navigating his immense naval armament and meeting these obstructions 
in the Delaware Bay, he decided to make his approach by way of the 
Chesapeake, where he anchored at the head of the bay, in Elk River, 
August 25. 

Howe disembarked with 18,000 troops, well equipped, except for 
horses. The movement was delayed by heavy rains, but when they 
reached Elkton the Philadelphia Light Horse, under Colonel Patterson 
retired, but annoyed the enemy by skirmishing. 

On September 3, the militia and light horse with 720 Continentals, 
under General Maxwell, kept up an attack which checked somewhat the 
progress towards Philadelphia of two divisions of British, under Corn¬ 
wallis and Knyphausen. 

Washington marched his army through Philadelphia to encourage 
the partisans of independence and overawe the disaffected, and took 
up a position between Chester and Wilmington. 

On hearing of the actual invasion of Pennsylvania the Supreme 
Executive Council issued a proclamation entreating all persons to march 
instantly to the assistance of General Washington, to enable him to 
demolish the only British army that remained formidable in America 
or in the world. 

Those addressed were asked to consider the wanton ravages, the 
rapes, the butcheries perpetrated in New Jersey, and on the frontier 
of New York, and the prospect of Americans being “like the wretched 
inhabitants of India, stripped of their freedom, robbed of their property, 
degraded beneath brutes, and left to starve amid plenty at the will of 
their lordly masters.” 

Washington had moved from White Clay Creek, leaving only the 
riflemen in camp, and with the main body of his army retired behind the 
Red Clay Creek, occupying with his right wing the town of Newport, 
upon the great road to Philadelphia; his left was at Hockhesson. 

When Howe brought the army to attack the right flank on Septem¬ 
ber 9, the Americans had slipped away and crossed the Brandywine at 
Chadd’s Ford in Chester County, where they awaited the enemy. Gen- 






504 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


eral Sullivan commanded the right, General Armstrong the left. The 
riflemen of Maxwell scoured the right bank of the Brandywine, in 
order to harass and retard the enemy. Stephen’s and Lord Sterling’s 
divisions were under General Sullivan. 

The British reached Kennett Square September 10. The next 
morning half the British army, led by Howe and Cornwallis, moved 
up the valley road to cross at the forks of the creek. At 10 o’clock 
Knyphausen began a cannonade at Chadd’s Ford. 

Sullivan crossed the creek above, while Washington with Greene’s 
division was to attack Knyphausen, but Sullivan was too late and had 
not made the crossing when the attack began, for Cornwallis had 
made the crossing as intended and came down upon the Americans. 
Sterling and Stephen faced his attack southwest of the Birmingham 
meeting house. Sullivan should have taken his division to their right, 
and when he started to change his position, he was put to flight and 
lost his artillery. 

The story of the Battle of the Brandywine will not be repeated, 
except to state that after a terrible day’s battle the Americans retreated 
at nightfall, having lost 1000 killed and wounded, Lafayette among 
the latter. Howe’s army did not pursue in the darkness, and Wash¬ 
ington reached Chester. Thence it went to Germantown and collected 
provisions and ammunition. Battalions of militia joined the main body 
at the Falls of the Schuylkill and at Darby. 

The public money of Pennsylvania was sent to Easton, the Liberty 
Bell and church bells at Philadelphia were sent to Bethlehem and Allen¬ 
town, the Market Street bridge was removed and the boats at the ferries 
of the Schuylkill brought to the city side. 

Washington advanced to the Lancaster road, and Howe and Corn¬ 
wallis left the vicinity of Chester and marched toward the road 
through what is now West Chester and by Goshen Meeting, and the 
Sign of the Boot Inn, which General Howe occupied and made his 
headquarters. 

The two armies on September 16, were drawn in battle array 
near the White Horse Inn on the Lancaster Road, where a fight oc¬ 
curred between Count Donop and his Hessians and “Mad Anthony” 
Wayne without much result. A violent and incessant rain storm pre¬ 
vented any general action. 

During this storm the American army suffered a heavy loss in 
ammunition, which got wet; so it turned aside until a new supply 
could be obtained. The enemy moved toward Philadelphia. 

The day after the battle of Brandywine, toward evening, the Brit¬ 
ish dispatched a detachment of light troops to Wilmington. There they 
took prisoner the Governor of the State of Delaware, and seized a 
considerable quantity of coined money, as well as other property, both 
public and private, and some papers of importance. • 


SMITH’S CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION 


505 


General Mifflin was too ill to take command of the defense of Phil¬ 
adelphia, and all was confusion, when at 1 o’clock in the morning of 
September 19, the alarm was given that the British had crossed the 
Schuylkill. 

Lord Cornwallis entered Philadelphia September 26, at the head 
of British and Hessian grenadiers. The rest of the army remained in 
camp at Germantown. 


Captain John Smith Sails From Jamestown, 
July 24,1608, to Explore Chesapeake 
Bay 

WO Indian messengers hurried to the Susquehannock Indian 
town situated on the banks of the Susquehanna River, in what 
is now Lancaster County, in midsummer, 1608, and brought 
the tidings that there were strangers arrived in the great bay 
who wished to see them. The Susquehanna Indians, or Sus- 
quehannocks, as they are usually called, went to meet these 
white men, whom they believed to be gods worthy of worship. 

The strangers were thirteen in number, and under the leadership 
of Captain John Smith, who had effected a settlement at Jamestown, Va., 
the preceding year. They had sailed away from Jamestown, July 24, 
on a voyage of discovery in an open boat of less than three tons burden. 

The party had a tedious voyage. The vessel entered Chesapeake 
Bay, and the party spent seven weeks exploring its shores, returning to 
Jamestown September 7. 

It was after Smith reached the head of the bay, on the Tockwogh 
(Sassafras) River, that he first met Indians. Here he found “many 
hatchets, knives and peeces 'of yron and brasse, which they reported to 
have from the Sasquesahanockes, a mighty people, and mortal enemies 
with the Massawomeckes.” 

Smith approached these Indians warily, for he had already heard of 
them as a ferocious tribe. Smith “prevailed with the Interpreter to 
take with him another interpreter, to perswade the Sasquesahoncks to 
come to visit us, for their language are different.” 

Smith made a visit to the tribe on the east side of the Chesapeake 
the following morning, and they received him in friendship. 

He navigated his boats as far up the Susquehanna as was possible 
on account of the rocks, and there awaited the return of the two Indian 
messengers. In four days they arrived, and with them came the 
Indians. Captain Smith’s own story says: 

“Sixty Susquehannocks came to us, with skins, bows, arrowes, tar¬ 
gets, beeds, swords & tobacco pipes for presents. Such great and well 








506 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


proportioned men are seldom seen, for they seemed like giants to the 
English, yea, and to the neighbors, yet seemed of an honest and simple 
disposition. They were with much adoe restrained from adoring us as 
gods. 

“These are the strangest people of all these countries, both in language 
and attire; for their language may well become their proportions; sound¬ 
ing from them as a voyce in the vault. Their attire is the skinnes of 
bears, and wolves, some have cossacks made of beares heads and skinnes, 
that a man’s head goes through the skinnes neck, and the eares of the 
beare fastened to his shoulders, the nose and teeth hanging down his 
breast, another beares face split behind him, and at the end of the nose 
hung a paw, the half sleeves coming to the elbowes were the necks of 
the beares, and the arms through the mouth with the pawes hanging at 
their noses. One had the head of a wolfe hanging in a chain for a jewell, 
his tobacco-pipe three-quarters of a yard long, prettily carved with a 
bird, a deare, or some such devise at the great end, sufficient to beat 
out ones braines; with bowes, arrowes, and clubs, sutable to their great¬ 
ness. Five of their chiefe warriors came aboord us and crossed the bay 
in the barge. The picture of the greatest of them is signified in the 
mappe. 

“The calf of whose leg was three quarters of a yard about, and all 
the rest of his limbs so answerable to that proportion that he seemed the 
goodliest man we ever beheld. His hayre, the one side was long, the 
other shore close with a ridge over his crowne like a cocks combe. His 
arrowes were five quarters long, headed with the splinters of a white 
christall-like stone, in form of a heart, an inch broad, an inch and a halfe 
or more long. These he wore in a woolves skinne at his backe for his 
quiver, his bow in the one hand and his clubbe in the other, as is 
described. 

“They can make neere 600 able and mighty men, and are pallisadoed 
in their townes to defend them from the Massawomekes, their mortal 
enemies * * * They are seated (on the Susquehanna River) 2 
daies higher than was passage for the discoverer’s barge.” 

Smith further describes the Susquehannocks, and very much exag¬ 
gerates their strength of numbers and other qualifications, but there 
can be no doubt that the great adventurer was thoroughly impressed 
with this powerful tribe. This was the first contact of white men with 
the native people of Pennsylvania. Smith almost reached Pennsylvania 
on this voyage. 

His map of Virginia made in 1612 also shows a number of Indian 
villages in the interior of Pennsylvania. Besides the town of Sasque- 
sahanough, he locates on the east bank of the Susquehanna, near its 
head, Tesinigh, and about midway between these two, Quadroque, 
which is also on the east bank. Near the heads of two tributaries of the 
same river he locates Attaock, and some distance north, Utchowig. 


COLONEL THOMPSON’S BATTALION 


507 


Mr. A. L. Guss places Attaock as on the Juniata; Quadroque at or near 
the forks of the North and West Branches; Tesinigh on the North 
Branch, towards Wyoming; and Utchowig, Mr. Guss suggests might 
have been a town of the Erie, or Cat Nation. 

During another voyage in December, 1607, Captain Smith was 
taken prisoner by the Indians, but afterwards released on promise to 
furnish a ransom of two great guns and a grindstone. Tradition says 
that he was saved from death during this captivity by Pocahontas. 

Smith made maps of his exploration and, in 1614, explored the New 
England coast and made a map of that shore from the Penobscot to 
Cape Cod. 

Captain Smith served as president of the colony of Jamestown, but 
he was too strict a disciplinarian. When his successor was elected, Sep¬ 
tember 29, 1609, Smith sailed for England and never returned to 
Jamestown. 

He had achieved much for Virginia, he was a good example of 
Elizabethian versatility, “bookman, penman, swordsman, diplomat, 
sailor, courtier, orator, explorer.” His works have been published. 


Colonel Thompson’s Battalion of Riflemen 
Among First to Reach Boston, 

July 25, 1775 

OLONEL THOMPSON’S Battalion of Riflemen, so styled in 
General Washington’s general orders, was one of the Penn¬ 
sylvania regiments in the Revolutionary War of which every 
citizen has pardonable right to be proud. 

This command was enlisted in the latter part of June, and 
in the beginning of July, 1775, in pursuance of a resolution 
of Congress, dated June 14, for raising six companies of expert rifle¬ 
men in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia, which, 
as soon as completed, were to join the army near Boston. 

By a resolution adopted June 22, the “Colony of Pennsylvania” was 
directed to raise two more companies, which with the six, were to be 
formed into a battalion, and be commanded by such officers as the As¬ 
sembly or Convention should recommend. 

This resolution having been communicated to the Assembly of Penn¬ 
sylvania, it resolved, June 24, “that the members of Congress deputed 
by this Assembly be a committee to consider of, and recommend proper 
officers of the said battalion.” 

This committee performed the duty thus delegated them and Wil¬ 
liam Thompson, of Carlisle, was commissioned colonel; Edward Hand, 









508 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


of Lancaster, lieutenant colonel; Robert Magaw, of Carlisle, major; 
and William Magaw, Carlisle, surgeon. 

Each company in this battalion consisted of one captain, three lieu¬ 
tenants, four sergeants, four corporals, a drummer or trumpeter, and 
sixty-eight privates. 

On July 11 Congress was informed that two companies had been 
raised in Lancaster instead of one, and it resolved that both companies 
be taken into the Continental service. The battalion, therefore, con¬ 
sisted of nine companies, enlisted as follows: 

James Chambers and William Hendricks in Cumberland County; 
Michael Doudel in York County; James Ross and Matthew Smith in 
Lancaster County; John Lowden in Northumberland County; Robert 
Cluggage in Bedford County; George Nagel in Berks County; and 
Abraham Miller in Northampton County. 

The pay of the officers and privates was as follows: Captain, 
twenty dollars per month; a lieutenant, thirteen and one-third dollars; 
sergeant, eight; corporal, seven and one-third; drummer, the same; 
privates, six and two-thirds, and to find their own arms and clothes. 

The patriotism of Pennsylvania was still further evinced in the 
haste with which these companies of Colonel Thompson’s battalion were 
filled to overflowing and the promptitude with which they took up 
their march. 

Eight of the companies arrived at Boston by July 25, which may 
properly be the date the activities of these riflemen actually began. 

A large number of gentlemen went along as independent volunteers. 
Their names were not entered on the rolls, and they claimed the privi¬ 
lege of paying their own expenses and returning at their pleasure. 
Among them were Edward Burd, afterwards prothonotary of the Su¬ 
preme Court, Jesse Lukens and Matthew Duncan. 

The command got into action almost upon its arrival at Cambridge. 

The Military Journal of the Revolution described this battalion as 
“remarkably stout and hardy men; many of them exceeding six feet in 
height. They are dressed in white frocks or rifle shirts and round hats. 
These men are remarkable for the accuracy of their aim; striking a 
mark with great certainty at 200 yards distance. At a review, a com¬ 
pany of them, while on a quick advance, fired their balls into objects of 
seven inches diameter, at a distance of 250 yards. They are now sta¬ 
tioned in our lines, and their shot have frequently proved fatal to Brit¬ 
ish officers and soldiers who expose themselves to view, even at more 
than double the distance of common musket shot.” 

The battalion became the. Second regiment (after January 1, 1776, 
the First regiment) of the army of the United Colonies. 

This regiment formed the picket guard of the 2,000 provincials, 
who, on the evening of August 26, took possession of and threw up in- 
trenchments on Ploughed Hill, and on the following morning met with 


COLONEL THOMPSON’S BATTALION 


509 


its first loss, Private William Simpson, of Paxtang, a member of Cap¬ 
tain Matthew Smith’s company, who was wounded in the leg in front 
of Boston. A cannon ball shattered his leg, which was amputated but 
the lad died three days later. 

The first soldier to make the supreme sacrifice was a brother of 
Lieutenant, afterward General Michael Simpson, and of John Simp¬ 
son, for years recorder of Northumberland County. 

On September 5 the companies of Captain Matthew Smith and Cap¬ 
tain William Hendricks were ordered to join the expedition against 
Quebec, commanded by General Benedict Arnold. 

An interesting account of the hardships and sufferings of these two 
companies was written by Judge John Joseph Henry, of Lancaster, a 
private in Smith’s company. At the attack on Quebec, December 31, 
Captain Hendricks was killed, and those who did not fall were taken 
prisoners, and held until paroled August 7, 1776. 

The balance of Colonel Thompson’s command earned the public 
thanks of General Washington for services rendered at Lechmere’s 
Point, November 9, 1775. In this action the men waded through the 
tide up to their armpits and drove the British from their cover and into 
their boats. Colonel Thompson lost only one killed and three wounded. 
British loss was seventeen killed and one wounded. 

January 1, 1776, the new army organization was commenced and 
this battalion became the First Regiment of the Continental Army. 
Colonel Thompson was promoted to brigadier general, March 1, 1776, 
and Edward Hand became colonel. He was later promoted to brigadier. 
The First Pennsylvania participated with General Sullivan in New 
York and Long Island. 

Washington wrote to Congress, on April 22, 1776: 

“The time for which the riflemen enlisted will expire on the 1st of 
July next, and as the loss of such a valuable and brave body of men 
will be of great injury to the service, I would submit it to the considera¬ 
tion of Congress whether it would not be best to adopt some method 
to induce them to continue. They are, indeed, a very useful corps; 
but I need not mention this, as their importance is already well known 
to the Congress.” 

On July 1 the battalion entered upon another term of service. 


510 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Indians Massacre Inhabitants in the Conoco- * 
cheague Valley on July 26, 1756 

ULY 26 is a date which recalls to the minds of many inhabi¬ 
tants of the present Franklin County two atrocities committed 
by Indians, either of which is horrible in its every detail. 

On July 26, 1756, the Indians killed Joseph Martin, and 
took captive two brothers, named John and James McCul¬ 
lough, all residents of the Conococheague settlement. This 
was followed, August 27, with a great slaughter, wherein the Indians 
killed thirty-nine persons, near the mouth of the Conococheague Creek. 

Early in November following, the Indians discovered some soldiers 
of the garrison at Fort McDowell, a few miles distant, ambushed them 
and killed and scalped Privates James McDonald, William McDonald, 
Bartholemew McCafferty, and Anthony McQuoid; and carried off Cap¬ 
tain James Corken and Private William Cornwall. The following in¬ 
habitants were killed: John Culbertson, Samuel Perry, Hugh Kerrel, 
John Woods and his mother-in-law, and Elizabeth Archer; and carried 
off four children belonging to John Archer; and two lads named Samuel 
Neily and James McQuoid. 

To return to the first atrocity. James McCullough had but a few 
years before removed from Delaware to what is now Montgomery 
Township, Franklin County, where he immediately began to clear the 
land and till the soil. 

The McCullough family had been temporarily living in a cabin 
three miles distant from their home, and the parents and their daughter, 
Mary, went home to pull flax. A neighbor, John Allen, who had busi¬ 
ness at Fort Loudon accompanied them, and promised to come that way 
in the evening and go along back to the cabin. 

Allen had proceeded about two miles when he learned that the 
Indians had that morning killed a man, a short distance from the Mc¬ 
Cullough home. Allen failed to keep his promise and returned by a 
circuitous route. 

When he reached the McCulloughs he told the lads to hide, that 
Indians were near at hand, and added, at the same time, that he sup¬ 
posed they had killed their parents. 

John McCullough was eight years old and James but five. They 
alarmed their neighbors, but all hurried to make preparations to go to 
the fort, a mile distant. None would volunteer to warn Mr. and Mrs. 
McCullough of their danger, so the lads determined to do it themselves. 
They left their little sister, Elizabeth, aged two years sleeping in bed. 

The brave lads reached a point where they could see their house and 
began to halloo. They were happy to reach their parents in safety. 







CONOCOCHEAGUE VALLEY MASSACRES 511 


When about sixty yards from the house, five Indians and one French¬ 
man came rushing out of the thicket and took the lads captive. The 
Indians missed capturing the parents by the mere accident that the 
father had heard the lads and left his work to meet them and thus the 
Indians missed him, and failed to notice the mother and daughter in a 
field at work. 

The lads were taken to the forks of the Ohio, whence James, the 
younger, was carried into Canada and all trace of him lost. John re¬ 
mained with the Indians for nine years, when he and hundreds of other 
captives were released. They eventually were able to find their way back 
to their homes in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. 

John lived in the community from which he had been taken for 
nearly sixty years and left a written record of what he suffered during 
this long captivity. 

The other Indian massacres, which inhabitants of the Conoco- 
cheague Valley will ever relate, began with the appearance of savages on 
Sunday, July 22, 1764, when several were discovered near Fort Loudon. 

On Wednesday Susan King Cunningham left her home and started 
through the woods to call on a neighbor. As she did not return when 
expected a search was made, and soon her body was found lying near 
her home. The fiends had not been content to murder and scalp this 
good woman, but had performed a Caesarian operation and had placed 
her child on the ground beside her. 

The next day, July 26, occurred the murder of Enoch Brown, 
schoolmaster, and ten of his pupils. A tragedy unique in the long story 
of Indian atrocities. 

This terrible massacre occurred about three miles north pf Green- 
castle, Franklin County. Brown and each of the ten small children were 
killed and scalped, and a lad, Archibald McCullough, was scalped and 
left for dead among the other victims, but he recovered and lived for 
mariy years. 

With few exceptions the scholars were much averse to going to 
school that morning. And the account afterward given by McCullough 
is that two of the scholars informed Mr. Brown that on their way to 
school they had seen Indians. The master paid no attention to what 
had been told him, and ordered them to their books. 

Soon after school had opened three Indians rushed up to the door. 
The schoolmaster, seeing them, prayed the Indians only to take his life 
and spare the children, but they refused. The Indians stood at the 
door, whilst the third entered the school room, and with a piece of 
wood in the shape of a maul, killed the master and the scholars, after 
which all of them were scalped. 

Young McCollough, left for dead, dragged himself to a spring a 
short distance from the school house where he slaked his burning thirst 
and washed his wound. 


512 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


This Archie was a cousin of John and James McCullough, taken 
by the Indians in that same place exactly eight years before. John 
was at that time a captive and living with the Indians. In his interest¬ 
ing narrative he says that he knew the three Indians who murdered 
Brown and the children, and that he was present when they returned 
to their chief. 

They were young Indians, not over twenty years of age. Old 
Night Walker, the chief, called them cowards for having so many 
children’s scalps. 

Thus it is a singular coincidence that these two crimes should be 
committed on July 26, that McCulloughs should figure in them both, 
and that the only accurate details of each massacre are given by the 
only two survivors, John and Archie McCullough, yet they occurred 
eight years apart. 


Ruffians Mob Pastor and Cause Organization 
of First Moravian Church July 27, 1742 

N AFFAIR occurred in Philadelphia July 27, 1742, which, dis¬ 
graceful as were the proceedings, was the means of establish¬ 
ing a separate Moravian Church in that city. 

Count Nicholas Ludwig Zinzindorf arrived in Philadel¬ 
phia, December 10, 1741. He came with the hope of uniting 
all Protestant Christians into a confederacy or league. 

Almost immediately upon his arrival Henry Antes, a pious wheel¬ 
wright and farmer in Falkner’s Swamp, now Frederick Township, 
Montgomery County, invited Zinzindorf to attend a synod or con¬ 
ference at Germantown, which had for its object a movement similar 
to that of the disguished visitor. 

Zinzindorf accepted the invitation and attended the Synod, January 
12, 1742. Indeed he went there before that date, and preached in the 
German Reformed Church, January 1, his first sermon in America. He 
got acquainted with the people and earnestly began his great work. 

This Synod was the first of seven. It was held in the house of Theo- 
bold Endt, a Germantown clockmaker. Zinzindorf was made moderator. 

The delegates of the different sects met and discussed the best way 
of bringing about a more perfect union of all Protestant denominations. 
There were a number of Moravians present, but not as delegates, 
for no settled congregation of that sect as yet existed. 

No definite results were reached though Zinzindorf’s ideas im¬ 
pressed the assemblies. 

During the earlier months of 1742 Zinzindorf preached at Oley, 
Falkner’s Swamp, Germantown, and other places, and gathered the 
nuclei of subsequent Moravian congregations. 








MORAVIANS ORGANIZED FIRST CHURCH 513 


A house was rented in Germantown for Count Zinzindorf and his 
assistants, which was opened as a school May 4, of that year. The 
Countess Benigna assisted as a teacher, as did also Anna Nitschmann, 
who subsequently became the second wife of Zinzindorf. The school 
opened with twenty-five girls as pupils. 

In Philadelphia Zinzindorf began ministrations in a barn on Arch 
Street below Fifth, then fitted up with seats and used in partnership 
by the German Reformed and the Lutherans. 

His Lutheran tendencies and training fitted him to take charge of 
a Lutheran Church, and May 30, 1742, this congregation called him 
to take its charge. Indeed, it is said that he claimed to be inspector- 
general of the Lutherans, and had for some months supplied a Lutheran 
Church in Germantown. 

Zinzindorf accepted the call of the Philadelphia Lutherans, but wish¬ 
ing to do a certain amount of missionary work elsewhere, associated 
John Christopher Pyrlaeus, a Saxony Presbyter, with him as assistant, 
and left matters much in his charge. 

Reverend Henry Jacobson, in his “History of the Moravian Church 
in Philadelphia,” proceeds to tell what the consequence was. 

Pyrlaeus, though evidently a hard worker, gave offense to a strong 
faction, and on July 27, 1742, while in the pulpit and officiating, a gang 
of his opponents dragged him down from his place, trampled upon 
him, and roughtly handled him, as they ejected him from the building. 

The only accounts left do not enable us to identify the cowardly 
assailants, except that there seems to have been serious trouble between 
the growing Moravian faction and the conservative Lutheran element. 

The affair was the prime cause of the establishment of a separate 
Moravian Church as soon as Count Zinzindorf returned from his 
preaching tour. Without this event to crystallize the tendencies of 
things, separation might have been long delayed. 

Another view of this movement is that Zinzindorf built the church 
for the Lutheran congregation over which he claimed authority, upon 
his first arrival in the country, but that the arrival of Henry Melchoir 
Muhlenberg, with direct authority from the University at Halle, in 
the latter part of 1742, changed the tactics of Zinzindorf, and so he 
made arrangements to transfer the church to the Moravians. 

The congregation organized by Zinzindorf consisted of thirty-four 
persons. They took up a lot on the east side of Bread Street and south 
of Sassafras (now Race) Street, which on August 20, 1742, was trans¬ 
ferred by William Allen and wife to Samuel Powell, Joseph Powell, 
Edward Evans, William Rice, John Okley, and Owen Rice, for an¬ 
other lot on Sassafras Street. 

The parties named were not all Moravians, but the deed was made 
to them in trust for “a certain congregation of Christian people, as 
well German as English, residing in the City of Philadelphia, belong- 


17 


514 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


ing to the church of the Evangelical Brethren, who have caused to be 
erected thereon a new building for and to their use and service as a 
church and school house to S. Lewis Zinzindorf, David Nitschmann, 
Joseph Spangenberg, Henry Antes, John Bloomfield, and Charles 
Brockden.” 

Additional real estate was acquired and the church building was 
commenced immediately. The corner stone was laid September 10, 
1742, by Count Zinzindorf, and the work proceeded so rapidly that 
it was dedicated by him on November 25, following. 

This building was set back from Sassafras Street thirty-five feet. 
It had a front of forty-five feet on Bread Street, afterward called 
Moravian Alley. 

The edifice was two stories high, the first story being used as the 
church proper. This room was twenty feet in height from the floor, 
wainscoted about five feet, and whitewashed above to the ceiling. 
The roof was of the hip-roof design. There were large windows in 
each side. The congregation used this church for more than fifty 
years without a stove in winter. 

The first Moravian congregation in Philadelphia contained those 
who had left the Lutherans when the Pyrlaeus affair occurred, and a 
number of Moravians who had been awhile at Nazareth and Bethlehem. 

On the evening of his departure* from America Count Zinzindorf 
organized these members into the First Moravian Church. 


British and Seneca Indian Allies Destroy 
Fort Freeland, July 28, 1779 

ANY Pennsylvanians may not know that a definite, well- 
planned battle of the Revolution was fought far up in old 
Northumberland County. This is a fact and until now this 
battle has only been known of as an ordinary Indian incursion. 
Such was not the case. 

True there were Indians in the battle of Fort Freeland, 
July 28, 1779, and they were the ferocious Seneca, 300 of them under 
the command of Hiokatoo, the most bloodthirsty and cruel Indian of 
whom we have any direct evidence. 

After Colonel Thomas Hartley led his successful expedition against 
the Indians in 1778, the savages did not long remain subdued, but the 
year following again became so vicious that the settlers, who had re¬ 
turned after the Great Runaway, lived in such constant fear of attack 
that General Washington ordered General John Sullivan to rendezvous 
his troops at Wyoming and wipe out every Indian town from that point 
to Elmira in New York State. 










FORT FREELAND DESTROYED 


515 


The troops were supplied with rations and stores from Fort 
Augusta. This fort was defended by a line of forts, or blockhouses ex¬ 
tending in an almost straight line from Fort Jenkins near Berwick, on 
the North Branch, to Fort Wheeler, at Fishing Creek, to Fort Bost- 
ley, at Washingtonville, to Fort Montgomery, to Fort Freeland, two 
miles above McEwensville, to Fort Muncy, where the line of defense 
touched the West Branch. 

No sooner had General Sullivan started his march from Easton 
toward Wyoming than the Indians learned of his plans and put into 
operation a series of movements which were intended to defeat the 
design of the Continental troops. 

Captain John MacDonald, of the British Army, a Tory of New 
York State, was in command of a large detachment of British who had 
employed 300 Seneca Indians as allies. They made a forced march 
from the vicinity of Wyalusing, and arrived near Fort Muncy on the 
morning of July 28, 1779, and immediately started down, over what is 
now the Susquehanna Trail, toward Fort Augusta. The Continental 
troops had unfortunately been withdrawn from Fort Muncy. 

Less than six miles march brought the British and their Indian 
allies in contact with the garrison at Fort Freeland, where, in addition 
to the troops, all the inhabitants of the valley below Muncy Hill and 
as far south as Chillisquaque Creek, had fled for protection. 

When the battle for possession of the fort began, the firing could 
be heard at Fort Boone, about four miles south, a mile above the present 
site of Milton. Captain Hawkins Boone, cousin of Daniel Boone, and 
himself one of the bravest soldiers in the Continental army, with a 
detail, consisting of thirty-two as brave men as ever fired a gun, rushed 
to the relief of the unfortunate defenders of Fort Freeland. 

But in a few terrible hours the most advanced haven of refuge for 
the frontier settlers in the West Branch Valley was a mass of ruins; 
its defenders either victims of the tomahawk or prisoners of war; and 
the women and children objects of charity. 

The defenders of Fort Freeland did their utmost in this trying 
hour. Their resistance was so stubborn that the articles of capitulation 
were not accepted until the third proposal, and not then until all their 
ammunition was expended. The women even melted the pewter into 
bullets, while the men fired them at the besiegers. No further relief was 
believed possible. 

After Captain MacDonald had sent the third demand for surrender, 
the defenders, under a flag of truce, agreed with the victors upon the 
terms which were as follows: 

“Articles of Capitulation Entd into Between Captain John McDon¬ 
ald on his Majesties part & John Little on that of the Continental 
Congress. 

“Article 1st. The Men in Garrison to March out & Ground their 


516 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Arms in the Green, in Front of the Fort which is to be taken in pos¬ 
session of Immediately by his Majesty’s Troops. Agreed to. 

“2ndly. All Men Bearing Arms are to Surrender themselves 
Prisoners of War & to be Sent to Niagara. Agd. to. 

“3d. The Women and Children not to be Stript of their Clothing 
nor Molested by the Indians and to be at Liberty to move down the 
Country where they please. Agd. to. 

John Mac Donald 

Capt. of Rangers. 

John Little.” 

As soon as the fort capitulated, the Indians took possession of it, 
and their squaws became mischievous and destructive. Having com¬ 
pleted the pillage of the fort, both Indians and British gathered together 
all the provisions they could find and proceeded to the creek, where 
they made preparations for a feast, but did not long enjoy it. 

Captain Boone’s party soon arrived on opposite bank of creek, within 
less than one hundred yards of the feast. Not knowing the fort had 
been surrendered, they fired upon the British and Indians. We are 
advised thirty fell dead at the first volley. It was but a brief triumph, 
however, for the others rallied and surrounded the handful of Con¬ 
tinentals, killing thirteen men, among the slain being Captain Boone 
himself. 

When this party found itself caught in an ambuscade, word was 
quickly passed for each man to save himself, thus enabling a few to 
escape. 

Every male in the fort had been taken prisoner and started toward 
Niagara where the few who survived the hardship of the forced march 
and the privations of the long imprisonment, remained until after the 
close of the war, when they rejoined the surviving members of their 
families. 

In and about Fort Freeland, as a result of the attack 108 settlers 
were killed or led away as prisoners of war, not by Indians, but by 
the organized militia of Great Britain. 

Fifty-two women and children, and four old men, were -permitted 
to depart for Fort Augusta. Among the latter was John Vincent, who 
was permitted to care for his crippled wife. But Bethuel, Cornelius 
and Daniel Vincent were taken prisoners. Among others taken to 
Canada, who also lived to return to their families, were Captain John 
Little, James Daugherty, Moses Kirk, James Durham, Samuel Gould 
and two of the Freelands. 

The enemy ravaged the country in the vicinity of the fort and 
burned and destroyed everything they could find. They advanced as 
far as Milton, where they burned Marcus Huling’s blacksmith shop, 
mill and dwelling house. The country presented a scene of desolation, 


THE “PITTSBURGH GAZETTE 1 


517 


and it remained in this condition for several years, the settlers being 
afraid to return. 

This heavy toll of human life, to which should also be added the 
killed and wounded among the British and their Indian allies, num¬ 
bering possibly as many more, marks a definite battle of the Revolution ; 
with the magazines and stores at Fort Augusta and the cutting off of 
the rear of General Sullivan’s army, as the object of the attack. 


First Newspaper West of the Allegheny 
Mountains, the Gazette, of Pittsburgh, 
Established July 29, 1786 

HE first newspaper published west of the Allegheny Moun¬ 
tains was the Pittsburgh Gazette which made its initial bow 
to the public, July 29, 1786, and today, one hundred and 
thirty-eight years later, it is the largest paper published in 
the world’s greatest industrial district. 

When the United States were yet very young, in fact, before 
the Federal Constitution was even proposed, before Washington was 
elected president, when the small cluster of log huts, protected by a 
stockade called Fort Pitt, was all that constituted Pittsburgh, is the 
time this old newspaper began its long and honorable career. 

Early in the year 1786, John Scull and Joseph Hall rode into that 
western frontier post on the backs of heavy pack horses, over a long and 
rough trail, all the way from Philadelphia. They brought with them 
a small printing press, some type and a small supply of paper. 

The pioneer printers established a printing office in a log cabin, 
along the bank of the Monongahela River, at the end of Chancery Lane. 
This primitive office soon attracted the attention of the more progressive 
citizens, among whom was Hugh H. Brackenridge, a lawyer, and an 
acknowledged leader of the Federal party in that section of Pennsyl¬ 
vania. Through his earnest solicitation and promise of patronage, Scull 
and Hall determined to establish a weekly newspaper. Brackenridge 
had agreed to edit the publication; and the first issue of the Pittsburgh 
Gazette appeared July 29. 

The original subscription price was seventeen shillings and six pence 
per year. Advertising was paid for at the rate of four shillings a square. 
In lieu of cash, the publishers made known the fact that they would 
accept furs and skins and various kinds of country produce. 

There was no postoffice in Pittsburgh at this time, nor for twenty 
years after the Gazette was established. The paper found its way east 
by means of the weekly mail service between Pittsburgh and Philadel- 








518 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


phia. When Pittsburgh was considered a place of sufficient importance 
to have a postoffice, John Scull, one of the publishers of the Gazette, 
was appointed Postmaster. 

It is rather fortunate that the duties of the government position 
were not too exacting, for Postmaster Scull was the practical printer 
and performed the principal part of the actual publication. He even 
acted as carrier and tramped about town each week with the paper. 

The story is told of Scull that when the pack trains from Philadel¬ 
phia failed to arrive on time, or no white paper came when expected, 
that he used his close friendship for the commandant at Fort Pitt to 
his advantage by borrowing sufficient quantity of cartridge paper on 
which to print that week’s issue of the Gazette. 

On November 10, 1786, the Gazette, in three lines announced the 
death of Joseph Hall, aged 22 years. Hall’s interest was acquired by 
John Boyd, but Scull as before, continued to be the real spirit behind 
the enterprise. 

In June, 1789, a paper mill was built on Redstone Creek, in what 
is now Fayette County, by Jackson and Sharpless. This mill supplied 
the Gazette with cheaper paper, which enabled the owners to increase 
its size and reduce the subscription price to $2 a year. 

Lawyer Breckenridge, in 1799, left the Federal party and threw all 
his influence with the Antifederalists, but Scull refused to go along 
with his editor, and Morgan Neville became the editorial writer. 

Breckenridge and some of his adherents set up an opposition paper 
called the “Tree of -Ltfer” Soon both papers were busy with libel 
suits, assaults and challenges to fight duels. 

When the conflict of 1812 was precipitated the Gazette, like the 
other Federal organs, was adverse to war and urged a pacific settle¬ 
ment of difficulties with England. But when the war broke the 
Gazette supported the Federal Government with all its power. Its 
extra editions, containing the news brought in two days from Wash¬ 
ington, were then looked upon as “prodigious feats of journalism.” 

After full thirty years as the guiding spirit of the Gazette, August 
1, 1816, John Scull transferred his interest in the paper to his son, 
John I. Scull. The editor, Morgan Neville, also became a partner. 

Even with two other papers in Pittsburgh, the “Commonwealth” 
and the “Mercury,” the Gazette retained its leadership and now ap¬ 
peared semi-weekly. 

In March, 1820, Eichbaum and Johnson purchased the Gazette 
and changed its name to “The Gazette and Manufacturer and Mer¬ 
cantile Advertiser.” Two years later David M. MacLean purchased 
the property and re-established the original title. In September, 1829, 
Neville B. Craig, became the owner and four years later the Gazette 
appeared as a daily. It strongly supported the Anti-Masonic party. 
In September, 1856, Russell Errett, and D. L. Eaton became joint 


CHAMBERSBURG BURNED BY REBELS 519 

owners of the Gazette and under their editorial management the paper 
made unusual progress. 

Errett was one of the organizers of the Republican party and the 
Gazette became one of the first organs of that party in the country. 

There were several other changes in ownership until June 1, 1900, 
when the late United States Senator George T. Oliver purchased the 
plant. May 1, 1906, the Pittsburgh Times was absorbed and the title 
changed to The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times. 

On February 7, 1915, the Gazette-Times moved into the eight- 
story publication building on Gazette Square, where the paper is now 
published. 

Since December 4, 1917, George S. Oliver has served as president 
and Charles W. Danziger, secretary and managing editor. 

Even as Pittsburgh has grown from a village of log houses when 
the Gazette was established there, to one of the world’s most important 
cities, so the Gazette has evolved into one of the greatest newspapers 
published in America. 


Chambersburg Sacked and Burned by Mc- 
Causland’s Rebel Force July 30,1864 

HREE times during the Civil War the rebel horde rode into 
Pennsylvania, but two occasions stand out as conspicuous. 
First when Lee, with nearly 90,000 troops, in personal com¬ 
mand, marched to his Waterloo at Gettysburg, the other was 
when three thousand Confederates were sent by General Early 
into Pennsylvania to burn Chambersburg in retaliation for 
General Hunter’s disgraceful and disastrous raid into Virginia. 

General Darius N. Couch was in command of the Union forces at 
Chambersburg. Although a department he had but one hundred and 
fourteen men under his command and they were scattered over the 
country as scouts. 

The startling news came to General Couch’s headquarters on the 
evening of July 29, 1864, that a Confederate force had entered Mercers- 
burg and was marching toward Chambersburg. This was untimely 
news for less than twenty-four hours earlier a sufficient number of 
troops had passed through Chambersburg on their way to join General 
Hunter, to have repelled this rebel invasion. 

The rebels reached the outskirts of Chambersburg before daylight, 
and employed their time in planting two batteries in commanding posi¬ 
tions, and getting up the whole column, fully three thousand strong. 

At 6 o’clock Saturday morning they opened with their batteries and 
fired six shots into the town. Immediately thereafter their skirmishers 
entered by almost every street and alley, and finding the way clear, 








520 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


their cavalry, to the number of 831, came in under the immediate 
command of General McCausland. General Bradley Johnson and the 
notorious Major Harry Gilmore were also with him. 

McCausland and Gilmore demanded of the citizens, who were on 
the street, that they collect some of the prominent inhabitants with a 
view of entering into negotiations; the court house bell was rung, but 
only a few responded. To the few citizens who did come together, 
Captain Fitzhugh, of McCausland’s staff, produced and read a written 
order, signed by General Jubal Early, directing the command to pro¬ 
ceed to Chambersburg, to demand a tribute of $100,000 in gold or 
$500,000 in greenbacks, and on failure to secure the sum, to proceed 
to burn the town in retaliation of the burning of six or eight houses 
specified as having been burned in certain counties in Virginia, by Gen¬ 
eral Hunter. He was promptly answered that Chambersburg could 
not and would not pay the ransom. 

Infuriated at the determination of the people to do nothing, Major 
Gilmore rode up to a group of citizens, consisting of Thomas B. Ken¬ 
nedy, William McLellan, J. McDowell Sharpe, Dr. J. C. Richards, 
William H. McDowell, W. S. Everett, Edward G. Etter and M. A. 
Faltz, and ordered them under arrest. He said that they would be 
held for the payment of the money, and if not paid he would take them 
to Richmond as hostages and also burn every house in the town. 

While the officer was endeavoring to force them into an effort to 
raise the money, his men commenced the work of firing, and they were 
liberated when it was found that intimidation would effect nothing. 

The main part of the town was enveloped in flames in ten minutes. 
No time was given to remove women or children, the aged and infirm, 
or sick, or even the dead. They divided into squads, beat down the 
doors, smashed furniture, rifled drawers, appropriated money, jewelry, 
watches and valuables, then threw kerosene upon the combustible 
articles and plied the match. They invariably demanded ransom, be¬ 
fore burning, but even when it was paid the property was burned. The 
people escaped with only the clothes on their backs, and some even then 
with difficulty. 

The work of demolition continued two hours, more than half the 
town on fire at once. Three million dollars worth of property was 
destroyed, three thousand rendered homeless and many penniless, and 
not one of the innocent victims had violated any accepted rule of civ¬ 
ilized warfare. 

There were many incidents of the burning but only a few can be 
related. The house of James Watson, an old and feeble man past 
eighty, was entered, and because his wife remonstrated, they fired the 
room, hurled her into it and locked the door on the outside. Her 
daughters rescued her by bursting in the door before her clothing took 
fire. The widow of a Union soldier, pleading on her knees, was robbed 


CHAMBERSBURG BURNED BY REBELS 


521 


of her last ten dollars and her little home fired. An aged invalid, un¬ 
able to be out of his bed, pleaded to be spared a horrible death in the 
flames, but they laughed at him as they fired his home. Father McCul- 
lom, the Catholic priest, was robbed of his watch. 

Colonel Stumbaugh was arrested near his home early in the morning, 
and with a pistol presented to his head ordered to procure some whiskey. 
He refused, for he had none, and was released. But afterwards was 
rearrested by another squad, the officer of which referred to him by 
name, when he was insulted in every possible way. He informed the 
officer that he had been in the service, and that if General Battles was 
present, they would not dare to insult him. When asked why, he an¬ 
swered: “I captured him at Shiloh, and treated him like a soldier.” 
A rebel major present, who had been under Battles, upon inquiry, was 
satisfied that Colonel Stumbaugh’s statement was correct, ordered his 
release and withdrew the entire rebel force from that part of Second 
Street, and no buildings were burned. 

Soon after the work of destruction had commenced, a squad was 
detailed to burn “Norland,” the beautiful residence of Colonel Alex¬ 
ander K. McClure afterwards for many years the editor of the Phila¬ 
delphia “Times.” “Norland” was a mile from the center of the town, 
and no other building was fired within a half mile of it, although fifty 
houses intervened. They would not allow Mrs. McClure or any ser¬ 
vant to save anything belonging to the Colonel. 

Several of the rebel thieves perpetrated their last pillage. Major 
Bowen, of the 8th Virginia Cavalry, got too far ahead of the firing in 
his greed for plunder and he was captured by several citizens and, 
slightly wounded, he took refuge in a burning cellar, where the intense 
heat blistered him. He begged to be spared, but he burned to death. 
Another demon, caught in an atrocious act of vandalism, was shot dead. 
A Captain Cochran, quartermaster of 11th Virginia Cavalry, was 
caught by Thomas H. Doyle, of Loudon, and at the point of his pistol 
was given just fifteen minutes to live. Cochran begged piteously for his 
life, but Doyle, on the very second, shot the thief dead, and found on 
his person $815 in greenbacks, all stolen from citizens, and $1750 of 
rebel currency. 

Scores of McCausland’s command were killed on the retreat by Gen¬ 
eral Averill’s forces. Many of them were intoxicated and so demoral¬ 
ized by their plunder they became an easy prey to the Federal troops 
who passed through Chambersburg in pursuit of the barbarians. 


522 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Carlisle Indian School Established by 
Congress, July 31, 1882 

HE first non-reservation school established by the Government 
was at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and was only recently discon¬ 
tinued. 

This school had its inception in the untiring efforts of Gen¬ 
eral R. H. Pratt, U. S. A., when a lieutenant in charge of 
Indian prisoners of war at old Fort San Marco, St. Augustine, 
Florida, from May 11, 1875, to April 14, 1878. 

When the release of these prisoners was ordered twenty-two of the 
young men were led to ask for further education, agreeing to remain 
in the east three years longer if they could attend school. These were 
sent to Hampton, Virginia, and several other places where they could 
attend a government school. 

On September 6, 1879, an order was issued transferring the Car¬ 
lisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, comprising 27 acres, from the War De¬ 
partment to the Department of the Interior for Indian school purposes, 
pending action by Congress on a bill to establish such an institution. 
This bill became a law July 31, 1882. 

Lieutenant Pratt was, on September 6, 1879, ordered to report to the 
Secretary of the Interior, and by him was directed to proceed to Car¬ 
lisle and there establish an Indian school. He was ordered to then 
proceed to Dakota and Indian territory for the purpose of obtaining 
pupils for the new school. So successful was the young officer that by 
the end of October, he had gathered together one hundred and thirty- 
six Indians from the Rosebud, Pine Ridge, and other agencies, and with 
eleven of the former Florida prisoners, then at school at Hampton, the 
new institution was opened at Carlisle Barracks, November 1, 1879, 
with an enrollment of one hundred and fifty-seven original Ameri¬ 
cans. 

The school steadily progressed until more than a thousand pupils 
were enrolled and during its existence nearly every tribe in the United 
States had representatives on its rolls and at one period one hundred 
Alaskan Indians were in attendance. 

The aim of the school was to teach English and give a primary edu¬ 
cation; and a knowledge of some common and practical industry, and 
means of self-support among civilized people. 

To this end regular shops and farms were provided, the principal 
mechanical arts and farming were taught the boys, and the girls, cook¬ 
ing, sewing, laundry and housework. The instruction was made in¬ 
teresting so that the young Indians would not desire to return to reser- 






CARLISLE INDIAN SCHOOL 


523 


vation life, but would prefer to make for themselves a place among the 
people of the East. 

During the summer vacation months, the young Indians would be 
placed in the homes of prosperous citizens, where they could do certain 
work and at the same time learn by direct example and association 
the ways of higher civilization. This was known as the “outing sys¬ 
tem/’ and was a distinct feature not only of the Carlisle school, but 
of the Indian school service generally. 

The literary curriculum of Carlisle stopped at that point where the 
student might enter the higher grades of the public schools. The pupil 
was left to his own resources for any further development of his intel¬ 
lectual faculties. 

Many of the graduates of the Carlisle school are today filling re¬ 
sponsible positions in the business world, and especially in the Indian 
service, in which they are employed as teachers, clerks and all the way 
to laborers. 

Many of the Indians are musical and the school band was one of 
the features. The late Joel B. Ettinger, of Seattle, Wash., but formerly 
of Chester, Pa., where he conducted the famous old Sixth Regiment 
Band, organized the first band from among the various tribes repre¬ 
sented in the school and soon developed a band which won the acclaim 
of the people wherever it played. Dennison and James Wheelock, 
Oneida Indians, became great leaders and succeeded Ettinger as in¬ 
structors. The former was a successful composer of band music. 

The Carlisle school produced the first paper printed by Indian boys. 
The printery was early established and became a potent factor in the 
industrial development of the students. The Indian Helper, a small 
leaflet, was first produced, and afterwards a larger magazine, The 
Red Man, was published, these being merged into Red Man and 
Helper, and creditably reflected the life and policies of the school. 

Many prominent writers and educators frequently contributed to 
this magazine, thus helping the deserving wards of our government to 
make their effort a representative publication. Among those who sent 
valuable contributions to this paper was Reverend George P. Donehoo, 
then secretary of the Pennsylvania State Historical Society, late State 
Librarian, and one of the most eminent authorities on Indian history in 
the United States. The doctor is the proud possessor of a complete file 
of this valuable and interesting publication, which has become a very 
rare possession. 

The physical training, both indoors and out, was a most important 
part of the life of the school. Indians take naturally to many of our 
popular sports, and many athletes of national and even international 
reputation have been developed at the school. Most conspicuous of 
these is Jim Thorpe, the world’s champion all-around athlete, winner 
of the pentathlon event in the Olympic games; Chief Charles A. Bender, 


524 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the celebrated pitcher, a close second to Thorpe, while mention may also 
be made of Hudson, the Pierce brothers, Johnson, Metoxen and many 
others who have excelled above the average. 

General Pratt remained in charge of the school from its organiza¬ 
tion until his retirement from the superintendency, June 30, 1904, when 
he was succeeded by Major (then Captain) William A. Mercer, U. S. A. 


French and Indians Attack and Burn Fort 
Granville, August 1,1756 

ORT GRANVILLE was about one mile west of the present 
town of Lewistown, immediately on the north bank of the 
Juniata River and westward of the mouth of the Kishcoquil- 
las Creek about one mile. There was a spring in the enclosure 
of the fort which was destroyed when the canal was dug at that 
place. No other evidences of this fort are seen today. 

This was one of a chain of forts erected on the west side of the Sus¬ 
quehanna. Fort Shirley, at Aughwick, was fifteen miles southwest, and 
Fort Patterson, at Mexico, was fifteen miles northeast. 

The site commanded a narrow pass where the Juniata falls through 
the mountains; where a few men could hold it against a stronger 
enemy, as the rocks were high on each bank and extended six miles, so 
that the enemy could be easily detected advancing from either direction. 

When the stockade was completed it was garrisoned by a company of 
enlisted men, under regularly commissioned officers. George Croghan, 
the Indian trader, was directed to build the fort as is shown by a letter 
written by Captain Elisha Salter, dated Carlisle, April 4, 1756. 

The attack was made upon Fort Granville during the harvest of 
1756. The garrison at that time was commanded by Lieutenant Edward 
Armstrong, brother of General John Armstrong, who destroyed Kit¬ 
tanning. The Indians had been lurking about the stockade some time 
and knowing that the garrison was not strong, sixty of them appeared 
before the fort, July 22, and challenged the garrison to fight, which was 
declined by the commander on account of the weakness of his force. The 
Indians fired at one of the soldiers who was outside the stockade, but he 
succeeded in getting safely inside. 

The Indians divided their force into smaller parties, one attacked 
the Baskins plantation, near the Juniata, where they murdered Baskins, 
burned his house, and carried off his wife and children; another party 
made Hugh Cornell and his family prisoners. 

On the morning of July 30, Captain Edward Ward marched from 
Fort Granville, with a detachment destined for Tuscarora Valley, where 
they were needed to protect the settlers while harvesting their grain. 
The few remaining in defense of the post were commanded by Lieutenant 
Armstrong. 

Soon after the departure of Captain Ward’s detail, the fort was sud¬ 
denly surrounded by a hostile force of fifty French and a hundred In¬ 
dians, who immediately began a fierce attack, which they continued in 
their skulking Indian manner through the afternoon and night, but with¬ 
out inflicting much damage. About midnight the enemy got below the 

525 







526 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


bank of the river, and by a deep ravine reached to within twelve or fif¬ 
teen yards of the fort, and from that secure position were able to set fire 
to the logs of the fort, burning out a large hole, through which the 
Indians fired on the defenders as they fought the flames. Lieutenant 
Armstrong and one private soldier were killed and three wounded. 

The French commander ordered a suspension of hostilities, and de¬ 
manded the surrender of the fort and garrison, promising to spare their 
lives if the demands was accepted. Upon promise of quarter, a man 
named John Turner, previously a resident of Buffalo Valley, opened the 
gates and the besiegers at once entered and took possession. There was 
no commissioned officer to assume command and Turner acted on his own 
initiative, as was afterwards explained by a prisoner who survived. 

The French and Indians captured twenty-two men, three women and 
a number of children. The fort was then burned by Chief Jacobs, on 
the order of the French officer in command. The prisoners were lined 
up and driven by the Indians, each soldier carrying a heavy portion of 
the plunder secured in the fort, and in the several raids made on the 
settlers’ homes. 

The march to Kittanning was most terrible, the prisoners were hor¬ 
ribly whipped and punished when fatigue caused any to lag behind. 
When the party arrived at Kittanning, all the prisoners were cruelly 
treated, and Turner, the man who opened the gates of the fort to the 
savages, suffered the torture of being burned to death at the stake. He 
endured the most horrible torment for more than three hours, during 
which time red hot gun barrels were forced through parts of his body, 
his scalp was torn from his head and burning splinters of pine were 
stuck in his flesh until at last an Indian boy, who was held up for the 
purpose, sunk a tomahawk into his brain and released him from his 
misery. 

General Armstrong in a letter sent to Governor Morris, dated at 
Carlisle, August 20, 1756, said: “Captains Armstrong and Ward, whom 
I ordered on the march to Fort Shirley to examine everything at Fort 
Granville and send me a list of what remained among the ruins, assure 
me that they found some parts of eight of the enemy burnt in two differ¬ 
ent places, and part of their shirts through which there were bullet holes. 
To secrete these from the prisoners was doubtless the reason why the 
French officer marched our people some distance from the fort before he 
gave orders to burn the barracks, &c. 

“Walker says that some of the Germans flagged very much on the 
second day, and that the lieutenant (Armstrong) behaved with the 
greatest bravery to the last, despising all the terrors and threats of the 
enemy whereby they often urged him to surrender. Though he had been 
near two days without water, but little ammunition, the fort on fire, and 
the enemy situated within twelve or fourteen yards of the fort under the 
natural bank, he was as far from yielding as when first attacked. 


WESTMORELAND TROOPS MUSTERED 


527 


“A Frenchman, in our service, fearful of being burned up, asked 
leave of the lieutenant to treat with his countrymen in the French lan¬ 
guage. The Lieutenant answered, ‘The first word of French you speak 
in this engagement, I’ll blow your brains out,’ telling his men to hold 
out bravely, for the flame was falling and would soon have it extin¬ 
guished, but he soon after received the fatal ball.” 

The destruction of Fort Granville spread terror among the settlers 
west of the Susquehanna and they abandoned their settlements and fled 
in great haste to Fort Augusta and Carlisle. This attack on Fort Gran¬ 
ville resulted in the successful expedition of Col. John Armstrong against 
the Indians at Kittanning, where the English not only gained a signal 
victory, but the savages were taught a lesson which they ever remem¬ 
bered. 


Colonel Lochry Musters Westmoreland 
County Troops August 2,1781 

N 1781, General George Rogers Clark, of Virginia, raised an 
expedition, ostensibly to destroy the Indian towns of the 
Shawnee, Delaware, and Wyandot, which were situated on 
the Scioto, Muskingum and Sandusky Rivers, in what is now 
the State of Ohio, but his real and earnest purpose was the 
reduction of the British post at Detroit, and the winning by 
conquest of another empire for the Dominion of Virginia. 

At this time Virginia claimed ownership to that part of Pennsylvania, 
which laid west of the Laurel Hill range including what is now Fayette, 
Westmoreland, Green, Washington, Allegheny and part of Beaver Coun¬ 
ties. In spite of the fact that the boundary line had been settled in 1779, 
many of the inhabitants and officials still acknowledged allegiance to the 
Old Dominion. 

A force of volunteers to the number of one hundred was raised in 
Westmoreland County and placed under the command of that intrepid 
soldier, Colonel Archibald Lochry. 

Colonel Lochry’s command was composed of a company raised and 
commanded by Captain Thomas Stokely, another under Captain Samuel 
Shannon; a small company of riflemen under Captain Robert Orr, was 
raised in Hannastown, now Greensburg; and Captain William Campbell 
commanded a squad of horsemen. 

The men recruited for this service remained on their settlements 
until harvest was finished in July, and on August 1, rendezvoused at 
Carnaghan’s blockhouse, eleven miles northwest of Hannastown. Here 
they mustered August 2, and on the following day Colonel Lochry began 
his march to join General Clark at Wheeling. 








528 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The determined little band crossed the Youghiogheny at the site of 
West Newton, then crossed the Monongahela at Devore’s Ferry, where 
Monongahela City now stands; went overland by the settlements on the 
headwaters of Chartiers and Raccoon Creeks, and reached Fort Henry 
in the evening of Wednesday, August 8. 

Here was a disappointment. General Clark had left by boats early 
that morning, and he left a message that he would wait for Colonel 
Lochry at the mouth of Little Kanawha. But no boats were provided 
for Lochry’s command, and he waited at Wheeling four days, while 
seven boats were being built, but these four days were fatal. 

On August 13, Colonel Lochry embarked in the seven boats, the 
horses following along the shores of the river. At this time the Ohio was 
the dividing line between the white man’s country and that of the In¬ 
dians. The boats kept near the southern shore and all encampments 
were made on the left bank. Although Colonel Lochry did not know it, 
his men and their movements were watched by Indian spies who fol¬ 
lowed them through the forests and thickets on the opposite shore of 
the Ohio. 

Colonel Lochry met seventeen men at Fishing Creek, who had de¬ 
serted from Clark, who were making their way back to Fort Pitt. These 
he forced to join his party. At the Three Islands, Lochry found Major 
Charles Crascraft and six men who had been left by Clark in charge of 
a large house boat, intended for Lochry’s horses, which were put aboard, 
and this enabled the force to move with increased speed. 

On the following day, August 16, Colonel Lochry sent Captain 
Shannon and seven men in a small boat to endeavor to overtake Clark 
and beg him to leave some provisions for his command. Lochry’s flour 
was about exhausted, and food could only be secured by sending out 
hunters, whose excursions delayed progress. On August 17, the two 
men sent out for food failed to return, and were never heard from 
again. 

Three days later two of Captain Shannon’s men, half starved, were 
picked up from the southern shore. They told the story of the first 
disaster to Lochry’s command. This little detail had landed on the 
Kentucky shore to prepare a meal and the two survivors, with a ser¬ 
geant, had gone off to hunt. When they had gone a half mile into the 
woods, they heard the firing of guns in the direction of their camp. Fear¬ 
ing Indians had attacked the rest of Captain Shannon’s little party, 
these three were afraid to return to investigate and started to join 
Lochry. In scrambling through the thick underbrush the sergeant’s 
knife fell from its sheath, and, sticking point upward, the sergeant trod 
upon it, the blade passing through his foot, and the young man died in 
great agony in a few hours. 

The expedition suffered not only the death of Captain Shannon and 
his men but the Indians captured the letter from Colonel Lochry to 


WESTMORELAND TROOPS MUSTERED 


529 


General Clark, revealing the distressed condition of his men, through 
which information their doom was sealed. 

Lochry now realized that his movement down the stream was being 
watched by the savages from both shores, and for two days and nights 
no landing or halt was made. The little flotilla glided swiftly down the 
stream, until necessity compelled landing, to graze the horses and seek 
meat for the men. 

The boats approached the mouth of a small creek, in the forenoon of 
August 24. This creek has since been called Lochry’s Run. A buffalo 
was drinking at the river’s edge and a soldier brought it down, when 
Colonel Lochry ordered a landing, for here was meat and fine grass for 
the horses. 

No sooner had a landing been made than a hundred rifles cracked 
from the wooded bank, many white men were killed and many wounded. 

The men made for the boats and shoved off for the opposite shore. 
Painted savages then appeared, shrieking and firing, and a fleet of canoes 
filled with other savages shot out from the Kentucky shore, completely 
cutting off the escape of Lochry’s men. The volunteers returned the 
fire for a few moments, but were entrapped, and Colonel Lochry offered 
to surrender. The fight ceased, the boats poled back to shore and the 
force again landed. 

The Westmorelanders found themselves the prisoners of Joseph 
Brant, the most famous Mohawk Chief, who commanded a large force of 
Iroquois, Shawnee and Wyandot. George Girty, brother of the noto¬ 
rious Simon, also commanded an Indian force. The Shawnee could not 
be controlled and killed the prisoners they claimed as their share. While 
Colonel Lochry was sitting on a log a Shawnee warrior slipped up be¬ 
hind him and sank a tomahawk into his skull, tearing off his scalp before 
life was extinct. It was with great difficulty Brant was able to prevent 
the massacre of the men assigned to the Mohawk and Wyandot. 

In this massacre forty Westmoreland volunteers were slain, and sixty- 
four taken captives. Among those who escaped death were Captains 
Stokely and Orr, the latter being severely wounded. The dead were 
left unburied and the prisoners hurried away to Detroit, where most of 
them were turned over to the British, and afterward transferred to Mon¬ 
treal. Only nineteen of the men ever returned to Westmoreland 
County. 


530 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Civil Government in Pennsylvania Estab¬ 
lished at Meeting of Council 
August 3, 1681 

HEN William Penn was granted the charter for Pennsylvania, 
he and his heirs were constituted the true and absolute Pro¬ 
prietary of the country. Penn was empowered to establish 
laws, appoint officers, and to do other acts and things necessary 
to govern the country, including the right to erect manors. 
The first act of William Penn was to write a letter to the 
inhabitants of Pennsylvania, dated April 8, 1681. Two days later he 
appointed his cousin Captain William Markham deputy governor and 
commander-in-chief of the province, whom he clothed with full powers 
to put the machinery of the new government into motion. 

At what time Captain Markham sailed for America is not known, 
but we find him in New York, with the King’s letter in June, which, 
with his commission, he laid before the council and commander in the 
absence of Governor Andros. 

On June 21, the authorities at New York addressed a letter to the 
justice and other magistrates on the Delaware notifying them of the 
change of government. 

Markham departed from New York a few days later and repaired 
to Pennsylvania to enter upon his duties, bearing with him Penn’s letter 
to the inhabitants, which assured them that they should be governed 
by laws of their own making, and would receive the most ample protec¬ 
tion to person and property. 

Markham was authorized to call a council of nine, which met and 
organized August 3, from which time we may date the establishment of a 
civil government in Pennsylvania. 

There was very little interference in the established order of things, 
and the people found a mild ruler in the deputy governor. 

The seat of government was fixed at Upland, the present Chester. 
The old court closed its session September 13, and the new court opened 
the next day. 

Among the business transacted at the opening of the new court was 
the appointment of William Biles and Robert Lucas, who lived at the 
falls, justices of the peace. Pounds, shillings, and pence were declared 
to be the currency of the country. But it was difficult to get rid of the 
guilders after they had been so long in circulation. 

Markham was instructed by William Penn to select a site, and 
build for him a dwelling, and he chose the spot whereon Pennsbury 
house was erected, in Falls Township, Bucks County. 






CIVIL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED 


531 


On September 30, William Penn appointed William Crispin, John 
Bezar, and Christopher Allen, commissioners, to go to Pennsylvania 
with power to purchase land of the Indians and to select site for, and 
lay out a great city. About this same time he appointed James Harri¬ 
son his “lawful agent,” to sell for him any parcel of land in Pennsyl¬ 
vania of not less than 250 acres. 

Silas Crispen was appointed surveyor-general, and sailed with this 
commission but, dying on the voyage, Captain Thomas Holme was ap¬ 
pointed in his place and commissioned April 18, 1682. 

Among the earliest acts of Markham and the commissioners was the 
selection of a site for a great city, which resulted in the founding of 
Philadelphia. Soundings along the west side of the Delaware River 
were made to ascertain “where most ships may best ride of deepest 
draft of water.” 

The growth of the new “city” was remarkable from its very incep¬ 
tion. Within a few months Philadelphia contained eighty houses, and 
more than 300 farms were laid out and partly cleared. 

In the summer of 1684 the city contained 357 houses, many of 
them large and well-built, with cellars. A year later the number of 
houses had increased to 600. There were nearly 3000 souls in the 
city at this time. 

William Penn sailed for Pennsylvania in the ship Welcome, of 
300 tons burden, Captain Robert Greenway, September 1, 1682, ac¬ 
companied by 100 emigrants, mostly Friends. 

He first landed at New Castle October 27, and then at Upland 
on the 29th. On November 9, Penn visited Philadelphia. 

Penn was very favorably impressed with virgin Pennsylvania. Pas- 
torius writes that Penn found the air so perfumed that it seemed to him 
like an orchard in full bloom; that the trees and shrubs were every¬ 
where covered with leaves, and filled with birds, which, by their beauti¬ 
ful colors and delightful notes proclaimed the praise of their Creator. 

Penn’s policy from the beginning of his province was to extinguish 
the Indian title to his grant of Pennsylvania by purchase. This he did 
in fact, and the several treaty purchases made by him were executed 
fairly and honorably. 

At the first provincial assembly held at Philadelphia, in March, 
1683, a number of acts were passed necessary to put Penn’s government 
in operation. The country was divided into three counties, Philadelphia, 
Chester, and Bucks, and their boundaries fixed. A house of correction 
was ordered for each county, 24x16 feet, in size. 

The poor, who received relief from the county, with their families, 
were obliged to wear the letter P made of red or blue cloth, with the 
first letter of the name of the place they inhabited, in a conspicuous place 
upon the shoulder of the right sleeve. 

The county court was authorized to fix a price on linen and 


532 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


woolen cloth, justices were to regulate wages of servants and women; 
a meal of victuals was fixed at seven pence half-penny, and beer at a 
penny a quart. 

The products of the farms were to be received in payment of debts. 
Each settler of three years was to sow a bushel of barley, and persons 
were to be punished who put water in rum. 

The civil government as established August 3, 1681, was soon func¬ 
tioning. 


Saturday Evening Post Launched from 
Gazette, August 4, 1821 

N HIS excellent and interesting “A Man from Maine,” Ed¬ 
ward W. Bok devotes a chapter to the story of the purchase 
and development of The Saturday Evening Post by Cyrus H. 
K. Curtis. This chapter is styled “The Story of the ‘Singed 
Cat.’ ” 

Mr. Curtis was born in Portland, Maine, June 18, 1850. 
He went to Philadelphia in 1876, and seven years later started The 
Ladies’ Home Journal. 

Mr. Curtis first developed the Ladies Home Journal and then 
turned his energy and wonderful organization to a magazine for men. 

Somehow he fixed his mind upon The Saturday Evening Post as 
the medium through which he was to realize his pet dream. Mr. Bok 
is authority for the statement that Mr. Curtis himself does not remem¬ 
ber how he came to fix up this old paper, but says that the publication 
had always attracted him as he met it each week in his exchanges as a 
legacy left to Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin, who, in 1728, founded 
the paper under the title of The Pennsylvania Gazette. 

Franklin edited and published this paper for a number of years, and 
then sold it to his grandson. Meanwhile six other papers of all sorts 
had been born in Philadelphia, all having as part of their title the word 
Gazette. So in 1821, to avoid a constant confusion of names, the 
name was changed to The Saturday Evening Post, August 4, 1821. 

The spirit of enterprise of that early day must have been put into the 
venture, for in 1839, it had a circulation of thirty-five thousand copies, 
the largest circulation of that day of any weekly in the United States. 
The most famous statesmen and writers of the time were among its con¬ 
tributors, and it ranked as the most important publication of the time. 

The Saturday Evening Post, like other old newspapers, frequently 
passed into various ownerships, nearly all of whom were Philadelphians, 
but a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y., owned it for a time, although the place 
of publication remained at Philadelphia, and finally it passed into the 






SATURDAY EVENING POST 


533 


possession of Albert Smyth, of Philadelphia, whose publication it was 
when Mr. Curtis went to Philadelphia in 1876, to begin the career 
which has made him the most successful and most beloved of all pub¬ 
lishers in all the world. 

During the time that Philadelphia was in possession of the British, 
under Lord Howe, the publication was suspended, but after the last 
British “Tommy” marched away, the paper was revived and from that 
time to this day it has never missed an issue. With this record of over a 
century Mr. Smyth was justly proud and its ownership was a matter of 
pride, as well as the distinguished record of long service. He was fond 
of its history and tradition, and as he and Mr. Curtis were friends, it 
is not improbable that the latter’s interest in this old paper was fos¬ 
tered during these chats, and he began a little search on his own ac¬ 
count for the intimate history of the paper, and before long, Mr. Curtis 
knew quite as much about it as did its proud owner. 

Yet the paper was losing out, the circulation was steadily and surely 
diminishing, no one seemed to care. The editorship was entrusted to a 
reporter of the Philadelphia Times, who devoted his odd moments upon 
The Saturday Evening Post, at the elegant salary of ten dollars a week, 
and the articles published were just what a ten dollar editor would be 
expected to use. 

A man with the vision and patriotism of Mr. Curtis could not help 
feeling regret that a paper with such traditions was allowed to run 
down, and he began to bargain with Mr. Smyth. 

True it was only a name, but it had a long history and valuable 
heritage. Best of all, Benjamin Franklin had founded it, and that was 
an asset upon which Mr. Curtis could build. 

Mr. Smyth went to Chicago, where he was interested in a gas project, 
and left The Saturday Evening Post in charge of a friend named Brady, 
but in 1897 Smyth died, leaving a sister as his only heir. She could not 
or would not finance the publication, and Brady turned to Mr. Curtis 
for the money to get out that week’s issue. 

To Brady’s surprise Mr. Curtis told him that the name of the paper 
was not protected with a copyright, and that if the sister did not put up 
the money and an issue was missed anyone could take up the name. 

Brady’s lawyer confirmed the statement. Mr. Curtis said he would 
not do anything like that, but told Brady he had nothing to sell. 
“However, I’ll give you one thousand dollars for the paper, type and 
all.” 

Mr. Curtis became the owner of the paper, and sent a young man in 
his establishment with a wagon to the printing office to bring away the 
battered type, and as soon as it arrived, that week’s issue was printed, so 
as to save the right to the title by continuous publication. 

At this time the subscription list was about two thousand and soon 
as Mr. Curtis improved the paper these few subscribers cancelled their 


534 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


subscriptions, when it was learned that the new owner had in fact pur¬ 
chased only the title and name of Benjamin Franklin. 

The outlook for the future for this new venture was so gloomy that 
men in his employ called it “the singed cat.” 

Mr. Curtis selected George Horace Lorimer, of Boston, as the 
editor and he got behind him, even in the face of the most discouraging 
criticism, but neither Mr. Curtis nor Mr. Lorimer ever for a single 
moment doubted that the project would make good. A half million 
dollars were spent upon advertising the periodical, and at one time the 
loss totalled nearly a million dollars, but during all this period there was 
being developed just the kind of a paper that Mr. Curtis wanted The 
Saturday Evening Post to be. 

Then the circulation grew and when it reached five hundred thou¬ 
sand copies the advertisers began to use its pages, and Mr. Curtis had 
now put into the paper a million and a quarter dollars. Then the paper 
appeared with a “circulation of one million copies” printed on the cover, 
and the fight was won. 

The circulation is now in excess of two million, and is, without a 
doubt, the greatest publication in the history of journalism. 

The Curtis Publishing Company publish The Ladies Home Journal, 
The Saturday Evening Post, The Country Gentleman, The Public 
Ledger and The Evening Public Ledger and the output of this plant is 
six hundred and fifty thousand complete magazines, each working day, 
and all this in addition to seventy-three million newspapers each year. 

More than one hundred railroad cars each month are required to 
circulate the magazines, as the Ladies Home Journal goes to one out of 
every ten women in the United States and The Saturday Evening Post 
goes into more than one out of every ten homes in this country. Such 
is the story of not only Pennsylvania’s oldest and best magazine, but the 
largest and most successful in the world. 


Patrick Gordon, Administrator of Penn’s 
Will, Died August 5, 1736 

ILLIAM PENN was financially involved when stricken and 
during the six years he suffered until relieved by death, July 
30, 1718, did not place his affairs in more favorable condition. 

The Province of Pennsylvania was encumbered by Pro¬ 
prietary’s mortgage given in 1708, and by his contract with the 
Crown for the sale of the government. His will, which was 
drawn in 1712, was in contemplation of this contract. 

To his only surviving son, William, by his first marriage, he be¬ 
queathed all his estates in England and Ireland, which, producing fifteen 







PATRICK GORDON, ADMINISTRATOR 


535 


hundred pounds sterling per annum, were estimated of greater value 
than his American possessions. 

By his first wife, Gulielma Maria Springett, he had issue of three 
sons, William, Springett and William, and four daughters, Gulielma, 
Margaret, Gulielma and Letitia. From his American possession he made 
provision for the payment of his debts, and for his widow, Hannah 
Callowhill and four sons, John, Thomas, Richard and Dennis. To his 
wife, Hannah, whom he made the sole executrix of his estate, he gave 
for the equal benefit of herself and her children, all his personal estate 
in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, after paying all debts, and alloting ten 
thousand acres of land in the Province to his daughter Letitia, by his 
first marriage, and each of the three children of his son William, and 
to convey the remainder at the discretion of his widow, to her children, 
subject to an annuity to herself of £300 sterling per annum. 

Doubts having arisen as to the force of the provisions of this will, it 
was finally determined to institute a suit in chancery for its determina¬ 
tion. Before a decision was reached in March, 1720, William Penn, 
Jr., died, and while it Was still pending, his son, Springett, died. 

During the more than nine years of litigation, Hannah Penn, as 
executrix of the will, assumed the Proprietary power, issued instructions 
to her Lieutenant-Governor, heard complaints and settled differences 
with the skill and assurance of a veteran diplomat. In 1727 a decision 
was reached that, upon the death of William Penn, Jr., and his son 
Springett, the proprietary rights in Pennsylvania descended to the three 
surviving sons, John, Thomas and Richard, issue by the second marriage. 

The Province now entered upon a period of great prosperity. The 
almost unbounded confidence of the Province in Governor Keith en¬ 
abled him, in 1720, to establish two measures hitherto repugnant to the 
Assembly, and equity court, dependent on the Governor’s will, of which 
he was chancellor, and a militia organized by like authority. 

The great influx of foreigners alarmed the Assembly, who feared 
their settlement on the frontier. Attempts to naturalize them were 
treated with coldness. Even the Governor, whose industry and utility 
were proverbial, could not remove the jealousy. 

Many Palatines, long resident in the Province, applied for naturali¬ 
zation in 1721, but not until 1724 was leave granted to bring in a bill, 
and then conditioned upon the proviso that they should individually ob¬ 
tain from the justice of the peace a certificate of the value of their prop¬ 
erty, and nature of their religious faith. A bill to that effect reached 
the Governor the following year, but he returned it on the ground that 
in a country where English liberty and law prevailed, a scrutiny into the 
private conversation and faith of the citizens, and particularly into their 
estates, was unjust and dangerous in precedent. The House yielded, 
but it was not for some time that the privilege of subjects were granted 
to the Palatines. 


536 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Following the death of Springett Penn and Mrs. Hannah Penn, the 
Assembly conceived that the authority of Governor Patrick Gordon 
was determined, and accordingly refused to act upon a message which 
he had sent them, and adjourned themselves to the last day of their 
term. 

A new commission, signed by John, Thomas and Richard Penn, in 
whom the government was now vested, was received by Governor 
Gordon in October. When the King gave his approbation to this new 
commission he reserved as the right of the Crown, the government of the 
Lower Counties on the Delaware. 

Patrick Gordon who served as Deputy Governor from July 26, 
1726, to his death had been a soldier in the regular army, serving from 
his youth to near the close of Queen Anne’s reign, with a high reputation. 
He was appointed successor of Governor Keith by the family, and for¬ 
mally proposed to the Crown by Springett Penn, their heir-at-law. 

He arrived in the Province with his family in the summer of 1726, 
and met the Assembly during the first week of August. In his first ad¬ 
dress he alluded to the fact of his having been a soldier, that he conse¬ 
quently knew nothing of the crooked ways of professed politicians and 
must rely upon a blunt, straightforward course in his communications 
with them in his administration of the government. His whole public 
career seems to have been characterized by this same frankness and in¬ 
tegrity. 

Governor Gordon took prompt measures to apprehend and punish 
worthless drunken Indians who committed outrages. He concluded 
several very important treaties with the Six Nations, and attended these 
in person. He published “Two Indians Treaties at Conestogoe,” in 
1728. 

Governor Gordon died August 5, 1736. His administration was in 
all respects a happy one. The unanimity of the Assembly, the Council 
and the Governor, gave an uninterrupted course to the prosperity of the 
Province. The wisdom which guided her counsels was strongly por¬ 
trayed in her internal peace, increased population, improved morals and 
thriving commerce. The death of Governor Gordon was equally la¬ 
mented by the Proprietaries and the people. 

Upon the death of Governor Gordon, the administration of the gov¬ 
ernment again devolved on the Council, of which James Logan was presi¬ 
dent. He so governed until August, 1738, when Sir George Thomas, a 
wealthy planter, of the island of Antigua, was appointed by the Proprie¬ 
taries. Governor Thomas immediately devoted his energies toward the 
settlement of the boundary dispute, by which it was mutually agreed, 
that matters should rest along the border, until final settlement of the 
boundary lines. 

The famous “Indian Walk” was performed by Edward Marshall, 
and others on September 19, 1737. This walk, according to Charles 


COLONEL BOUQUET’S STRATAGEM 


537 


Thomson, was the cause of jealousies and heart burnings among the In¬ 
dians, which eventually broke out in loud complaints of injustice and 
atrocious acts of savage vengeance. The very first murder committed 
by them aftor this deception was on the very land from which they be¬ 
lieved themselves cheated. 


Colonel Bouquet Defeats Indians by Strata¬ 
gem at Bushy Run, August 6, 1763 

N 1763 the savages, angered by the losses of the French and by 
finding the English settlers pressing upon them, organized what 
has been called a conspiracy under Pontiac. It nearly suc¬ 
ceeded and many English forts were captured. 

In Pennsylvania there were many murders and burnings all 
around Forts Pitt, Le Boeuf, Presque Isle and Ligonier; many 
were killed at Bedford and Carlisle, and even Fort Augusta, on the Sus¬ 
quehanna at Sunbury, was seriously threatened. 

Colonel Henry Bouquet, an energetic and capable officer, took a bat¬ 
talion of the Royal American Regiment and two companies of High¬ 
landers and English and started from Philadelphia for Fort Pitt. 

Upon his arrival he found Carlisle crowded with fugitives, and 
learned that Presque Isle, Le Boeuf and Venango, now English forts, 
had fallen. Homes were burning all through the neighboring valleys. 

With five hundred men Bouquet pushed over the mountain to Bed¬ 
ford and Fort Ligonier, which he relieved from a siege just in time. 
At Bedford thirty hunters with rifles joined him. He heard from Fort 
Pitt that the commander and nine others had been wounded. 

Bouquet resolved to leave behind the oxen and wagons, which formed 
the most cumbersome part of the convoy. Thus relieved, the army re¬ 
sumed its march August 4, taking with them 350 pack horses and a few 
cattle, and at nightfall encamped at no great distance from Ligonier. 

Within less than a day’s march lay the dangerous defiles of Turtle 
Creek. Fearing that the enemy would lay in ambuscade at this place, 
Bouquet determined to march on the following day as far as a small 
stream called Bushy Run, to rest there until night and then, by a forced 
march, to cross Turtle Creek under cover of the darkness. 

On the morning of August 5, the tents were struck at an early hour, 
and the troops began their march through a rough country, everywhere 
covered with a tall, dense forest. 

By noon they had advanced to within less than a mile of Bushy Run. 
Suddenly the report of rifles from the front sent a thrill along the 
ranks. The firing became terrific, while the shouts and whoops showed 
that the advance guard was hotly engaged. The two foremost com- 








538 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


panies were sent to support it, but far from abating, the fire grew so 
furious that it revealed the presence of an enemy at once numerous and 
resolute. 

The convoy was halted, the troops formed into line, arid a general 
charge ordered. Bearing down through the forest with fixed bayonets, 
they drove the yelping savages before them, and swept the ground clear. 

At this very moment of success, a fresh burst of whoops and firing 
was heard from either flank, while noise from the rear showed that the 
convoy was attacked. The column fell back for its support, drove off 
the assailants, and formed in a circle around the terrified horses. No 
man lost his composure, but each displayed implicit confidence in their 
commander. 

Now ensued a combat most discouraging. Again and again, now one 
side and now on the other, a crowd of Indians rushed up, pouring in a 
heavy fire, in their effort to break into the circle. A well directed volley 
met them, followed by a charge of the bayonet. The Indians fled behind 
trees, few of them were hurt, while the English suffered severely. 

Thus the fight went on without intermission for seven hours, until 
approaching night, when the Indian fire slackened, and the exhausted 
soldiers found time to rest. 

It was impossible to change their ground in the enemy’s presence, 
and the troops were obliged to encamp where the combat had taken 
place, though not a drop of water was to be found there. 

Bouquet, doubtful of surviving the battle of the morrow, wrote to 
Sir Jeffrey Amherst, in a few, clear, concise words, an account of the 
day’s events. 

The condition of the troops was deplorable. About sixty soldiers, 
besides several officers, had been killed or disabled. A space in the 
center of the camp was prepared for the care of the wounded, and sur¬ 
rounded by a wall built of bags of flour. Here they lay upon the ground, 
enduring agonies of thirst, as well as of pain. 

The situation of those who hitherto escaped was not an enviable 
one. In event of defeat, a fate inexpressibly horrible waited them, while 
even victory did not assure their safety, since so many wounded comrades 
made it difficult to transport them. On the other side the enemy were 
exulting in the fullest confidence of success. 

With the earliest dawn of day there broke out a general burst of 
those horrid yells which form the prelude of an Indian battle. Instantly 
from every side the fire poured in with deadly aim. 

At each furious rush the savages were repulsed. The English, mad¬ 
dened more by the torments of thirst than the fire of the enemy, fought 
furiously. But the enemy saw their distress and pressed them closer 
and more desperately. 

The center of the camp was all confusion. The horses broke away 
a dozen at a time and stampeded through the wounded troops. At ten 


GOVERNOR DENNY AND TEDYUSKUNG 539 


o’clock the circle was yet unbroken, but there had been many killed. 
If the day was to be saved, the effort must be made at once and Bouquet 
was equal to the emergency. 

In the midst of the confusion he conceived a masterly stratagem. 
Could the Indians be brought together in a body and made to stand their 
ground, there could be little doubt of the result. Bouquet instructed 
the men who were in the most exposed place to give way. The Indians 
mistook this movement for a retreat. Confident that their victory was 
sure, they leaped up on all sides and rushed headlong towards the spot. 

Here they found themselves between two deadly fires and with the 
reserve troops blocking their retreat they were utterly routed. The 
Highlanders, with yells as wild as their own, fell on them with bayonet. 
The shock was irresistible and they fled before the charging ranks, not a 
living Indian remained near the spot. Among the dead were found 
several prominent chiefs. 

The battle of Bushy Run was the best contested battle ever fought 
between white men and Indians. It was the most serious defeat ever 
inflicted upon the- savages down to that time. 

With the loss of eight officers and 115 men, Bouquet reached Fort 
Pitt August 10. It was a joyous moment both to the troops and the 
garrison, which had been surrounded and hotly pressed by the Indians 
since July 28. 

The next year Bouquet led an expedition beyond the Ohio, but the 
Indians sued for peace and he compelled them to bring all their cap¬ 
tives to Fort Pitt, where their friends could identify them. 


Indian Council Between Governor Denny 
and Tedyuskung Ended at Easton 
August 7, 1757 

HE fact that the great Delaware King Tedyuskung was not 
present at the important council at Lancaster in April, 1757, 
caused much more concern in the Provincial Government than 
is usually th^ case when one person of importance fails to at¬ 
tend. The Delaware Indians were still chafing under the re¬ 
buke they received at the hands of Canassetoga, the great On¬ 
ondaga Chief Sachem, and the Six Nations, who ordered them from the 
lands at the Forks of the Delaware River to the Wyoming and Shamokin 
Valleys. 

Soon as the Lancaster council was concluded, messengers were dis¬ 
patched to Tedyuskung and to the Seneca and Shawnee, inviting them 
to hold a treaty with the- English. 








540 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


On June 16, Sir Wm. Johnson held a general conference with the 
Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca, of the Six Nations, at his estate “Fort 
Johnson,” in which he strongly urged these tribes to come to the support 
of the English in their warfare against the French. He severely cen¬ 
sured Tedyuskung and the Seneca for their conduct. 

The Indian messengers, Nathanial and Zacharias, failed to find 
Tedyuskung at Wyoming, and journeyed to the Seneca villages in New 
York where they found the King and delivered the Governor’s mes¬ 
sage. Tedyuskung and the messengers immediately set out for Penn¬ 
sylvania, and on their way met Joe Peepy, Shikellamy’s son, and. Tap- 
escawen, the two messengers sent out by the Lancaster Council in quest 
of Tedyuskung. Nathanial and Zacharias hastened on to advise the 
Governor that Tedyuskung and his followers would set out from Tioga 
for Easton the middle of June. 

Tedyuskung and his retinue arrived at Fort Allen July 3, 200 
strong and waited there for the arrival of 100 Seneca. On July 8, 155 
men, women and children followed Tedyuskung out of Fort Allen to¬ 
ward Easton, and a few days later 117 Seneca and other Six Nations’ 
Indians arrived at Easton, via Wyoming; among the Seneca delegation 
were old King Nutimus and “French Margaret.” 

Governor Denny, accompanied by members of the Council, Board of 
Indian Commissioners and a large number of citizens, including many 
Quakers, arrived at Easton, July 20,* and the next day the conference 
with the Indians was formally begun. Colonel Conrad Weiser and 
Colonel George Croghan were in attendance as interpreters and agents; 
there were more than 300 Indians representing ten nations, and Tedyus¬ 
kung claimed authority over them all. 

Tedyuskung demanded a clerk and refused to participate until fur¬ 
nished one, when a long debate ensued, but the old king won his point 
and chose Charles Thomson; Thomson exercised great influence over 
Tedyuskung and was his counsel as well as clerk. 

The conference proceeded in peace. Tedyuskung declared it was 
time to declare mutual friendship and gave the Governor a belt of 
wampum. The Governor rejoiced in this expression of alliance and 
gave the Delaware a fine belt of wampum. This was a large belt with 
the figures of three men worked in the wampum, representing King 
George, taking hold of the King of the Five Nations with one hand, 
and Tedyuskung with the other, and marked “G. R., 5 N and D. K.,” 
for King George, Five Nations and Delaware King. 

On Saturday, August 6, Paxinosa, with Abraham, the Mohegan 
Chief, arrived at Easton, with about sixty of their people. The Gover¬ 
nor personally welcomed the newcomers to the council. 

The most important matter broached by Tedyuskung touched on the 
future home of the Delaware. He then asked that persons be sent to 
instruct them to build permanent houses of a better class, and that other 


GOVERNOR DENNY AND TEDYUSKUNG 541 


persons be sent “to instruct us in Christian religion, and instruct our 
children in reading and writing.” 

Tedyuskung then expressed a desire that the Governor would send 
people to Wyoming during the coming fall or nearly next Spring, that a 
little fort might be built. The Indians would then move down from 
Tioga, about the beginning of May. 

The conference came to an end on Sunday, August 7. The Governor 
and his attendants left for Bethlehem, enroute to Philadelphia. The fol¬ 
lowing day many Indians were escorted by Conrad Weiser and a de¬ 
tachment of Provincials under Captain Jacob Arndt, towards Bethlehem. 

The “Memorials of the Moravian Church” says, “Some of these 
unwelcome visitors halted for a few days and some proceeded as far as 
Fort Allen and then returned, undecided as to where to go and what to 
do. During the month full 200 were counted—men, women and chil¬ 
dren—among them lawless crowds who annoyed the Brethren by de¬ 
predations, molested the Indians at Manakasy, and wrangled with each 
other over their cup at “The Crown.” 

Tedyuskung, Abraham and Paxinosa set out from Fort Allen for 
Tioga, August 17, the former with a new saddle and bridle, and a sup¬ 
ply of snuff, gingerbread, soap and other luxuries—in addition to the 
gifts he had received at the treaty. 

When near Tunkhannock, this company was met by three Indian 
messengers, with a Peace Belt and four-fold string of wampum, for 
Tedyuskung from the two principal chiefs in the Ohio region. The 
King gave the Peace Belt he had received at Easton into the hands of 
one of his sons and messengers, directing them to carry it with a mes¬ 
sage which he dictated to the Ohio chiefs. Then he left his companions 
and started back to Bethlehem, where he arrived August 25. Five days 
later he arrived in Philadelphia and delivered the message from the Ohio 
Indians to the Governor and Council. 

Tedyuskung urged the prompt assistance of the government in help¬ 
ing them locate at Wyoming, and a week later the Governor and Council 
decided to send proper persons to build a fort and houses for the Dela¬ 
ware. After much discussion it was decided to send John Hughes, one 
of the Indian Commissioners, Edward Shippen, prothonotary of the 
Lancaster County courts, and James Galbraith, also of Lancaster, and 
a prominent citizen to undertake the journey to Wyoming. On 
October 5, 1757, they set out and satisfactorily fulfilled the mission 
on which they were sent. 


542 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Indians Surprise Reapers and Mortally 
Wound James Brady August 8,1778 

URING the first several years of the Revolution no section 
of Pennsylvania suffered more from the incursions of the hos¬ 
tile Indians than along both branches of the Susquehanna 
River, where nearly every man capable of bearing arms re¬ 
sponded to the call and left his home and fireside in the care 
of aged men or young men of his family. 

The Indians had taken a heavy toll along the West Branch, so 
small numbers of local militia and a few provincials garrisoned the sev¬ 
eral stockades erected as places of refuge for the inhabitants, when the 
Indians were reported by the scouts to be approaching. 

August 8, 1778, a party of Indians fell upon a number of reapers 
and cruelly murdered young James Brady. The circumstances of the 
tragic affair, and the prominence of the victim and his illustrious 
family make the story one of value. 

Colonel Thomas Hartley had been sent by General Washington to 
guard the West Branch Valley, and after arriving at Fort Augusta 
with his command, it was determined he should proceed to Muncy, erect 
a stockade, and from that place distribute his soldiers to points where 
they were most needed. 

On the fatal day a corporal and three militiamen were ordered to go 
to Loyalsock and protect fourteen reapers and cradlers who were as¬ 
sisting Peter Smith, the unfortunate man who lost his wife and four 
children in the massacre, at what is now Williamsport, June 10. 
Smith’s farm was on Bull Run, nearly three miles east of Williams¬ 
port, and on the north side of the river. 

It was the custom in those days of unusual peril, when no com¬ 
missioned officer was present, for the company to select a leader, who 
was called “Captain,” and to obey him accordingly. Young James 
Brady, on account of his shrewdness, dash and well known bravery, was 
selected to take command of the party. 

“Captain” Brady stationed a few sentinels and the rest proceeded to 
the work at hand on Friday, August 7. At sundown four of the party 
left and returned to Fort Muncy. The balance of the detail commenced 
work early the next day; the morning was foggy. 

Not an hour had passed before the workers were surprised by the 
stealthy approach of a large band of Indians, who were able to draw near 
under the cover of the fog before being discovered. 

The sentinels discharged their rifles at the savages and ran towards 
the reapers. A panic ensued and they all fled with the exception of young 







INDIANS SCALP JAMES BRADY 


543 


Brady, who ran for his rifle, closely pursued by three Indians. When 
almost within reach of his gun, an Indian shot at Brady, who was prob¬ 
ably saved by his timely fall over a sheaf of wheat. When he grasped 
for his rifle he was shot in the arm, but succeeded in killing the Indian 
who fired at him. 

Brady grabbed a second rifle and as quickly dispatched another In¬ 
dian, but the savages now closed in on him, and he fought bravely until 
a warrior struck him with his tomahawk and another pierced him with 
a spear, which felled him to the ground. Brady had no sooner fallen 
than his scalp was torn from his head, and a young Indian was called 
upon to strike him with his tomahawk. The Indians then fled in great 
haste. 

Brady recovered consciousness, and succeeded by walking and creep¬ 
ing, in reaching the cabin of an old man, named Jerome Vanness, near 
the bank of the river, who had been employed to cook for Brady and his 
companions while on this tour of duty. 

Vanness heard the firing and had concealed himself, but on seeing 
Brady approach, rushed to his assistance. Brady urged the aged man to 
fly for his own safety, but he refused to leave his “captain,” and dressed 
his terrible wounds as best he could. 

Brady requested to be assisted down to the river, where he drank 
much water, and lay until Vanness went back for his gun. 

When the terrified reapers and militiamen reached Fort Muncy, 
Captain Andrew Walker hurried a detail to Smith’s farm. On ap¬ 
proaching the spot where the gallant Brady lay weltering in his blood, 
he heard the relief party, and supposing them to be Indians, imme¬ 
diately jumped to his feet, cocked his rifle, and prepared to defend 
himself. 

When Brady found the party to be friends, he requested to be taken 
to his mother, who was visiting among relatives at Sunbury. 

He was tenderly cared for, placed in a canoe, and taken rapidly down 
the river. During the trip of nearly thirty miles he became delirious. 

When the party arrived at Sunbury, although it was nearly mid¬ 
night, his mother met the canoe at the landing and assisted to convey 
her wounded son to the house. 

Brady presented a frightful appearance and the grief of his mother 
was pitiable. He lived five days, dying in the arms of his devoted 
mother, August 13, 1778. 

On the day of his death his reason returned and he related with 
much detail the bloody scene through which he had passed. 

Some writers have stated that Chief Bald Eagle scalped him, and 
that his brother, Captain Samuel Brady, afterwards avenged his death 
by shooting Bald Eagle through the heart. 

The unfortunate young hero was buried near Fort Augusta. He 
was mourned by all who knew him. 


544 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


James Brady was the second son of Captain John and Mary Brady, 
and a younger brother of Captain Samuel Brady, the famous scout and 
Indian killer. He was born in 1758, while his parents lived at Ship- 
pensburg, Cumberland County, and was in his twenty-first year at the 
time of his tragic death. 

Many anecdotes of the Brady family have been handed down, and 
one relating to James is interesting. The men of that time wore their 
hair long, plaited and cued behind the head. James had a remarkably 
fine head of fiery red hair. A neighbor remarked that she feared the 
Indians would get this red scalp. James replied: “If they do, it will 
make them a bright light of a dark night.” In less than a week the 
noble youth fell beneath the cruel tomahawk and the savages had his 
red scalp. 

His father, Captain John Brady, was murdered near Muncy by the 
Indians, April 11, 1779, while home on a leave of absence from the Con¬ 
tinental Army. 


General John Bull, Distinguished Officer of 
Revolutionary War, Died August 9, 1824 

MONG the early patriots of the Revolution was Colonel John 
Bull, and he was quite as much a distinguished citizen and 
statesman. John Bull was born in 1730, in Providence Town¬ 
ship, now Montgomery County. He was appointed captain in 
the Provincial service, May 12, 1758, and the following 
month was in command of the garrison at Fort Allen. 

In October the same year he accompanied General John Forbes’ 
expedition for the reduction of Fort Duquesne, and rendered important 
service in the negotiations with the Indians. The instructions to Cap¬ 
tain Bull were dated Easton, October 21, 1758, and are most specific. 
He and William Hayes had voluntered to carry important messages to 
the Indians on the Ohio. 

Pesquetomen and Thomas Hickman, two Delaware Indians from 
the Ohio, accompanied the provincial messengers, who set out in Octo¬ 
ber, going by way of Reading and Fort Henry to Fort Augusta, where 
they were equipped and supplied with such articles as they needed. 
They carried belts of wampum and even the outlines of the speeches they 
were to make to the western Indians when in council. This mission was 
performed to the entire satisfaction of the Provincial Government and 
John Bull became at once a trusted official on important occasions. 

In 1771 Captain Bull owned the Norris plantation and mill, and was 
residing there at the opening of the Revolution. This is on the present 
site of Norristown. He was a delegate to the Provincial Conferences 





GENERAL JOHN BULL 


545 


of January 23, 1775, and of June 18, 1775, and a member of the 
Provincial Convention of July 15, 1776. 

The First Pennsylvania Battalion was raised in pursuance of a reso¬ 
lution of Congress, October 12, 1775. The field officers were elected by 
Congress, November 25, and John Bull was commissioned a colonel. 

On January 20, 1776, the Colonel resigned in a communication to 
Congress setting forth that he was ill-treated by many of the officers 
and that nearly one-half of them threatened to resign if he continued in 
command. He also stated that this circumstance would not alter his con¬ 
duct or abate his zeal, and whenever called upon again to serve his 
country, he would, with the greatest pleasure, obey the summons. Col¬ 
onel Bull was succeeded by Colonel John Philip DeHaas, of Lebanon, 
who was commissioned two days later. 

Colonel Bull served as one of the Commissioners at the important 
Indian treaty held at Easton, January 30, 1777; in February he was in 
command of the works at Billingsport. 

The Supreme Executive Council created the Board of War, March 
13, 1777, and named Colonel John Bull as one of the original members. 
They organized the following day. 

On May 2, he was commissioned colonel of the State Regiment of 
Foot, which was organized with the residue of the battalions of Colonels 
Samuel Miles and Samuel J. Atlee, as a nucleus. June 2 this regiment 
was stationed at Fort Mercer, under command of Colonel Bull, its 
strength being four hundred and sixty-three. 

As Colonel Bull was not an officer of either battalion, the other of¬ 
ficers claimed his appointment ruined their rank, and as the regiment 
was put in the Continental service, June 10, 1777, the Supreme Execu¬ 
tive Council appointed Colonel Bull adjutant general of the militia of 
Pennsylvania, and appointed Walter Stewart to the command of the 
regiment, which participated at Brandywine and Germantown. 

He was also colonel of the Sixth Battalion of Associators, of Phila¬ 
delphia, during 1777. During October of this year, Colonel Bull’s 
barns, barracks, grain and hay were burned by the British, and his 
wagons, horses, sheep and Negroes carried off, although General Howe 
had given his word to Mrs. Bull that they would not be disturbed. 

In December, Brigadier General James Irvine was wounded and 
captured in the attempted surprise by the British at Whitemarsh, and 
Colonel Bull succeeded to the command of the Second Brigade Penn¬ 
sylvania Militia, under command of General John Armstrong. 

During Christmas week, 1777, the British crossed the Delaware and 
made a raid into New Jersey, another detachment at the same time 
crossed at Gray’s Ferry and took the road to Chester and Darby, with 
three hundred wagons. Howe and Erskine were with them; they made 
a demonstration towards Chester. Several pickets and detachments 
skirmished on their front and flank, under Captain Potterfield. 


18 


546 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Colonel John Bull, with his brigade marched to force the foragers 
to retire by demonstrating against the enemy’s lines. His forces were 
distributed on the Frankford, Germantown and Ridge Roads, and 
caused the enemy to sound a general alarm. Bull planted his cannon, 
on Christmas Day, and fired several shots at the heart of the city, then 
withdrew to Frankford. 

Marshall says: “Col. Bull, on the twenty-fifth instant, made an ex¬ 
cursion into Fourth Street, Philadelphia, with two thousand militia, and 
alarmed the city by firing some pieces of cannon into the air, whereby 
some of the ball fell about Christ Church. He then made a good retreat 
back to his station, without the loss of a man.” The enemy, however, 
made no more raids. 

In 1778 and 1779 he was engaged in erecting the defenses for Phil¬ 
adelphia; in 1779 he put down the chevaux de frize in the Delaware, and 
in 1780 he was Commissary of Purchases at Philadelphia, and appears 
to have been one of the busiest and most indefatigable of workers. 

After the Revolution General Bull located at Northumberland, this 
was about 1785. In 1802 he was a candidate for the Legislature, but 
was defeated by Simon Snyder; in 1803, 1804 and 1805 he was elected 
to the Legislature, and three years later was defeated for Congress on 
the Federalist ticket. 

General Bull died August 9, 1824, at the extreme age of ninety- 
four years. His wife, Mary Phillips Bull, died February 23, 1811, 
aged eighty years. The Northumberland Argus says “she was buried in 
the Quaker graveyard and General Bull, though much reduced by sick¬ 
ness and old age, previous to the grave being closed addressed the people 
as follows: 

“ ‘The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the 
name of the Lord; may we who are soon to follow be as well prepared 

as she was.’ ” 

Truly a soldier to the very end of his eventful life. 


BOUQUET SAVES FORT PITT 


547 


Colonel Bouquet Relieved Garrison at Fort 
Pitt August 10, 1763 

OLONEL HENRY BOUQUET established his rendezvous 
in Carlisle during the latter part of June, 1763, where he had 
assembled five hundred troops, selected from his British forces 
and several companies of Provincial Rangers. He was prepar¬ 
ing to rush to the succor of Fort Pitt and other places which 
were being attacked by Indians under the inspiring leadership 
of Pontiac, the great chief of the Ottawa, who had formed a confed¬ 
eration of the Indians against the English. 

Everywhere along the frontier of Pennsylvania was desolation, the 
settlers had fled in terror and the interior settlements were crowded 
with refugees. Especially is this true of Carlisle, where the brave 
Swiss, Colonel Bouquet, was receiving first hand intelligence of the 
sufferings and devastation caused by the savages. 

On July 3, 1763, a courier from Fort Bedford rode into Carlisle, 
and as he stopped to water his horse, he was surrounded by an anxious 
crowd, to whom he told a sad tale of woe, and as he hurriedly mounted 
his horse to ride to Colonel Bouquet’s tent, he shouted, “The Indians 
will soon be here.” 

Terror and excitement spread everywhere, messengers were dis¬ 
patched in every direction to give the alarm, and the reports, harrowing 
as they had been, were confirmed by the fugitives who were met on every 
road and by-path hurrying to Carlisle for refuge. 

A party armed themselves and went out to warn the living and bury 
tho dead. They found death and destruction everywhere, and sickened 
with horror at seeing groups of hogs tearing and devouring the bodies 
of the dead. 

After a delay of eighteen days, Bouquet secured enough wagons, 
horses and oxen, and began his perilous march towards Fort Pitt. His 
force was much smaller than General Braddock’s and he had to en¬ 
counter a foe much more formidable. But Bouquet, the man of iron 
will and iron hand, had served seven years in American forests and, 
unlike the unfortunate Braddock, understood his work. 

On July 25 Bouquet reached Fort Bedford, where he was for¬ 
tunate in securing thirty backwoodsmen to accompany him. This 
little army toiled through the blazing heat of July over the Allegheny 
Mountains, and reached Fort Ligonier August 2. 

The Indians who had besieged that fort for two months disappeared 
at the approach of the troops. Here Bouquet left his oxen and wagons 
and resumed his march two days later. At noon on the 5th he en- 








548 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


countered the enemy at Bushy Run. A terrible battle raged for two 
days when the Indians were put to rout. The loss of the British was 
one hundred and fifteen men and eight officers. The little army was 
then twenty-five miles distant from Fort Pitt, which place was reached 
August 10. 

The enemy had abandoned the seige on this fort and marched their 
forces to unite with those engaged in combat with Colonel Bouquet at 
Bushy Run, so when they were compelled to retreat after that battle, 
they had not sufficient time, or lacked the courage to attack Fort Pitt 
with Colonel Bouquet in hot pursuit. 

It was at this time that Colonel Bouquet built the little redoubt 
which is at the present all that remains of Fort Pitt, in fact is the only 
existing monument of British occupancy in the vicinity of Pittsburgh. 

The Indians abandoned all their former settlements, and retreated 
to the Muskingum; here they formed new settlements, and in the spring 
of 1764 again began to ravage the frontier. To put an end to these 
depredations, General Gage planned a campaign into the western wil¬ 
derness from two points. General Bradstreet was ordered to advance by 
way of the lakes, and Colonel Bouquet was to go forward from Fort 
Pitt. 

After the usual delays and disappointments in securing troops from 
Pennsylvania and Virginia to aid in this expedition Colonel Bouquet 
again arrived at Fort Pitt, September 17, where he was detained until 
October 3. He led his troops from Fort Pitt following the north bank 
of the Ohio until he reached the Beaver, where he turned towards 
central Ohio. 

Bouquet refused to listen to either threats or promises from the In¬ 
dians, and declined to treat with them at all until they should deliver 
up their prisoners. Although not a single blow was struck the Indians 
were vanquished. 

Bouquet continued his march down the valley of the Muskingham 
until he reached a spot where some broad meadows offered a suitable 
place for encampment. Here he received a deputation of principal 
chiefs, listened to their offers of peace, and demanded the delivery of 
all the prisoners. Soon band after band of captives arrived, until more 
than three hundred were brought into the encampment. 

The scenes which followed the restoration of these prisoners to 
their families and friends beggar all description; wives recovering their 
husbands, husbands their wives, parents regaining children whom they 
could scarcely recognize, brothers and sisters meeting after long separa¬ 
tion and sometimes hardly able to converse in the same language. 

The story is told of a woman whose daughter had been carried 
off nine years before. The mother recognized her child among the 
prisoners, but the girl, who had almost forgotten her mother tongue, 
showed no sign of recognition. The mother complained to Colonel 


CONGRESS THANKS COLONEL BRODHEAD 549 


Bouquet that the daughter she had so often sung to sleep on her knee 
had forgotten her. “Sing the song to her that you used to sing when 
she was a child,” said Colonel Bouquet. She did so, and with a pas¬ 
sionate flood of tears the long lost daughter flung herself into her 
mother’s arms. 

Everything being settled the army broke camp November 18, and 
arrived again at Fort Pitt on the 28th. 

Early in January Colonel Bouquet returned to Philadelphia, re¬ 
ceiving wherever he went every possible mark of gratitude and esteem 
from the people. The Assembly of Pennsylvania and the House of 
Burgesses of Virginia each unanimously voted him addresses of thanks, 
and on the arrival in England of the first account of this expedition the 
King promoted him to the rank of Brigadier General, to command the 
Southern District of North America. 


Colonel Brodhead Wins Thanks of Congress 
for Raid Started August 11, 1779 

AIDS on the Pennsylvania and Virginia frontier in 1778 were 
made by the Indians of the Ohio country; those of 1779 by the 
Seneca and Munsee of the North, from the upper tributaries of 
the Susquehanna and Allegheny Rivers. 

The Seneca tribe of Western New York was the largest 
of the Six Nations, and its warriors second only to the Mohawk 
in courage and military prowess. Under Cornplanter, Guyasuta and 
other war captains they distressed a wide extent of territory in New 
York and Pennsylvania and decorated their huts with the scalps of hun¬ 
dreds of white persons. 

Tarly in the summer of 1779, Washington directed that General 
John Sullivan lead a large force against the Iroquois country from the 
east, and in July Colonel Brodhead received permission to undertake 
a movement of cooperation up the Allegheny Valley. 

The expedition consisting of 615 men under Colonel Brodhead left 
Pittsburgh August 11, 1779. Small garrisons were left to guard Forts 
Pitt, McIntosh, Crawford and Armstrong. A small band of Delaware 
accompanied the expedition, and acted as scouting parties under Captain 
Samuel Brady and Lieutenant Hardin. 

The provisions were conveyed up the river by boats as far as the 
mouth of the Big Mahoning, where the supplies were taken from the 
boats, loaded on the horses, and the expedition proceeded under the 
most unfavorable conditions. The expedition here left the river and 
followed an Indian trail almost due north, through what is now Clar¬ 
ion county. 









550 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


A few miles below Brokenstraw Creek occurred a fight with savages, 
near where Thompson is now situated. Lieutenant Hardin was lead¬ 
ing the advance, with fifteen white scouts and eight Delaware, when 
they discovered more than thirty Seneca warriors coming down the river 
in seven canoes, under the famous Chief Guyasuta. Each party dis¬ 
covered the other at about the same time. The Seneca paddled for 
shore, threw off their shirts and prepared for battle, little aware of the 
number of their opponents. 

Both sides took to trees and rocks and began a sharp fusillade, 
until a few minutes another party of scouts appeared, took the Seneca 
on the flank and poured a hot fire upon them. At the sound of this 
firing Colonel Brodhead formed his column so as to protect his pack 
train and then hurried forward with reinforcements. He arrived just 
in time to witness the retreat of the Seneca, who now realized the 
strength of the white force. Five Indians were killed and several 
wounded. Eight guns and seven canoes containing their blankets, shirts 
and provisions were prizes. Only three of Brodhead’s men were slightly 
wounded. 

The army went into camp near the scene of the conflict and on the 
following morning moved to Brokenstraw Creek. Here Colonel Brod¬ 
head decided to leave his stores and baggage and march light to Cone- 
wago. A rude breastwork was constructed of fallen trees and bundles of 
faggots, on a high bluff which commanded an extensive view up and 
down the river. This post was garrisoned by an officer and forty men, 
while the expedition pushed on for Conewago. Upon arrival the Colonel 
was disappointed to find the Iroquois town deserted and their huts fall¬ 
ing into decay. 

After a hard march of twenty miles the army came again within 
sight of the Allegheny River, and from a hilltop they discovered a 
number of Indian villages, surrounded by great fields of splendid corn 
and patches of beans, squashes and melons. This Iroquois settlement 
extended for eight miles along the fertile bottom land of the Allegheny 
River, where the great Cornplanter reservation was afterwards 
established. 

The Indian spies had discovered the approach of the American 
forces, and the warriors had fled so hastily with their women and chil¬ 
dren that they left behind many deer skins and other articles of value. 

The Iroquois had long before this learned to build substantial log 
houses, even squaring the timbers as was the custom of the white pioneer 
settlers. In this village there were about 130 houses, some of them large 
enough to accommodate three or four families. 

Colonel Brodhead sent a report to General Washington, saying: 
“The troops remained on the ground three whole days, destroying the 
towns and corn fields. I never saw finer corn, although it was planted 
much thicker than is common with our farmers. The quantity of 


CONGRESS THANKS COLONEL BRODHEAD 551 


corn and vegetables destroyed at the several towns, from the best 
accounts I can collect from the officers employed to destroy it, must cer¬ 
tainly exceed 500 acres, which is the lowest estimate and the plunder 
taken is estimated at $3,000. From the great quantity of corn in the 
ground and the number of new houses built and building, it appears 
that the whole Seneca and Muncy nations intended to collect in this 
settlement.” 

On the return march the supplies were picked up at Buckaloons and 
the troops marched across country to French Creek. At Oil Creek the 
soldiers rubbed themselves freely with oil which they found floating on 
the water, and received great relief from their rheumatic pains and 
stiffness. For many years this petroleum was called Seneca oil, and was 
supposed to be valuable only for its medicinal qualities. 

The army soon reached French Creek, at the mouth of the Con- 
neaut Creek, where the Munsee town of Maghingue-chahocking was 
found to be deserted. It consisted of 35 large huts, which were 
burned. The Munsee formed a branch of the Wolf clan of the Dela¬ 
ware, and they enjoyed an unenviable reputation as thieves, murderers 
and general desperadoes. 

The army descended French Creek almost to its mouth and thence 
returned to Fort Pitt by what is known as the Venango path almost due 
north and south through the heart of Butler County. 

The expedition arrived at Fort Pitt on September 14 without the 
loss of a man or a horse. Brodhead wrote: “I have a happy presage 
that the counties of Westmoreland, Bedford and Northumberland, if 
not the whole western frontier, will experience the good effect of it. 
Too much praise cannot be given to both officers and soldiers of every 
corps during the whole expedition. Their perseverance and zeal can 
scarcely be equaled in history.” 

The thanks of Congress were voted to Colonel Brodhead, and in a 
genefal order, issued October 18, General Washington said: “The 
activity, perseverance, and firmness of all the officers and men of every 
description in this expedition, do them great honor, and their services 
entitle them to the thanks and to this testimonial of the General’s 
acknowledgement.” 


552 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Era of Indian Traders to Death of Allum- 
mapees, August 12, 1731 

T WHAT date and by whom the North and West Branch 
Valleys of the Susquehanna and the Juniata Valley were first 
traversed, and the Alleghenies first crossed by Europeans in a 
journey to the Ohio, is unrecorded, and must forever remain 
unknown. 

The first white men who ventured into the unexplored 
forests among these mountains were not given to keeping journals of 
their travels for future historians. No one seems to have thought of 
immortalizing himself by bequeathing to us a good description giving 
minute details of the country and its tribes. 

At first the natives brought their peltry hundreds of miles to the 
Delaware River; but, in course of time, these skins and furs became so 
valuable in Europe that many of the worst class of men were stimu¬ 
lated to penetrate the depths of the forest in order to hasten and 
monopolize the trade. In this way the entire Juniata and West Branch 
regions were traversed many years before there was a settlement estab¬ 
lished in those fertile valleys. 

From the days of William Penn’s advent up to 1722 the Indian 
expenses to the Province were inconsiderable, being limited by law to 
£50 per annum. In that year the Assembly paid Governor Keith’s 
expenses for a trip to Albany, where an important council with the Six 
Nations was held, but in 1727 they refused to pay more than half the 
amount of an account of Conrad Weiser, who was sent on a similar 
mission. In 1728, under an alarm, they agreed to pay without limita¬ 
tion the expenses of an Indian conference. After this they sometimes 
paid half, and sometimes all. 

The appetite for presents which the Indians acquired was not easily 
appeased. Constant disturbances, frequently caused by rum, called for 
expensive treaties, and the donations allured the Indians and made them 
more insolent and exacting. The expenses soon rose above £8,000, and 
the question whether these treaties were more for the benefit of the 
Proprietaries in buying lands than for the safety of the inhabitants gave 
rise to heated controversy. The result was that Indian affairs began to 
take a wider and more public range, and the records of those days 
begin to throw more light upon the uninhabited interior of the 
Province. 

As early as 1722 we read that “William Wilkins was 150 miles up 
the Sasquehannah trading for his master.” His master was John Cart- 
lidge, an Indian trader living at Conestoga, and 150 miles farther up the 





ERA OF INDIAN TRADERS 


553 


Susquehanna was a venturesome trip at that date. There are also 
records of several Frenchmen engaged in the trade living among the 
Indians east of the mountains, extending their travels up the Susque¬ 
hanna and its branches. 

A great council was held in Philadelphia, July 3, 1727, with the 
chiefs of the Six Nations, but most of those in attendance were Cayuga, 
Conestoga and Ganawese. Madame Montour, the celebrated inter¬ 
preter, was present at this conference and exerted her great influence 
toward an amicable treaty. 

In an address made by one of the chiefs to the Governor, he said: 
“They desire that there may be no settlements made up the Sasquhannah 
higher than Pextan (Harrisburg), and that none of the settlers there¬ 
abouts be suffered to sell or keep any rum there, for that being the road 
by which their people go out to war, they are apprehensive of mischief 
if they meet with liquor in these parts. They desire also, for the same 
reasons, that none of the traders be allowed to carry any rum to the 
remoter parts where James Le Tort trades,—that is, Allegany on the 
branch of Ohio. And this they desire may be taken notice of, as the 
mind of the chiefs of all the Five Nations, for it is all those nations 
that now speak by them to all our people.” 

The following day the Governor made this reply: “We have not 
hitherto allowed any settlements to be made above Pextan, but, as the 
young people grow up, they will spread, of course, yet it will not be 
very speedily. The Governor, however, will give orders, to them all to 
be civil to those of the Five Nations as they pass that way, though it 
would be better if they would pass the Susquehannah above the moun¬ 
tains. And the sale of rum shall be prohibited both there and at 
Alegany; but the woods are so thick and dark we cannot see what 
is done in them. The Indians may stave any rum they find in 
the Woods, but, as has been said, they must not drink or carry any 
away.” 

The interesting fact ascertained from these two addresses is that 
James Le Tort, who had settled near Carlisle, as early as 1720, and 
was a well known trader, had already passed over the Allegheny Moun¬ 
tains and established his trading post on the Ohio River. As he was also 
known to have lived and traded as early as 1701 on the island at the 
Forks of the Susquehanna, long known as Packer’s Island, between Sun- 
bury and Northumberland, it may be fairly inferred that Le Tort 
found his way to the West through the West Branch Valley and thence 
by the Indian path leading from Great Island through what is now 
Clearfield and Kittaning to the west. 

This is interesting also because it was at this time that the Shawnee 
began to pass over the mountains, followed by some Delaware, espe¬ 
cially those of Conestoga descent, and began to settle on the Ohio. The 
Shawnee had established a large village at the mouth of Chillisquaque 


554 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Creek, where it empties into the West Branch, a mile below Lewisburg 
on the east side of the stream. 

The second inference is that at the date of the above conference there 
were white people already seated on the Juniata and Susquehanna, 
farther west than Paxtang, or there were already such decided symptoms 
of danger in that direction that the Iroquois deputies considered it 
necessary to forbid that anyone should presume to settle beyond the 
Kittatinny Mountains. A violation of this precautionary restriction led 
to a series of complaints about intruders into these valleys for the next 
thirty years. 

During the first quarter of the eighteenth century the history of 
Indian affairs on the Susquehanna and Juniata, and especially the West 
Branch of the former river, is nearly all connected closely with the 
Iroquois agency on the northern border of the Province. 

The principal representatives of this great Nation were Allumma- 
pees, also called Sassoonan, the great Delaware King, and Shikellamy, 
the great Oneida vice-gerent. 

Allummapees resided at Paxtang, as early as 1709. He removed 
from Paxtang to Shamokin about 1718, and there resided among the 
Munsee, the most belligerent of the Lenape clans. He ruled as king 
from 1718 till his death. He was a good-hearted chieftain, true to 
the English and an advocate of peace. When he died he was supposed 
to be one hundred years of age. His death occurred August 12, 1731, 
when in a state of helpless intoxication he was stabbed to the heart by 
his nephew, Shockatawlin, of whom Allummapees was jealous. 


Indians Massacre Major John Lee and 
Family, August 13, 1782 


N THE evening of August 13, 1782, John Lee and his family 
with one or two neighbors were seated at the supper table in 
their comfortable log home in what is now Winfield, Union 
County. Without a moment’s warning a band of Indians, 
supposed to be sixty or seventy in number, rushed in on them, 
and killed Lee and his family. The events of this crime rank 
among the most cruel and revolting of those along the frontier. 

A young woman, named Katy Stoner, hurried upstairs and con¬ 
cealed herself behind the chimney, where she remained undiscovered and 
escaped. She related the details of this horrible tragedy. 

Lee was tomahawked and scalped, and an old man named John 
Walker shared the same fate. Mrs. Claudius Boatman and daughter, 
who were guests of the Lees, were killed and scalped; Mrs. Lee, with 








MASSACRE OF LEE FAMILY 555 

her small child, and a larger boy, named Thomas, were led away 
captives. 

The savages fled from the scene along the Great Path, leading up 
that side of the West Branch Valley, over the White Deer Mountains, 
and then crossed to the eastern side of the river below Muncy. 

One of Lee’s sons, Robert, happened to be absent and thus 
escaped the fate of his parents. He was returning, however, and came in 
sight of the house just as the Indians were leaving it, but they did not 
observe him. He fled to Northumberland and gave the alarm. 

A party of about twenty volunteers was organized by Colonel 
Samuel Hunter, at Fort Augusta, and hastened in pursuit. On arriving 
at Lee’s house they beheld some of the victims yet alive and writhing in 
agony. Lee was not dead, and Mrs. Boatman’s daughter also survived. 
Litters were hastily constructed, and they were carried to Fort Augusta. 
Lee expired in great agony soon after arrival at the fort. Miss Boat¬ 
man was nursed back to health and lived many years afterwards. 

Colonel Hunter and his party, without delaying to bury the dead, 
pushed on after the savages as rapidly as possible with a view of over¬ 
taking them, and releasing the captives. They came in sight of them 
above Lycoming Creek. 

In crossing White Deer Mountains Mrs. Lee was accidentally bitten 
on her ankle by a rattlesnake, and her leg became so swollen and pained 
her so severely, that she traveled with great difficulty. The Indians, 
finding themselves pursued, urged her along as fast as possible, but she 
weakened rapidly. When near the mouth of Pine Creek, about four 
miles below the present Jersey Shore, Mrs. Lee’s strength failed her and 
she seated herself on the ground. 

The whites were rapidly approaching and the Indians were afraid 
she would fall into their hands. A warrior stealthily slipped up behind 
her>, placed the muzzle of his rifle close to her head and fired. The 
entire upper portion of her head was blown off. One of the Indians 
then snatched up her young child and holding it by the feet, dashed 
it against a tree. 

The Indians then fled with renewed speed, crossing the river at 
Smith’s fording, at Level Corner, and hurried up through Nippenose 
Valley. 

When Colonel Hunter and his men came up to where Mrs. Lee 
was murdered her body was yet warm. The sight was horrible. The 
child was but little injured, but was found moaning piteously. 

The pursuit was now so hot that near Antes’ Gap, the Indians 
separated, and ran up both sides of the mountains. Colonel Hunter 
concluded that further pursuit was imprudent, and the chase was 
abandoned. 

The detail returned, buried the body of Mrs. Lee, and brought back 
the child. At Lee’s house they halted and buried the dead there. 


556 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Young Thomas Lee who was taken prisoner, was not recovered for 
many years afterwards. The son, Robert, made arrangements with the 
Indians to bring his brother to Tioga Point, where he was delivered to 
his friends. Such was the love of Indian life, however, that he was so 
reluctant to return, they were obliged to bind him and place him in a 
canoe. When near Wilkes Barre they untied him, but as soon as the 
canoe touched shore he darted off like a deer. It was several hours 
before he was retaken. On arriving at Northumberland he evinced all 
the sullenness of a captive. Indian boys and girls, near his own age were 
made to play about him for days before he showed any disposition to 
join with them. At last he began to inquire the names of things, and 
by degrees he became civilized, obtained a good education, and lived 
a useful life. 

Thomas lived on the home farm for many years, as is proved by a 
deed which he and his wife, Eliza, executed April 1, 1797, to William 
Beard and Sarah, his wife. Robert Lee and his descendants lived on 
part of the property as late as the beginning of the 19th century. 

The massacre at Lee’s home resulted in the death of seven persons, 
and only four of the six taken captive were returned to their kin. The 
others were two sisters and a brother, liberated in 1785. 

Since the beginning of spring in the year 1782, there had been sixty- 
two inhabitants butchered by the Indians. 

Judge John Joseph Henry, in a letter to Secretary of War, says that 
when his father was returning home from Congress, then sitting in 
New York (1784-85), he found Rebecca Lee on the road desolate and 
moneyless. He took her to his own home in Lancaster, and, a few 
months later, restored her to their brother, Robert, at Northumberland. 
The sister was recovered at Albany a year later, and Thomas was 
turned over to his brother in 1788. 

Lee was the assessor in the township in which he lived. The 
Indians hated him because they believed he had cheated them in a 
trade and they sought an opportunity for revenge. 

Lee was a prominent citizen, a major in the Northumberland 
militia, February 7, 1776, and December 26, following, when a com¬ 
pany volunteered for the main army, Lee was chosen captain. The 
company was attached to Colonel James Potter’s Second Battalion and 
saw much active service. 

Claudius Boatman was a Frenchman and after the massacre of his 
wife, he took the remainder of his family, in 1786, and settled far up 
Pine Creek. He had several daughters, one of whom married John 
English. Claudius died in 1802, and was buried in the village of 
Waterville. 


THE MOLLIE MAGUIRES 


557 


Mollie Maguires Commit Murders on 
Bloody Saturday, August 14,1875 

UCH a great number of outrages were committed in the 
anthracite coal regions by the Mollie Maguires on August 14, 
1875, that the day came to be known as “Bloody Saturday.” 

Early in the month symptoms of smouldering disorder 
began to increase in severity and numbers. The situation 
became so alarming that Superintendent Franklin, of the Phila¬ 
delphia and Reading Company arranged to hold a meeting with the two 
great Pinkerton detectives, James McParlan and Captain Linden, who 
had been working for some time among the members of this outrageous 
organization of criminals. 

This meeting was held at Glen Onoko, in the environs of Mauch 
Chunk. Here the three men cleverly managed to get together, and in the 
quiet shadows of the great hills, in that Switzerland of America, they 
fully discussed the situation and the work being performed. 

It so happened that while they were returning from this meeting 
McParlan, otherwise James McKenna, as he was known to the Mollies, 
encountered some of the ringleaders of that organization: Alexander 
Campbell, Hugh McGehan, and others, all under suspicion for murder. 

McParlan found himself in the position where it was necessary to 
accompany the Mollies to their homes, but he never was in their com¬ 
pany very many minutes before he learned much of value to his chief, 
Allan Pinkerton. Captain Linden remained in Mauch Chunk, and 
Superintendent Franklin returned to Philadelphia. 

B. F. Yost, a policeman of Tamaqua, had been cruelly murdered, 
July 6, and word had reached the detective that John P. Jones, of near 
Lansford, Carbon County, was marked as the next victim of the Mollies. 
He was murdered by James Kerrigan, Mike Doyle and Edward Kelly, 
September 3, following. 

The Mollies sat together in the smoking car bound for the Summit. 
McParlan was under suspicion by the Mollies, and Linden had slipped 
into the car unobserved, ready at any moment to take the part of his 
brother detective, should he find himself in trouble. Nothing occurred 
to require his services and Captain Linden feigned to sleep the time 
away, until the drunken crowd left the car. Linden continued his 
journey to Tamaqua, and there awaited McParlan’s arrival. 

Reaching Summit, Campbell pressed the detective to remain all 
night at his house, and he thought it best not to refuse and did so. 

Campbell believed McParlan or McKenna as he knew him, had 
been in Mauch Chunk that day to obtain a new stock of counterfeit 






558 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


money, which he was supposed to be passing. McKenna had exchanged 
some money for crisp bills, but they were genuine. Campbell arranged 
with the detective for a supply of the “spurious” bills, to be delivered 
in the near future. 

This tended to restore Campbell’s confidence in McKenna, and they 
were soon discussing Mollie topics with their former freedom of speech. 
Campbell was a candidate for the office of body master and McKenna 
was strongly for his election. 

Campbell then told him the plans for killing Jones, and after 
McKenna sang “Widow Machree” for Mrs. Campbell, he retired 
to his apartment. 

Then came the Bloody Saturday events, which proved a horrible 
experience for the people of Mahanoy Valley. The crimes for that day 
were two dastardly assassinations and one case of manslaughter, besides 
several cases of lesser crimes. 

The most heinous crime was the murder of Thomas Gwyther, 
Justice of the Peace, of Girardville. He was an inoffensive man, of mild 
disposition and a reputable, public spirited citizen. 

The miners of the Mahanoy Valley had this day received the first 
pay of any consequence since the long strike began and the result 
was that Girardville, in the evening, was crowded with drunken 
men. 

Gangs of ruffians flourished revolvers, looking for some one to shoot. 
A fight ensued and an arrest resulted. Application was made of 
Squire Gwyther for a warrant and as he was in the act of preparing it 
a man stepped up to him and shot him dead. The assassin fled and 
escaped. 

At Shenandoah, Gomer James, a young Welsh miner, who had 
defended his friend, Tom Jones, when assaulted by Mollies, August 
11, 1873, and had since been marked by them, was killed at a picnic 
in Hecksher’s Grove, while he was inside a bar, waiting upon his 
patrons. The assassin escaped in the darkness. 

Many disturbances occurred in Mahanoy City, and an innocent citi¬ 
zen lost his life, when a disturbance arose between William M. Thomas 
and James Dugan. Both drew revolvers and fired at each other. 
Thomas was shot in the face, but Christian Zimmerman, who was 
standing across the street, waiting for his wife to complete her shopping, 
received a bullet through his lungs and died the following afternoon. 
Thomas was arrested for assault on Dugan, but no one was arrested 
for killing Zimmerman. Another man was shot through the leg during 
this wild duel, and a rioter was stabbed during the excitement. 

McKenna hurried to Mahanoy City where he found the country in 
a blaze of excitement, and as the people believed him the worst Mollie 
Maguire in the regions, he remained but a short time, when he took a 
train for Shenandoah. He was in Shenandoah four hours when he 


PENNAMITES DRIVEN OUT 


559 


learned who had fired the shot which killed Gomer James, and Tom 
Hurley became a refugee from justice. 

The result of this unexpected success, was that all the Mollies in 
Shenandoah engaged in grand bacchanal, and to get rid of them Mc¬ 
Kenna left the place and went to Girardville. Here Jack Kehoe, one 
of the notorious Mollie leaders told him in a moment of confidence, that 
the murder of Squire Gwyther was the result of a drunken spree, and 
that Thomas Love, he was glad to say, had made his escape. 

This was truly Bloody Saturday, but by no means was it the end of 
the reign of the Mollie Maguires in the coal regions of Pennsylvania. 


Yankees Drive Pennamites from Wyoming 
Valley in Battle Which Began 
August 15, 1771 

OLLOWING the first massacre at Wyoming, October 15, 
1763, it was more than five years before the first forty settlers 
arrived from Connecticut to reclaim their improvements. On 
their arrival they found Amos Ogden and a few other persons 
in possession of the lands, occupying them by authority of the 
Proprietary Government of Pennsylvania. 

Now commenced a bitter civil war, which lasted with alternate suc¬ 
cess of the different parties for upwards of six years. The settlements of 
both parties were alternately broken up—the men led off to prison, the 
women and children driven away, and other outrages committed. Blood 
was often shed in this strange and civil strife. 

Ogden and his little band were defeated, April 29, 1770, and the 
Yankees became the masters of the situation. 

The Proprietaries of Pennsylvania raised a force in September, 1770, 
under Captain Ogden, to recover Wyoming. Governor Penn issued 
a proclamation, June 28, 1770, directing all intruders to depart from 
Wyoming. 

Ogden planned a surprise attack and marching by way of Fort Allen, 
traveled the Warrior’s Path, then but little used. The stratagem suc¬ 
ceeded, for the Yankees watched for them only along the regular path. 
Ogden again proved his shrewdness by outwitting the Yankees, and 
defeated them, capturing Major John Durkee, and others. 

Ogden also captured Fort Durkee through a deception, and 
marched his prisoners off to Easton, where they were confined in jail. 
Major John Durkee, Major Simeon Draper and Captain Zebulon 
Butler, were put in irons and sent to Philadelphia. 

Fort Durkee remained in possession of the Pennamites until Decern- 







560 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


ber 18, 1770, when Captain Lazerus Stewart, and the “Paxtang Boys” 
surprised the garrison, and captured the fort. 

The Pennsylvania authorities determined on the arrest of Captain 
Stewart, and a warrant was placed in the hands of Captain Ogden. He 
called upon Sheriff Peter Kechlin, of Northampton County, and a 
posse reached Wyoming, January 18, 1771. Stewart refused to submit 
to arrest and in the short fight, Nathan Ogden, brother of the Captain, 
was killed and three others wounded. 

During the night Captain Stewart and forty of his men stole out 
of the fort and fled to the woods; the twelve remaining surrendered 
themselves to the sheriff. The death of his brother caused Captain Amos 
Ogden much distress. The coroner’s inquest found that Nathan Ogden 
had been horridly and wilfully murdered by Lazerus Stewart. 

Fort Durkee was garrisoned by thirty Pennamites, when the sheriff, 
Captain Ogden, Justice Charles Stewart, with their associates, January 
23, set out for Easton. Five of the ten prisoners taken at the capture 
of the fort were sent to Philadelphia and committed to jail, where 
Major Durkee and Captain Butler were still languishing. Those who 
escaped with Captain Lazerus Stewart scattered and returned to their 
homes. Thus was consummated the fifth expulsion of the Yankees from 
Wyoming. 

The Pennamites in the two forts at Wilkes-Barre were reinforced 
by other Pennsylvanians and Captain Amos Ogden and Charles Stewart, 
Esq. Fort Wyoming was enlarged and strengthened and all the 
Pennamite settlers dwelt therein. Fort Durkee was abandoned and 
dismantled. 

During the next four months peace reigned supreme, and the Pro¬ 
prietaries had much land surveyed in the Manors of Stoke and Sunbury, 
and laid out to various persons, under warrants of the Provincial Land 
Office. 

In the mid-summer seventy men of Connecticut, formerly owners 
of land at Wyoming, were enlisted under Captain Zebulon Butler to go 
forward to the much-coveted valley. While preparations were going 
on in Connecticut for the Wyoming expedition Lazerus Stewart was 
gathering together a few of the “Paxtang Boys,” who hastened to 
join Captain Butler on the march to Wyoming. 

Colonel Asher Clayton was the chief man among the Pennamites, 
who now seemed secure and thrifty. On July 6, news reached him 
that armed forces of Yankees were approaching, and scouts brought him 
intelligence that the Yankees were determined to secure possession of 
this country. Clayton went forward and met Butler, but they could not 
come to terms, and Clayton returned to the fort. Captain Butler and 
his men invested the block house at Mill Creek and awaited 
developments. 

Captain Amos Ogden again arrived at Wyoming and almost as 


PENNAMITES DRIVEN OUT 


561 


soon as the Yankees. He found the situation so serious that he deter¬ 
mined to be his own messenger to Philadelphia, where he arrived July 
16, in three days’ travel. He appeared before Provincial Council and 
related the story. They agreed to raise 100 men and immediately set 
about to recruit them, but met with unexpected difficulty. 

Captain Butler did not wait for these reinforcements to reach the 
Pennamites, but, Sunday, July 21, believed the time had come for the 
offensive. That night he silently marched them to the vicinity of Fort 
Wyoming, where, before daylight he had entrenched. By Monday 
these intrenchments were occupied by Yankees and the battle for Fort 
Wyoming was begun. Other redoubts were erected by which all com¬ 
munication with the outside was cut off from Fort Wyoming, but the 
Pennamites possessed means of defense so long as their provisions and 
ammunition would hold out. 

Reinforcements under Captains John Dick and Joseph Morris left 
their rendezvous in the Blue Mountains, Sunday, July 28, and arrived 
before daybreak on the 30th. Within 200 yards of the block house they 
were attacked by the Yankees and lost two loads of flour and nine men. 
The Yankees continued a constant fire, day and night, until August 10, 
the defenders returning the fire. 

Efforts to send volunteers to the relief of the Pennamites were 
unavailing, until Ogden, Van Campen and others, who had extensive 
land claims there, induced 62 men to march under command of Dr. 
Andrew Leslie from Reemeys, they arrived August 15, at “Ten-Mile 
Run,” where they bivouacked, after sending a messenger to the inmates 
of the fort. 

But before the arrival of this detail and the supplies which they 
brought, the garrison was nearly starved and on the 15th Colonel 
Clayton sent out a flag of truce, and after several consultations accepted 
the best terms he could obtain. By the Articles of Capitulation 23 men 
were to march out armed, the remainder unarmed, and all to return to 
their homes unmolested; men who had families could remain two weeks 
to collect their effects; and the sick and wounded could be cared for 
until able to leave. The Indian messenger from the relief party arrived 
just as the fort was surrendered. 

Thus Wyoming was again in the possession of the settlers of the 
Susquehanna Company and Captain Zebulon Butler the hero of the hour. 


562 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Great Land Purchase Made at Indian Coun¬ 
cil in Philadelphia, August 16, 1749 

ARLY in April, 1749, the Six Nations held a Grand Council at 
Onondaga Castle, when it was decided to send deputies from 
each of the nations to Philadelphia, to shake hands with Gov¬ 
ernor James Hamilton, who had assumed the office in the prev¬ 
ious November; to answer a proposal for peace with the 
Catawba, which had been made by the former Governor of 
Pennsylvania, and to consider other matters. It was agreed that all the 
deputies should meet together at Wyoming, and proceed thence in a 
body to Philadelphia. 

About the middle of May the four deputies of the Seneca accom¬ 
panied by other members of their nation, arrived at Wyoming, where 
they waited a month for the arrival of the deputies of the other 
nations, who, however, failed to appear. The Seneca thereupon con¬ 
tinued their journey via the North Branch to Shamokin, then the 
main river, and arrived at Philadelphia, June 26, accompanied by some 
Tutelo, Nanticoke and Conoy. These Indians were received by the 
Governor and Council on July 1, when Ogashtash, the Seneca speaker, 
stated that the Grand Council at Onondaga had heard that the white 
people had begun to settle on the Indians’ side of the Blue Mountains, 
in the present Juniata Valley. 

Ogashtash further said that during their stay at Wyoming they had 
heard things which made them believe this was true. They wanted to 
know if this was done wickedly by bad people or if the new Governor 
had brought some instructions from the King, or Proprietaries, which 
the Grand Council did not yet know, but would cause much hurt. 

Governor Hamilton informed the Seneca that the settling of the 
white squatters along the Juniata was contrary to the terms of the 
treaties made by the Government with the Indians, and that a proclama¬ 
tion would be issued commanding all the white people who had settled 
north of the Blue Mountains to remove by November 1, 1749. 

Presents to the value of £100 were distributed on July 4 to the 
Indians, and a day or two later Conrad Weiser conducted them out of 
the city and journeyed with them as far as his house in Heidelberg 
Township. Here the Indians concluded to remain for a few days to 
visit with their old friend and brother, and without invitation, they 
camped out near his house and made themselves very much at home. 
The Tutelo injured and destroyed a large amount of Weiser’s movable 
property and damaged his plantation generally. Weiser tried in vain to 
influence them to proceed on their journey. Finally, after an unpleasant 





GREAT LAND PURCHASE MADE 


563 


experience of a week or ten days with these unruly visitors, Weiser 
induced the Seneca to take their departure, and they forced the Tutelo 
to go along. 

The Tutelo were from villages on the West Branch of the Susque¬ 
hanna. Zeisberger speaks of this tribe as a “degenerate remnant of 
thieves and drunkards”; he says that their village near Shamokin was 
“the only town on the continent inhabited by Tutelos.” 

These Indians loafed and loitered along the way to the Susquehanna, 
taking along anything which struck their fancy, and when that stream 
was reached they paddled their canoes up the river, stopped awhile at 
Shamokin, then at Nescopeck, then at Wyoming, where they arrived 
August 1. 

Two days after these Indians arrived at Wyoming, a large fleet of 
canoes came unexpectedly down the North Branch bearing the belated 
deputies of the Onondaga, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga and Tuscarora 
nations together with many other representatives—chiefs, warriors, 
squaws and children of these several nations, and many Indians of 
other tribes. 

This large company remained at Wyoming for a day, and then pro¬ 
ceeded down the river, accompanied by the Seneca deputies, and their 
party, who had just returned from Philadelphia, also by-Chief Paxinosa 
and a large number of his Shawnee from their new home in what is now 
Plymouth, Luzerne County, and by a number of Delaware, Nanticoke 
and Mohican from the different villages along their route. At Nesco¬ 
peck they were joined by King Nutimus and a number of his people, 
and then, without further delay, they floated down the river to Shamokin. 

Arriving at this old Indian town at the Forks of the Susquehanna, 
now Sunbury, a messenger was sent in haste over the mountains to 
Conrad Weiser to announce the coming of the deputies. Soon as Weiser 
received this intelligence he dispatched an express to Governor Hamilton, 
who immediately directed the messenger to hurry back to Weiser, who 
was instructed by the Governor and Council “to try all ways to divert 
the Indians from coming to Philadelphia.” This the good old inter¬ 
preter tried to do, but his efforts were resented by the Indians with so 
much spirit that he was obliged “to turn his protestations into invita¬ 
tions and make the best of circumstances.” 

When this small army of deputies reached Tulpehocken, Conrad 
Weiser joined them and was the leader of the party from there to 
Philadelphia, where they arrived August 14, and according to the 
official records they numbered 280 in all. Governor Hamilton paid a 
ceremonious visit to the Indians, and appointed August 16 as the date 
for the conference with them. 

Several days time of this conference was consumed in discussing the 
matters which had brought the Indians to Philadelphia. As a result of 
the conference the Proprietaries obtained for £500 a deed dated August 


564 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


22, 1749, for a strip of land northwest and contiguous to the Blue 
Mountains, and extending from the Susquehanna to the Delaware 
River, the northwest boundary of this strip being a straight line running 
in a northeasterly direction from the north side of the mouth of the 
“Cantagny or Maghonoy Creek,” and now known as Mahanoy Creek, 
a mile below the present city of Sunbury, “to the north side of the 
south of the creek called Lechawachsein,” now Lackawaxon, which 
flows into the Delaware near the northern limit of Pike County; the 
southern boundary was the mountain range, beginning near Dauphin 
and running in a northeasterly direction until it falls into the Delaware 
River at the present Delaware Water Gap. 

This new purchase included all or parts of the present counties of 
Dauphin, Northumberland, Lebanon, Schuylkill, Columbia, Carbon, 
Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Wayne. 


Robert Fulton, Native of Lancaster County, 
Operates First Steamboat, August 17,1807. 

OBERT FULTON demonstrated the first successful com¬ 
mercial steam vessel August 17, 1807, when he opened the 
throttle and the Clermont slowly, but surely, moved against 
the swift current of the Hudson River. 

Robert Fulton was born on a farm in Little Britain Town¬ 
ship, Lancaster County, in 1765. His father was a native of 
Kilkenny, Ireland, and emigrated to Lancaster County in 1735, where 
he soon became one of the foremost citizens, but did not make a success 
of farming. A year after Robert’s birth he mortgaged the farm and 
moved to Lancaster, where he died in 1768. 

Mrs. Fulton was left with three daughters and two sons, and but 
little money and less time to spare to help meet the mortgage. She 
managed well with her family but the farm was lost. 

The boyhood of Robert was filled with a desire to express his 
feelings through the dual medium of painting and mechanics. He 
seemed to love both with equal ardor. 

His first great thrill came through the acquisition of some discarded 
paints and brushes brought to school one day by a companion. Fulton 
accomplished great things with them, and quite forgot he was in 
school to study. 

When Robert was thirteen, the citizens of Lancaster wished to 
light up the town on the evening of July 4. It was in the midst of the 
Revolution and candles were as scarce as money. The demonstration 
was given up until Robert thought out a plan for skyrockets and the 
lad made possible the celebration. 






ROBERT FULTON’S STEAMBOAT 


565 


In Lancaster lived a clever man named William Henry, who had 
made some experiments with a steamboat. Robert often visited the 
Henry home, and there saw some pictures painted by Benjamin West, 
a former Chester County boy, who had gained great fame as an artist. 
Here was a man who appealed to young Fulton. 

Robert placed a paddle wheel on his rowboat after the Henry plan, 
but propelled it by hand. It is quite possible that he dreamed of the 
greater speed if steam power could be applied. 

When Robert was seventeen his mother apprenticed him to a Phila¬ 
delphia silversmith. This was a mistake. He showed his character by 
quitting and establishing himself as a miniature painter—work that 
he loved. His plain studio was at the corner of Second and Walnut 
Streets. Here he supported himself for four years. He sketched and 
painted portraits and landscapes, ^nd made drawings of machinery. So 
well did he work that at twenty-one he returned to Lancaster with 
enough money to buy a small farm for his mother. 

Following the advice of some friends in 1786, he went to England, 
where he devoted several years to his profession, under the tuition of 
Benjamin West, who received him into his own home. Here he became 
acquainted with the Duke of Bridgewater, the founder of the great 
canal system of Great Britain, who induced Fulton to abandon art, and 
take up the study of mechanical science. 

Fulton soon invented a double-inclined plane for raising or lowering 
boats from one level to another. In 1794 he devised a mill for sawing 
marble. In 1796 he evolved the idea of cast iron aqueducts, and a 
structure of this kind was built over the River Dee. He designed several 
bridges; he invented machinery for spinning flax; another for making 
ropes; one for digging ditches, and a dispatch boat. 

In 1796 he published a “Treatise on the Improvement of Canal 
Navigation,” copies of which were sent to President Washington, and 
other public officials, accompanied by letters telling of the advantages to 
be derived by canal navigation in America. 

From 1797 to 1804 he resided in Paris with Joel Barlow, the 
American representative at the French court. During this period 
Fulton invented a submarine or plunging boat, called a “torpedo” 
designed to be used in naval warfare. Bonaparte appointed a commis¬ 
sion to examine it. Fulton could easily descend to any depth, or rise 
to the surface. On one occasion he remained below the surface for four 
hours. 

The French Government declined to patronize the project, and 
Fulton accepted the invitation from the English ministry, but would not 
agree to sell them a secret which the United States might need. 

In 1806, after an absence of nineteen years, Fulton returned to the 
United States, and devoted his thought to the perfection of a steam¬ 
boat, a project which he had in his mind for many years. 


566 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


When in France Fulton met Robert R. Livingston, a rich man from 
New York, who was much interested in steamboats. Livingston had 
already built one, which proved a failure. The two men now joined 
forces. This made a fine association for Fulton’s knowledge of 
machinery was far greater than Livingston’s, but the latter had the 
wealth and influence which could bring an invention to the public. 

Livingston obtained the sole right for them to navigate the waters 
of New York State for twenty years, if they could produce a steam 
vessel capable of a speed of four miles an hour against the current of 
the Hudson River. 

Fulton finished his first steamboat in the Spring of 1807. He called 
it the Clermont, which was the name of Livingston’s estate near 
Albany. The first trip from New York to Albany was made on 
Monday, August 17, 1807—a day that will never be forgotten. 

Crowds assembled at the wharf to see the Clermont start. Few 
believed it would move; most called it “Fulton’s Folly.” The trip was 
even more successful than Fulton had anticipated; it excited great 
admiration, and steamboats were rapidly multiplied on American waters. 
The Clermont made regular trips between New York and Albany, at 
the rate of five miles per hour, but this speed was soon increased by 
improvements in the machinery. 

The success of the Clermont caused Fulton to construct other and 
larger boats and ferry boats. He also built the world’s first steam pro¬ 
pelled warship, in the War of 1812. 

In 1806 he married Harriet, daughter of Walter Livingston, by 
whom he had four children. He possessed great personal dignity and 
agreeable manners, and many noble qualities of heart. 

In the midst of his triumph and in the height of his prosperity he 
died. 

During the winter of 1814-15 he was building a floating steam 
battery and visited the works at Paulus Hook, now Jersey City. He 
stood three hours in the cold, and then tramped through pools of water. 
He became ill from this exposure, but again visited the construction, 
and died February 24, 1815. The New York Legislature wore mourn¬ 
ing six weeks. His funeral was the largest ever held in New York 
City up to that time. The body of this distinguished Pennsylvanian 
rests in Trinity churchyard on Broadway, at the head of Wall Street. 


ANTI-MASONIC OUTBREAK 


567 


Anti-Masonic Outbreak in Pennsylvania 
First Felt at New Berlin, 

August 18, 1829 

ROM 1826 to 1838 may be termed the Anti-Masonic period, 
for during those eventful years bigotry ran wild, while super¬ 
stition and fanaticism, like the demons of old, took possession 
of the many. They were the halcyon days for broken-down 
politicians to ride into power and place. 

Seizing the opportunity, these demagogues originated a 
political party, whose platform denounced all secret societies, particularly 
the Freemasons, as destructive of every principle of religion, justice and 
good government. 

During the years 1823 to 1826 there resided in Western New York 
one William Morgan, a native of Virginia, by trade a stone mason. 

It has been represented that he was a veteran of the War of 1812, 
but he earned his title of Captain as the owner of a fishing smack, with 
piratical tendencies, which plied along the gulf coast. 

In 1825 “Captain” Morgan was residing in Batavia, N. Y., where 
a poor printer, named Wilbur, concocted with Morgan to publish a 
book containing the revelations of Freemasonry, which was in fact the 
copy of a volume formerly published in England in 1750, under the 
title “Jachin and Boaz.” 

As would be expected, the announcement of the publication of the 
book in question wrought up members of the Masonic fraternity to 
fever heat. Efforts to suppress the work were freely discussed, and 
some even proposed doing so by force if it could not be done otherwise. 

The respectable part of the fraternity, supposing that no book of 
that kind would really be published, and, like a nine days’ wonder, if it 
was, would soon vanish and wholly disappear, took little or no interest 
in the matter. While they were folding their arms, an inconsiderate 
scheme was developed by individuals for suppressing by force the con¬ 
templated work. 

But at this time Morgan was arrested for debt, September 12, 1826, 
and placed in a carriage and driven to Rochester. That was the last 
ever seen of him. 

Morgan’s sudden disappearance caused great excitement, and gossips 
gave out the statement that Freemasons had conveyed him to Fort 
Niagara, while others claimed they had drowned him in Lake Ontario. 

Public meetings were held and finally a reprobate named Edward 
Giddings spread the sensational story that Freemasons had abducted 
and foully put Morgan to death. 






568 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


At this time the body of a man was washed ashore on Lake Ontario, 
and a week after interment the body was exhumed and a second 
inquest determined that “William Morgan had come to his death by 
drowning.” The corpse did not, in any particular, resemble Morgan, 
but the crowd determined that “it was a good enough Morgan until 
after election.” This body was identified as that of Timothy Monroe, 
who had drowned September 26. The remains were buried by his 
widow. 

This should have ended the Morgan excitement but it did no such 
thing. “A lie well stuck to is more convincing than the truth.” So a 
most infamous deception was practiced upon the people. 

Prosecutions were instituted against those who were supposed to have 
anything to do with the abduction of Morgan. Many trials resulted, 
but no murder was ever established. 

What had become of Morgan? Was he drowned or murdered? 

As early as September 26, 1826, the “Intelligencer,” of Harrisburg, 
as well as other newspapers, cautioned the Masonic fraternity against 
“a man calling himself Captain Morgan, as he is a swindler and a 
dangerous man.” 

It has been authentically, settled that after the night of the so-called 
abduction, being threatened with numerous suits for debt and other mis¬ 
demeanors, Morgan left the country of his own free will, going directly 
to Australia, the passage money being furnished him. Arriving in that 
far distant clime, he established a newspaper, but died ten years later. 
A son, who accompanied him, continued the business, and was living 
just prior to our Civil War. 

The Freemasons of New York State, as a body and individually, dis¬ 
claimed all knowledge of any abduction of “Captain” Morgan. 

By 1828 the Anti-Masonic movement had gained such impetus in 
New York that a candidate for governor was placed on their ticket. 
Anti-Masonic tickets were named in Massachusetts, Vermont and Ohio. 

In 1829 the storm broke out in Pennsylvania, and was first felt in 
the little town of New Berlin, Union County, where Lafayette Lodge 
No. 194 was holding a public procession August 18. The speakers for 
the occasion were Hon. Jesse Merrill, General Henry Frick, Henry C. 
Eyer, Reverend Just Henry Fries, Reverend John Kessler and Reverend 
Henry Piggott. Henry W. and George A. Snyder, distinguished sons 
of former Governor Simon Snyder, were officers of the lodge and had 
arranged the program. 

The meeting was broken up by the hostile action of a mob. It was 
these same people who sent Ner Middlesworth, that great exponent of 
Anti-Masonry to the General Assembly; it was also in New Berlin 
where the first Anti-Masonic newspapers were established. 

Joseph Ritner was placed in nomination for the office of Governor 
by the Anti-Masonic convention, which met in Harrisburg in 1829, 


YORK COUNTY IN REVOLUTION 


569 


and he received 51,000 votes, only 30,000 less than his successful 
opponent, George Wolf. 

A national convention was held in Baltimore September, 1831, 
which placed a complete ticket in the field. In 1832 the Anti-Masons of 
Pennsylvania again placed Joseph Ritner in nomination, but he was 
again defeated by Governor Wolf, but two years later the Anti-Masons 
gained control of the Legislature, and under the capable leadership of 
Thaddeus Stevens, made political history in the Keystone State. 

In the election of October, 1835, Joseph Ritner was elected, and 
with both branches of the General Assembly, the Anti-Masons were 
determined to carry out their various unlawful measures with a high 
hand. 

The Stevens Legislative investigation held December, 1835, proved 
to be a fiasco, as the inquisition failed to disclose a single unlawful act 
upon the part of any member of the order of Freemasons or Odd 
Fellows. 

By 1838 the clouds of ignorant oppression had cleared away, and the 
people, who cared to do so, could unite with either secret organization 
without fear of social ostracism or political suicide. 


York County and Its Part in the Revolution, 
Erected August 19, 1749 

ORK County, erected August 19, 1749, from part of Lancaster 
County, played a conspicuous part and contributed its full share 
of troops during the period of the early troubles of our Repub¬ 
lic. Indeed York County seems to have been in the struggle 
from the earliest moment to the end of the conflict and in 
addition furnished men who assumed a leading role in that 
stirring drama. 

Colonel Thomas Hartley, himself one of the greatest patriots of the 
Revolutionary times, in a letter to President Reed, of the Supreme 
Executive Council of Pennsylvania, says: 

“They knew they had been as patriotic as any, that the York dis¬ 
trict had armed the first in Pennsylvania, and had furnished more men 
in it than any other district on the continent of the same number of 
inhabitants.” 

As early as December, 1774, James Smith, who was a Provincial 
statesman and sensed the impending struggle with the Mother Country, 
employed himself in raising and drilling a volunteer company, of which 
he was elected captain. This is said to be the very first body of volun¬ 
teer soldiers organized in Pennsylvania, with a view to oppose the 
armies of Great Britain. The officers were James Smith, captain; 









570 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Thomas Hartley, first lieutenant; David Grier, second lieutenant, and 
Henry Miller, ensign. Each of these officers, thus early attached to the 
cause of liberty, became distinguished in the subsequent history of the 
country. 

A company of riflemen was recruited in York County under the 
Resolution of Congress, June 14, 1775, which was attached to 
Thompson’s Riflemen, the first command to receive commissions after 
General Washington. This company reached Cambridge, Mass., July 
25, 1775, and was the first company to arrive there from any point 
south of Long Island or west of the Hudson River. It got into action 
July 29, before all the regiment had arrived. 

Another rifle company was recruited in York County for fifteen 
months’ service, which marched from York early in May, 1776, and at 
Philadelphia became a part of Colonel Samuel Miles’ rifle regiment. 
In July five battalions of militia marched from York County to New 
Jersey. Of these five battalions two were formed and attached to the 
Flying Corps; Colonel Michael Swope commanded the first battalion, 
and Colonel Richard McAllister the second. Colonel Swope’s battalion 
suffered severe losses in battles of Long Island and Fort Washington. 
One company in this battalion lost all but eighteen men at Long Island. 
Colonel Swope and fourteen of his officers were taken prisoners when 
Fort Washington fell into the hands of the enemy November 16, 1776. 
Ensign Jacob Barnitz, of York, was wounded in this battle and lay 
fifteen months in prison. 

Toward the close of 1777, events occurred which brought York into 
prominence and made it for a time the capital of the now independent 
States of America. The Continental Congress sat there for nine 
months, and at a time when its proceedings were of the greatest 
importance. 

The disastrous Battle of Brandywine, fought September 11, 1777, 
decided the fate of Philadelphia. On the approach of the British 
towards the Schuylkill, Congress adjourned to meet in Lancaster on 
September 27, and on the same day adjourned to York. The Susque¬ 
hanna was regarded as a safe barrier between them and the enemy, and 
they began their sessions there September 30, where they continued until 
the British evacuated Philadelphia. The Congress left York June 
27, 1778. 

October 17, 1777, Congress passed a Resolve, to procure a printing 
press so that the intelligence which Congress would receive from time 
to time could be given to the public. The press of Hall and Sellers, of 
Philadelphia, was set up in York, and even Continental money printed 
there. This was the first printing press erected in Pennsylvania west 
of the Susquehanna. 

On November 15, Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation; 
on November 27, a new Board of War was organized. On December 1, 


YORK COUNTY IN REVOLUTION 


571 


Baron Steuben landed at Portsmouth, N. H., and started for York, 
where he arrived February 5, 1778, and remained two weeks. He was 
received by Congress with every mark of distinction, and was appointed 
Inspector General of the Army. 

The treaty with France was ratified by Congress May 4, 1778, 
which was the occasion for a general celebration. 

General Gates resided in York during part of the time Congress met 
there and when Lafayette called upon him, he was surrounded by friends, 
seated about the table and it was at this dinner the conspiracy was 
revealed to supplant Washington and make Gates the Commander in 
Chief of the Army. It was in York that General Gates and Colonel 
Wilkinson planned to fight a duel to settle their differences, but before 
the meeting, their troubles were adjusted. 

General Wayne arrived in York February 27, 1781, on his way to 
assume command of part of the Pennsylvania Line which was to rein¬ 
force General Greene, then in the south. On May 20, Wayne’s corps, 
smaller in number than he anticipated, and by no means well equipped, 
but reduced to discipline and harmony, marched southward from York. 

On April 17, 1777, Congress changed the name of the “Committee of 
Secret Correspondence,” to “Committee of Foreign Affairs,” and 
appointed Thomas Paine, secretary of the committee. His “American 
Crisis,” Number V., addressed to General Sir William Howe, com¬ 
menced in the house of Hon. William Henry of Lancaster, was finished 
and printed at York. 

Major John Andre, afterwards executed as a spy, was in York for 
a short time after he was taken prisoner at St. John ? s, September, 1775, 
and was from there transferred to Carlisle. 

General Washington visited York in 1791, when he journeyed from 
Mount Vernon to Philadelphia. He arrived in York from Hanover at 
2 o’clock in the afternoon of Saturday, July 2, 1791, and took lodging 
at the tavern of Baltzer Spangler. He was met with the Independent 
Light Infantry, commanded by Captain George Hay, which fired a salute 
of fifteen rounds. He had dinner with Colonel Thomas Hartley, and 
walked through the principal streets, and drank tea with his distin¬ 
guished host. 

At night there were illuminations and every other demonstration of 
joy. The next morning his excellency was waited upon by the Chief 
Burgess and principal inhabitants, and was given an address, to which 
the President replied. General Washington attended divine service and 
then proceeded on his journey, being accompanied as far as Wright’s 
Ferry by a number of the principal inhabitants, among the latter being 
his close friend Colonel Thomas Hartley. 





572 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Greatest Victory Over Indians Gained by 
General Wayne at Fallen Timbers, 

August 20, 1794 

FTER the close of the Revolution the country west of the 
Ohio was still occupied with Indian tribes ever ready to bring 
devastation, destruction, and desolation to the homes of the 
border settlers, and ever incited and aided by the British, who 
held a number of posts along the lakes. The Indians had 
determined the Ohio River should be the permanent boundary 
between them and the United States. 

President Washington sent Generals Josiah Harmar and Arthur St. 
Clair in succession to command troops selected to overawe them, and 
each in turn experienced bitter defeat by the savages. Washington then 
sent for General Anthony Wayne and in April, 1782, placed him in 
command of the Army of the United States. 

Wayne understood his mission. He organized his “Legion” in 
Pittsburgh, June, 1792, consisting of only 2,631 troops recruited from 
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey. Pennsylvania 
furnished all but 232 of the command. 

Wayne inaugurated strict discipline. Two soldiers were shot down 
for sleeping on their posts. Whiskey was forbidden in the camp and 
drunkenness severely punished. He insisted upon cleanliness and regu¬ 
larity of diet. He taught the use of the bayonet and the sword. He 
dined with his officers, and carefully planned every detail of his expedi¬ 
tion with their full knowledge. 

Wayne had Chief Cornplanter, ninety Choctaw and twenty-five 
Chicasaw Indians with him, whom he used to sow dissension among the 
hostile Indians. 

The war lasted more than two years during which time there were 
periods of four and five months that he was without communication 
with the seat of government. The Government viewed this Indian war 
with alarm, and not without cause, as two previous defeats made the 
outcome doubtful. 

While the hostile Indians were perfecting their combinations the 
Government sent commissioners to Fort Erie to sue for peace. The 
result was that the Indians gained the time they needed, then refused to 
treat at all, and the burden fell upon Wayne to see that the com¬ 
missioners reached their homes with their scalps on their heads, for 
which they formally gave him thanks. 

On October 13 he had marched to a point on the Miami River, 
eighty miles north of Cincinnati, where he found a camp which he 





WAYNE DEFEATS INDIANS 


573 


fortified and called Greenville and remained there through the winter. 
From this camp he sent out scouts and spies to secure intelligence and 
scalps. He also sent a force to the field where St. Clair had been 
defeated to bury the bones of the dead and erect a stockade called Fort 
Recovery. 

In May a lieutenant with a convoy gallantly charged and repulsed 
an assault. About seventeen hundred of the enemy made a desperate 
attempt June 13, to capture an escort under the walls of Fort Recovery 
and to carry the Fort by storm, keeping up a heavy fire and making 
repeated efforts for two days, but were finally repulsed. Twenty-one 
soldiers were killed and twenty-nine wounded. 

A few days later, after receiving reinforcements of mounted men 
from Kentucky, General Wayne marched seventy miles in the heart 
of the Indian country, built Fort Defiance, and then within sight of a 
British fort on the Miami River made his preparations for the battle 
which was inevitable. 

He had marched nearly four hundred miles through the country of 
an enemy, both watchful and vindictive; had cut a road through the 
woods the entire way, upon a route longer, more remote and more 
surrounded with dangers than that of Braddock; had overcome almost 
insuperable difficulties in securing supplies; had built three forts, and 
now had reached a position where the issue must be decided by arms. 

On the morning of August 20, 1794, the army advanced five miles, 
with the Miami on the right, a brigade of mounted volunteers on the 
left, a light brigade in their rear, and a selected battalion of horsemen 
in the lead. They came to a place where a tornado had swept through 
the forest, and thrown down the trees, since called Fallen Timbers, 
and where the twisted trunks and uprooted trees lay in such profusion 
as to impede the movements of the cavalry. 

Here the Indians, two thousand in number, encouraged by the 
proximity of the British fort, determined to make a stand. Hidden in 
the woods and the high grass, they opened fire upon the mounted men 
in front and succeeded in driving them back to the main army. The 
enemy were formed in three lines in supporting distance of each other, 
extending two miles at right angles to the river and were protected and 
covered by the woods. 

Wayne formed his force in two lines. He saw the enemy was strong 
in numbers and intended to turn his flank, and met this situation by 
ordering up the rear line to support the first, by sending a force by a 
circuitous route to turn the right of the enemy; by sending another force 
at the same time along the river to turn their left, and by a direct 
charge in the front to drive the Indians from their covert with the 
bayonet. 

The Indians could not stand this attack, broke in confusion, and 
were driven two miles in the course of an hour through the woods with 


574 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


great loss. Their dead bodies and the British muskets lay scattered in 
all directions. All of the village, corn fields and houses, including that 
of Alexander McKee, the British Indian agent, within a scope of one 
hundred miles were burned and destroyed. 

American annals disclose no such other victory over the savage 
tribes. It secured for civilization the territory between the Ohio and 
Mississippi Rivers. It made possible the development of such states as 
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. 

When the news reached London, the British Government, recogniz¬ 
ing that the cause of the Indians was hopeless, ordered the evacuation of 
the posts at Detroit, Oswego and Niagara. 

Two weeks later General Wayne was crushed to earth by a falling 
tree, so much bruised as to cause great pain and hemorrhages, and only 
the fortunate location of a stump, on which the tree finally rested, saved 
his life. 

After the treaty of cession and peace had been executed, and after 
an absence in the wilderness for three years, he returned home in 1795, 
everywhere hailed with loud acclaim as the hero of the time and 
received in Philadelphia by the City Troop and with salvos from cannon, 
ringing of bells and fireworks. 

His last battle had been fought. His work was done. “Both body 
and mind were fatigued by the contest,” were his pathetic words. Soon 
afterwards the President sent him as a commissioner to Detroit and on 
his return he died at Presque Isle, now Erie, December 15, 1796. 


Chief Tedyuskung Annoys Moravian Breth¬ 
ren; Arrives at Bethlehem 
August 21, 1756 

EDYUSKUNG, the great king of the Delaware tribe and one 
of the most powerful of the Indian sachems in Pennsylvania, 
much enjoyed the prominence he gained by frequent councils 
and conferences with the Governor and other Provincial 
dignitaries, even at the expense of causing a great jealousy 
among Indian chiefs of other nations. He was a skilled diplo¬ 
mat, a good speaker and a friend of the English, yet he was rather crafty 
in his dealings with both the whites and his own race, and was given 
over to excessive intemperance. 

At the conclusion of the great treaty held at Easton, July 24-31, 
1756, the Governor and others in authority doubted the sincerity of 
Tedyuskung, but he satisfied them on that score, and during August 
remained almost constantly in or about Fort Allen on a drunken 





TEDYUSKUNG ANNOYS MORAVIANS 


575 


debauch. Finally on August 21, he removed with his retinue to Bethle¬ 
hem, where his wife, Elizabeth, and her three young children deter¬ 
mined to remain, while the King went on an expedition to the Minisinks 
to put a stop to some Indian depredations. 

Tedyuskung went from there to Wyoming and sent word to Major 
Parsons, at Easton, that he wanted his wife and children sent to him. 
Major Parsons went immediately to Bethlehem and made known the 
King’s desire to his wife, but she decided to remain where she was. This 
then was the cause of frequent visits to Bethlehem, where Tedyuskung 
much annoyed the Moravian Brethren, who were not in position to con¬ 
trol his actions when he was their unwelcome visitor. 

July, 1757, he was for some time in and about Fort Allen and 
then in attendance at the second great conference at Easton, during 
which time his wife and children were with him. Two days after 
this conference closed Tedyuskung, his family and others went to 
Bethlehem. Reichel, in his “Memorials of the Moravian Church,” 
says: 

“Some of these unwelcome visitors halted for a few days, and some 
proceeded as far as Fort Allen and then returned, undecided as to where 
to go and what to do. During the month full 200 were counted—men, 
women and children—among them lawless crowds who annoyed the 
Brethren by depredations, molested the Indians at the Manakasy, and 
wrangled with each other over their cups at ‘The Crown’.” 

Tedyuskung tarried in Bethlehem several days when he set out on a 
mission to Tioga, but on the way he was met by messengers from the 
Ohio Indians, who bore such glad tidings that the King determined he 
should go to Philadelphia and appraise the Governor and Council of the 
good news. 

At Bethlehem Tedyuskung spent a few days with his wife and 
family, meantime holding a conference with Bishop Spangenberg, Rev¬ 
erend Mack and other Moravian Brethren—Augustus, the christianized 
Delaware chief serving as interpreter. Tedyuskung inquired of the 
Moravians why the converted Indians could not move to Wyoming. 
Bishop Spangenberg told him they would require a town of their own, 
where a school and church could be built. The king said these should 
be built there. 

He then surprised the Brethren by telling them that reports had 
been circulated among the Indians that the Moravians had decapitated 
the Indians among them, placed their heads in bags and sent them to 
Philadelphia. These charges had so exasperated the Indians that they 
conspired to attack the Brethren’s settlements and cut off the inhabitants 
without regard to age or sex. He and Paxinoso had on one occasion per¬ 
suaded 200 warriors, who had banded together for this purpose, to 
desist from their design. 

After his interview with the Governor and Council in Philadelphia, 


576 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Tedyuskung returned to Bethlehem, where he remained with his wife 
and children until October 7 when he again went to Philadelphia. 

During all her sojourn in Bethlehem the King’s wife was maintained 
by the Moravian Brethren at the expense of the Province. Tedyuskung 
was back in Bethlehem in about ten days and remained until the 27th, 
when they set out for Wyoming, where the Commissioners were daily 
expected to build a fort and some houses for the Delaware. 

Having previously signified to the Moravian Brethren at Bethlehem 
his desire to spend the winter at Bethlehem, permission for him and his 
family to do so was reluctantly granted. Thereupon, upon his return 
from New Jersey, a lodge was built for him near “The Crown” inn. 
There he held court and gave audience to the wild embassies that 
would come from the Indian country. 

In addition to Tedyuskung and his family nearly one hundred 
Indians spent the winter of 1757-58 in the neighborhood of “The 
Crown.” Reichel says: “Government was imposing an additional 
burden upon the Brethren when it committed this lawless crowd to 
their keeping * * * We are at a loss how to act. Furthermore, we 
are told that some of our neighbors are growing uneasy at our receiving 
such murdering Indians, as they style them. I fear we shall be obliged 
to set watches to keep such of them off as are disposed to quarrel with, 
or may attempt to hurt any of them.” 

Tedyuskung attended a long conference in Philadelphia in the early 
part of 1758, and made trips to and from Bethlehem for this purpose. 

He was back in Bethlehem in April, and on the 17th sent a number 
of the Delaware, who had wintered in the Moravian town, to Fort 
Allen, there to join Captain Jacob Arndt’s soldiers in ranging the fron¬ 
tiers. He also sent his sons, Captains John Jacob and Amos and three 
other Delaware over the Allegheny to the Indians towns of the Dela¬ 
ware and Shawnee. 

Tedyuskung remained in Bethlehem, and Justice Horsfield wrote on 
April 18: “I never before was so much convinced of Tedyuskung’s zeal 
for the English cause.” Five days later, however, a soldier came to 
Bethlehem from Fort Allen with a letter from Captain Arndt in 
which he stated that he was having trouble with the Indians sent to the 
fort by Tedyuskung—the messengers, who were still there, as well as 
those who were to range being continually drunk, having brought with 
them some casks of rum from Easton. 

Tedyuskung made another trip to Philadelphia in May to urge the 
Governor to again send the Commissioners to finish the fort and the 
houses. He returned to Bethlehem about May 8. 

Reichel says: “When the swelling of the maple buds and the 
whitening of the shad-bush on the river’s bank betokened the advent of 
Spring, there were busy preparations going on in Tedyuskung’s company 
over the matter of their long-expected removal to the Indian Eldorado 


GILBERT FAMILY CAPTIVES 


577 


on the flats of the Winding River. It was the 16th of cornplanting 
month (May), the month called Tauwinipen, when the Delaware King, 
his Queen, his counsellors and his warriors led by the Commissioners, 
took up the line of march for Fort Allen, beyond there to strike the 
Indian trail that led over the mountains to Wyoming Valley—and on the 
going out of these spirits ‘The Crown’ was swept and garnished and 
Ephriam Colver, the publican, had rest.” 


Gilbert Family in Indian Captivity Twenty- 
nine Months Released August 22,1782 

ENJAMIN GILBERT and family, living on Mahoning 
Creek, about five miles from Fort Allen, now Weissport, 
Carbon County, were carried into a bitterly painful captivity 
by a party of Indians, who took them to Canada, and there 
separated them. At the time of this occurrence, April 25, 
1780, the event caused intense excitement throughout the 
State, and from an interesting narrative published shortly after their 
release from captivity, August 22, 1782, the following facts are 
ascertained. 

Benjamin Gilbert was a Quaker from Byberry, near Philadelphia, 
and in 1775 removed with his family to a farm on Mahoning Creek, 
near Fort Allen. They lived comfortably in a good log dwelling house, 
with barn and saw and grist mill. For five years all was peace and 
industry. 

On the eventful day, about sunrise they were surprised by a party 
of Indians who took the following prisoners: Benjamin Gilbert, aged 
69; Elizabeth, his wife, 55 years; sons, Joseph, aged 41; Jesse, 19; 
Abner, 14; and daughters, Rebecca, 16; and Elizabeth, 12; and Sarah, 
wife of Jesse; Thomas Peart, son of Benjamin Gilbert’s wife; Ben¬ 
jamin Gilbert, a nephew of the elder Gilbert; Andrew Harrigar, a 
German servant and Abigail Dodson, a neighbor’s daughter, the 
whole number taken being twelve. The Indians then proceeded about 
half a mile to Benjamin Peart’s and there captured himself and his wife 
and their nine months’ old child. 

The last look the poor captives had of their once comfortable homes 
was to view the buildings in flames as they were led over Summer Hill, 
on their way over Mauch Chunk and Broad Mountains into the 
Nescopeck Path, and then across Quakake Creek to Mahanoy Mountain, 
where they passed the first night, fastened between notched saplings, 
with straps around their necks and fastened to a tree. 

Their march was resumed soon after dawn and day after day they 



19 







578 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


tramped over the wild and rugged region between the Lehigh and the 
Ohemunk branch of the Susquehanna. Often ready to faint by the way, 
the cruel threat of instant death urged them again to march. The old 
man, Benjamin Gilbert, had begun to fail, and was already painted 
black, the fatal omen among the Indians; but when they were to kill him, 
the pitiful pleadings of his wife saved him. Subsequently in Canada, 
Gilbert told the chief he could say what none of the other Indians 
could, “that he had brought in the oldest man and the youngest child.” 

On the fifty-fourth day of their captivity, the Gilbert family had to 
experience the fearful ordeal of running the gauntlet. 

“The prisoners,” says the narrative, “were released from the heavy 
loads they had heretofore been compelled to carry, and were it not for 
the treatment they expected on approaching the Indian towns, and the 
hardship of separation, their situation would have been tolerable; but 
the horror of their minds, arising from the dreadful yells of the Indians 
as they approached the hamlets, is easier conceived than described—for 
they were no strangers to the customary cruelty exercised upon the 
captives on entering their towns. The Indians, men, women and chil¬ 
dren, collect together, bringing clubs and stones in order to beat them, 
which they usually do with great severity. The blows must be borne 
without complaint. The prisoners are beaten until the Indians weary 
with the cruel sport. 

“Two of the women who were on horseback were much bruised by 
falling from their horses, which were frightened by the Indians. 
Elizabeth, the mother, took shelter by the side of a warrior, who sent 
her away, she then received several violent blows, so that she was almost 
disabled. The blood trickled from their heads in a stream. Their hair 
being cropped close and the clothes they had on in rags, made their 
situation truly piteous. Whilst the Indians were inflicting this revenge 
upon the captives, the chief came and put a stop to any further cruelty.” 

Soon after this torture, a severer trial awaited them, when they were 
separated. Some were given over to other Indians to be adopted, others 
were hired out as servants, and the remainder were sent down the lake to 
Montreal. Among the latter was old Benjamin Gilbert, by this time 
broken in body and mind, and he there succumbed. His remains were 
interred near old Fort Coeur du Lac, below Ogdensburg. 

Some of the family met with kind treatment from the hands of 
British officers, who were interested in their story, and exerted them¬ 
selves to release them from captivity. Sarah Gilbert, wife of Jesse, 
became a mother, and Elizabeth Gilbert was allowed to give her daugh¬ 
ter every necessary attendance. One day while Elizabeth was ironing 
for the family of Adam Scott, a little girl told her some one wanted to 
see her and upon entering another room, she found six of her own 
children. A messenger was sent to inform Jesse and his wife, so that 
Joseph Gilbert, Benjamin Peart and Elizabeth, his wife, and their 


ALEXANDER WILSON, ORNITHOLOGIST 579 


young child, and Abner and Elizabeth Gilbert the younger, were with 
their mother on this occasion. 

Elizabeth Gilbert, the younger, only twelve years of age, had been 
adopted by an Indian family, but was permitted to live with a white 
family named Secord, by whom she was treated with endearing 
attention. 

A year later Mr. Secord took Betsy on a trip to Niagara, and there 
she saw six of her relatives, most of whom had been released and were 
preparing to leave for Montreal, perhaps never again to see the others. 
The sight of their beloved little sister roused every energy to effect her 
release, which desire was generously seconded by John Secord and the 
Tory leader, Colonel John Butler, who, soon after her visit to Niagara 
sent for the Indian who claimed Elizabeth as his child and made over¬ 
tures for her ransom. At first he declared that he “would not sell his 
own flesh and blood,” but, attacked through his interest, or in other 
words, his necessities, the negotiation succeeded and her youngest child 
was among the treasures first restored to the mother at Montreal. 

Eventually they were all released and collected at Montreal and on 
August 22, 1782, they took leave of their friends there and returned to 
Byberry, after a captivity of two years and five months. 

The premises where stood the dwelling and improvements of the 
Gilbert family were on the north side of Mahoning Creek, on an 
elevated bank about forty perches from the main road leading from 
Lehighton and Weissport to Tamaqua, and about four miles from the 
former. Benjamin Peart lived about a mile farther up the creek, and 
about a quarter of a mile from it on the south side. 


Alexander Wilson, the Great American 
Ornithologist, Died at Philadelphia, 
August 23, 1813 

LEXANDER WILSON, the great American ornithologist, 
was born in Paisley, Scotland, July 6, 1766, and died in Phila¬ 
delphia, August 23, 1813. He was the son of a distiller, but 
at the age of thirteen was apprenticed to a weaver, and after 
seven years abandoned the loom and adopted the life of a 
peddler. 

Three years were thus spent and in 1789, having prepared a volume 
of poems for publication, he offered his muslins and solicited subscrip¬ 
tions for this work. It was published in 1790, but had little success; 
and he again returned to the loom. 

In 1792 he published “Watty and Meg,” which having appeared 
anonymously, was ascribed to Robert Burns though the style is very 







580 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


different. It is said to have had a sale of 100,000 copies in a few weeks. 
He wrote a severe satire upon a person in Paisley and was thrown into 
prison, and was afterwards compelled to burn the libel with his own 
hand at Paisley Cross. Upon his release, he resolved to emigrate, and 
arrived at New Castle, Delaware, July 14, 1794, with only a few 
borrowed shillings, without an acquaintance, and with no decided 
purpose. 

After working at various trades, sometimes as a copperplate printer 
under Alexander Lawson, in which he showed both ambition and talent, 
he went through New Jersey as a peddler and during this journey 
seems to have first paid minute attention to the habits and appearance 
of birds. 

He afterward taught school at various places in New Jersey and 
Pennsylvania, finally settling in 1802 at Kingsessing on the Schuylkill. 

One of the schools he taught was situated on the Darby Road, a 
short distance west of the intersection with Gray’s Ferry Road. His 
home was near the celebrated botanical garden of William Bartram, 
and he became acquainted with the famous naturalist, who, by his own 
love of birds, deeply interested young Wilson in that branch of nature. 
It was at this time that Alexander Wilson resolved to form a collection 
of all the birds of America. 

His first excursion, October, 1804, was to Niagara Falls. He 
walked from Philadelphia through the unopened wilderness of western 
New York, and wrote a metrical description of his journey in the 
“Port Folio” under the title of “The Foresters, a Poem.” 

Elsewhere Wilson wrote: 

“Sweet flows the Schuylkill’s winding tide, 

By Bartram’s green emblossomed bowers, 

Where nature sports in all her pride, 

Of choicest plants and fruits and flowers.” 

Wilson learned drawing, coloring, and etching from Alexander 
Lawson, the celebrated engraver, whose tastes and instructions stimulated 
his own talents. 

He persuaded Bradford, a Philadelphia publisher, who had employed 
him in 1806, in editing the American edition of Rees’s Cyclopedia, to 
furnish funds for an American ornithology on an adequate scale. The 
first volume of this work appeared in September, 1808, but it was too 
expensive to be very successful. The seventh volume appeared in 1813. 

The interval had been passed in exploring different parts of the 
country for the purpose of extending his observations, collecting speci¬ 
mens and watching the habits of birds in their native haunts. 

In January, 1810, the second volume appeared, but before the next 
was prepared Wilson sailed down the Ohio River in a small boat as far 
as Louisville, he set out on horseback from Nashville for New Orleans 


ALEXANDER WILSON, ORNITHOLOGIST 581 


in May, 1811, and arrived June 6. Sailing from there he arrived back 
in Philadelphia in August, and began the third volume. 

In September, 1812, he started on another tour of the eastern 
States. He completed the publication of seven volumes. 

In 1813 the literary materials for the eighth volume of the 
“Ornithology” were ready, but its progress was greatly retarded for 
want of proper assistants to color the plates. Wilson was therefore 
obliged to undertake the whole of this department himself in addition 
to his other duties. He employed himself so unceasingly in the prepara¬ 
tion of his work that he impaired his already weakened condition and 
hastened death. It is said that in his eagerness to obtain a rare bird, 
he swam across a river and caught cold from which he never recovered. 

All the plates for the remainder of his work having been completed 
under Wilson’s own eye the letter press work on the ninth volume was 
supplied by his friend, George Ord, his companion in several of his 
expeditions, who also wrote a memoir of Wilson to accompany the last 
volume, and edited the eighth. Four supplementary volumes were 
afterwards added by Charles Lincoln Bonaparte. 

An edition of Alexander Wilson’s poems was published at Paisley 
in 1816, and another at Belfast in 1857. A statue of him was erected at 
Paisley in October, 1874. 

Wilson was followed by another Pennsylvanian, John James Audu¬ 
bon, who lived for many years on the Perkiomen near its mouth. He 
published an immense work upon the “Birds of America,” which 
brought him lasting fame. Thus the two greatest ornithologists of 
America are claimed as residents of our state. 

In the quiet retreat of the churchyard of the old Swedes Church, or 
“Gloria Dei,” at Weccacoe, where he delighted to worship, repose the 
remains of Alexander Wilson. The distinguished ornithologist requested 
to be laid to rest there, as it was “a silent, shady place where the birds 
would be apt to come and sing over his grave.” 


582 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Governor Snyder Calls on Pennsylvania 
When British Burn National Capitol 
August 24, 1814 

URING the summer of 1813 the shores of the Chesapeake and 
its tributary rivers were made a general scene of ruin and 
distress. The British forces assumed the character of the 
incendiary in retaliation for the burning of the town of York, 
in Upper Canada, which had been taken by the American 
army under General Dearborn in April of that year. The 
burning of York was accidental, but its destruction served as a pretext 
for the general pillage and conflagration which followed the marching 
of the British army. 

The enemy took possession of Washington August 24, 1814, and 
the commanders of the invading force, General Ross and Admiral 
Blackburn, proceeded in person to direct and superintend the business 
of burning the Capitol and city. 

On August 26, Governor Simon Snyder issued a strong appeal for 
a call to arms: “The landing upon our shores, by the enemy, of hordes 
of marauders, for the purpose avowedly to create by plunder, burning 
and general devastation, all possible individual and public distress, gives 
scope for action to the militia of Pennsylvania by repelling that foe, 
and with just indignation seek to avenge the unprovoked wrongs 
heaped on our unoffending country. 

“The militia generally within the counties of Dauphin, Lebannon, 
Berks, Schuylkill, York, Adams and Lancaster, and that part of Chester 
County which constitutes the Second Brigade of the Third Division, 
and those corps particularly, who, when danger first threatened, 
patriotically tendered their services in the field, are earnestly invited to 
rise (as on many occasions Pennsylvania has heretofore done) superior 
to local feeling and evasives that might possibly be drawn from an 
imperfect military system, and to repair with that alacrity which duty 
commands, and it is fondly hoped inclination will prompt, to the 
several places of brigade or regimental rendezvous that shall respec¬ 
tively be designated by the proper officer, and thence to march to the 
place of general rendezvous. 

“Pennsylvanians, whose hearts must be gladdened at the recital of 
the deeds of heroism achieved by their fellow citizens, soldiers now in 
arms on the Lake frontier, and within the enemy’s country, now the 
occasion has occurred, will with order seek and punish that same 
implacable foe, now marauding on the Atlantic shore of two of our 
sister States.” 







GOVERNOR SNYDER’S APPEAL 


583 


Camps were established at Marcus Hook, on the Delaware, and at 
York. At the latter place 5,000 men were soon under the command of 
Major General Nathaniel Watson, and Brigadier Generals John 
Forster and John Adams. 

When General Ross attempted the capture of Baltimore, these 
Pennsylvania militia marched thither and had the high honor to aid 
in repelling the enemy. In the same year other of the State’s military 
forces rendered excellent services at Chippewa and Bridgewater, and 
thereby won the gratitude of the people of the entire country. 

During the entire war the soil of Pennsylvania had never been 
trodden by a hostile foot, yet it had at one time a greater number of 
militia and volunteers in the service of the United States than were at 
any time in the field from any other state in the Union, and as she 
furnished more men, so did she furnish more money to carry on 
the war. 

The treaty of Ghent was concluded December 24, 1814, but the 
closing acts in the tragedy of the war were the battle of New Orleans, 
January 8, 1815, and the gallant capture of the British warships 
“Cyane” and “Levant,” by Captain Charles Stewart’s grand old frigate, 
“Constitution,” February 20, 1815. 

On February 17, 1815, the treaty of peace between the United 
States and Great Britain was ratified by the Senate. 

Pennsylvania’s finances were in such sound condition that only one 
small temporary loan was required to pay all expenditures incurred 
during the war. Business did not suffer, yet during the war period a 
cloud was gathering which soon was to have a serious effect on the 
financial situation in the State. The United States Bank, after twenty 
years of honorable and useful life, came to an end in 1811, and 
at a time when its services were needed by the government and the 
people. 

The State banks were envious of the power of the larger institution, 
and in the failure to renew its charter their officers saw the opportunity 
to advance their personal ends. 

The Legislature chartered State banks over the Governor’s veto, 
and again the State was flooded with paper money, as it had been during 
the Revolution, but the terrible consequences of that deluge had long 
since been forgotten. The excess of issue and lack of faith in them was 
soon reflected by rising prices. The banks had little or no specie for 
redeeming their notes. Soon many banks were without funds, hence 
were compelled to close their doors, and both the promoters and their 
victims were led into financial ruin. 

Governor Snyder’s great friend, Editor John Binns, had the courage 
to maintain that, although individuals were thus made bankrupt, the 
State was benefited by the results of the banking acts, for, says he: 
“The titles to lands became more clear, settled and certain; strangers 


584 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


were induced to purchase and come to Pennsylvania and settle.” Quite 
a costly way to clear titles. 

The downfall of the banking system was followed by general depres¬ 
sion, and many men and business institutions were forced into involun¬ 
tary bankruptcy. This was an unfortunate period in Pennsylvania 
history, and was not a condition single to this State alone. 

Normal conditions were eventually restored and then followed an 
era of progress which was not marred for many years. 

Throughout all this trying period Governor Snyder exhibited many 
splendid traits of character, and met every emergency with determined 
courage. He was not always able to control the Legislature, and his 
conduct in trying to stay the deluge of paper money was one of the 
most noteworthy of his three successful administrations. 


British Destroy Moravian Indian Town on 
Order of De Peyster, August 25,1781 

OLONEL DANIEL BRODHEAD had been sent with his 
Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment to the Western frontier, and 
as most of the soldiers in this renowned command had 
been recruited in that part of the State this assignment 
was gladly received. The men could do double duty by 
serving their country and at the same time assist in protecting 
their own homes. 

But all did not go well for Brodhead. He was a great soldier and 
knew how to fight Indians, but was remiss in other matters and soon 
got into trouble with the Supreme Executive Council, on account of 
becoming involved in quarrels with officers and civilians. 

Congress selected Brigadier General William Irvine, of Carlisle, to 
succeed Colonel Brodhead in the command of the Western Department, 
September 24, 1781, and he repaired to that post of duty. 

Colonel J. W. de Peyster, the British commandant at Detroit, who 
believed the presence of the Moravian missionaries along the Tuscara¬ 
was River had seriously interfered with prosecution of the war, ordered 
their removal to the Sandusky Valley, where they were planted amid 
the villages of the hostile Wyandot and Shawnee. 

On August 25, 1781, he sent Captain Matthew Elliott, the Tory 
officer, with a small party of Tories and French-Canadians, and 250 
savages, including Wyandot under Dunquat, Delaware under Captain 
Pipe, and a few Shawnee to carry his order into effect. Elliott per¬ 
formed his errand with unnecessary brutality. 

The missionaries and their converts claimed a strict neutrality, but 
did not observe it. Bishop Zeisberger and Reverend Heckewelder were 





BRITISH DESTROY INDIAN TOWN 


585 


secretly the friends of the Americans and conducted a regular clandestine 
correspondence with the officers at Fort Pitt, giving valuable informa¬ 
tion of the movements of the British and hostile savages. This was 
suspected by Colonel de Peyster and he ordered the Moravians to move 
nearer Detroit. The hostile Indians threatened the converts with de¬ 
struction because they would not join in the war, while many borderers 
believed these Indians did occasionally participate in raids upon the 
settlements. The settlers did not take much stock in the Christianity of 
the Moravian Indians. 

To save the Moravians from dangers on both sides, Colonel Brod- 
head advised them to take up their residence near Fort Pitt, but they 
refused to heed his warning. These converts remained between the 
two fires, but Zeisberger and Heckewelder were blind to their imminent 
peril. 

The Moravian Indians numbered about one hundred families in 
their three villages of Schoenbrun, Gnadenhuetten, and Salem. Their 
homes were log cabins, with vegetable gardens and cultivated fields, 
and fine herds of cattle, hogs and many horses. 

Elliott seized and confined the missionaries and their families and 
gathered them and all the converted Indians at Gnadenhuetten. They 
were marched from there September 11, leaving behind their great 
stock of corn and many effects. The sad procession descended the Tus¬ 
carawas to its junction with the Walhonding and passed up the latter 
stream to its source, thence over the dividing ridge to the Sandusky. 

By the time the Moravians had reached the Sandusky they had been 
robbed of their best blankets and cooking vessels and their food was 
about exhausted. On the east side of the stream, about two miles above 
the site of Upper Sandusky, they settled down in poverty and privation, 
built rude shelters of logs and bark and spent the winter in great distress. 

In March the missionaries were again taken to Detroit and closely 
examined by de Peyster, and nothing detrimental could be proved against 
them, yet de Peyster would not allow them to return to the Sandusky, 
and they made a new settlement on the Huron River. 

During the forcible removal of the Moravians seven Wyandot 
warriors left the party and went on a raid across the Ohio River. 
Among the seven were three sons of Dunquat, the half-king; the eldest 
son, Scotosh, was the leader of the party. They visited the farm of 
Philip Jackson, on Harman’s Creek, and captured Jackson, who was a 
carpenter about 60 years of age. This capture was witnessed by Jack¬ 
son’s son, who ran nine miles to Fort Cherry, on Little Raccoon Creek, 
and gave the alarm, but a heavy rain that night prevented immediate 
pursuit. 

Bright and early next morning seventeen stout young men, all 
mounted, gathered at Jackson’s farm, and John Jack, a professional 
scout, declared he knew where the Indians had hidden their canoes. 


586 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


But only six would follow him, John Cherry, Andrew Poe, Adam Poe, 
William Castleman, William Rankin and James Whitacre, and they 
started on a gallop for the mouth of Tomlinson’s Run. Jacks surmise 
was a shrewd one, based on a thorough knowledge of the Ohio River 
and the habits of the Indians. 

After dismounting the borderers descended cautiously, and at the 
mouth of the run were five Indians, with their prisoner, ready to shove 
off. John Cherry fired and killed an Indian and was himself killed by 
the return fire. Four of the five Indians were killed, and Philip Jackson 
rescued unharmed, and Scotosh escaped up the river with a wound in 
his arm. 

Andrew Poe in a hand to hand scuffle with two sons of the half-king, 
succeeded in killing one of them, who had first wounded him. The 
other Indian escaped and was in the act of firing at Poe when he was 
shot and killed. Andrew Poe fell into the stream and was mistaken for 
an Indian and shot in the shoulder by mistake. 

The triumphant return of the party to Fort Cherry was saddened 
by the death of John Cherry, a great and popular leader. Scotosh was 
the only Indian who escaped, and he made his way back to the Upper 
Sandusky, with a sad message for his father and the tribe. 


Volunteers Fight Two Battles in Hills Along 
West Branch August 26, 1763 

OR boldness of attempt and depth of design the Pontiac War 
was perhaps unsurpassed in the annals of border warfare. 

Soon as the English had been able to push past the French 
line of forts, which reached from Presqu’ Isle to the Monon- 
gahela, and had gained such a strong foothold in Canada, the 
Indians planned to destroy them at one stroke. 

The renowned chiefs, Kiyasuta, of the Seneca, and Pontiac, of the 
Ottawa, conceived the gigantic plan of uniting all the northwestern 
tribes in a simultaneous attack upon the whole frontier. Utter exter¬ 
mination was their object. 

The forts were to be taken by stratagem by separate parties, all on 
the same day. The border settlements were to be attacked during 
harvest and men, women, children, crops, cattle and cabins, were to be 
destroyed. 

The English traders among the Indians were the first victims; out 
of a total of 120, only a few escaped. The frontier settlements among 
or near the mountains were overrun with scalping parties, marking 
their pathway with blood and fire. 

The forts in Pennsylvania at Presqu’ Isle, Le Boeuf and Venango 









BATTLES ALONG WEST BRANCH 


587 


were taken with great slaughter. Those at Fort Pitt, Bedford and 
Ligonier were preserved with great difficulty. Carlisle and Fort 
Augusta were threatened. 

General Amherst promptly "dispatched Colonel Henry Bouquet to 
the relief of Fort Pitt, and he defeated the Indians and saved the 
garrison. 

It was during this distressing period that the Indians planned to 
attack the interior settlements of Pennsylvania as far as Tulpehocken, 
and their great object was the capture of Fort Augusta, which had 
been built at the suggestion of the Indians themselves. 

Alarming intelligence was everywhere received of the contemplated 
attacks; friendly Indians gave timely warning of each approaching dan¬ 
ger. Especially was the situation critical in the vicinity of Paxtang 
where the treachery of the so-called friendly Indians was several times 
discovered. 

Preparations were carefully made and the utmost vigilance exercised 
and every available resistance planned by the sturdy frontiersmen. The 
garrison at Fort Augusta was reinforced by additional troops recruited 
in the countries nearer the seat of government. 

With reports constantly reaching Carlisle and other places that the 
Indians would attack Fort Augusta in great numbers, and believing 
that the Moravian Indian converts were treacherously giving informa¬ 
tion to the enemy, it was determined to check them. 

Colonel John Armstrong, with about three hundred volunteers from 
Cumberland and Bedford Counties marched from Carlisle on an expedi¬ 
tion to destroy the Indian town at Great Island, now Lock Haven, 
Pennsylvania. 

When Armstrong’s party arrived at Great Island the Indians had 
already deserted their village a few days previous. But on his march he 
fell upon another village near the Big Island, now Jersey Shore. So 
sudden was his advance that the Indians were scarcely able to escape; 
they left the foqd hot upon their bark tables, which was prepared for 
dinner. The army destroyed Great Island village and a large quantity 
of grain and provisions. 

A part of this little army was returning down the West Branch, 
Friday, August 26, when they encountered the enemy at Muncy Creek 
hill, present Lycoming County, and, in a hot skirmish which ensued, 
four of the volunteers were killed and four wounded. There were 
quite as many casualties among the savages, but they were able to bear 
away their dead and wounded. 

Captains William Patterson, Sharp, Bedford, Laughlin and Craw¬ 
ford with seventy-six of their commands, arrived at Fort Augusta, Sat¬ 
urday, August 27, 1763. Other stragglers reached the fort during that 
and the following day. 

These soldiers reported details of the sanguinary battle and con- 


588 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


firmed the fears of the inhabitants about the treachery of the Moravian 
Indians. They reported that after the battle a party of Indians return¬ 
ing to Great Island from a mission to Bethlehem, were attacked by them 
on a hill north of the present borough of Northumberland, in which 
action the troops believed they had killed all of the Indian party of 
twelve. 

There can be no doubt that these two attacks were made for 
there are several references to them from different sources, also J. F. 
Meginness in his “Otzinachson,” says: 

“It is to be regretted that so little was left on record concerning the 
operations of this great expedition. It was the largest that had invaded 
the West Branch Valley up to that time, but instead of wiping out the 
savages and rendering them powerless, it only tended to still further 
enrage and cause them to commit greater deeds of blood as was proved 
by subsequent events.” 

The first great massacre at Wyoming soon followed. A party of 
Six Nations stealthily murdered Tedyuskung, the Delaware King, by 
burning him to death in his cabin during a drunken bout. They con¬ 
vinced the Delaware that the crime was perpetrated by whites, who 
October 15, 1763, suddenly turned on the settlers while at work in the 
fields, brutally murdered ten of them, and left their scalped bodies in 
the fields, while they burned their homes, destroyed their crops and 
drove away the cattle. None escaped but those who fled in time to 
reach the mountains. This massacre was led by Captain Bull, a son 
of Tedyuskung. 

Only the brilliant success of Colonel Henry Bouquet at Bushy Run 
checked the Indians, and with this repulse they became disheartened 
and soon after sued for peace. 


Europeans Explore Waters of Pennsylvania, 
Delaware Bay So Named 
August 27,1610 

UITE different from all other colonies was Pennsylvania in 
the fact that many settlements were made within its borders 
and many races contributed to her people. 

In 1608, the famous Captain John Smith, of Virginia, sailed 
up the Chesapeake Bay to its head, where he was stopped by the 
rocks. 

At this same time the Dutch of Holland, during a lull in their war 
with Spain, were sending maritime expeditions over the world. They 
sent Henry Hudson to America. He sailed up the coast, on August 28, 
1609, in his ship the “Half Moon,” entered the bay now called Dela- 








PENNSYLVANIA WATERS EXPLORED 


589 


ware Bay, and cast anchor. Hudson was an Englishman, but in the 
service now of the Dutch. 

The republic of the Netherlands, after a struggle never surpassed for 
heroism and constancy, had won a truce with King Philip of Spain, and 
the Dutch merchants had sent the English captain out upon the old 
quest, a short route to China. 

Hudson’s appearance in Delaware Bay was before his discovery of 
the Hudson River, and, therefore, New Netherlands had its origin on 
the Delaware, called by the Dutch the Zuyd Revier, or South River. 

Hudson navigated his little ship into the bay with great caution. 
He spent the day in making soundings, and learned that “he who would 
thoroughly discover this great bay must have a small pinnace to send 
before him, that must draw but four or five feet to sound before him.” 

Hudson then sailed up the New Jersey coast, on the third day of 
September, anchored his ship within Sandy Hook, and the 12th he 
entered New York Bay through the Narrows, and discovered the 
great river that since has borne his name. 

So far as the history of Pennsylvania is concerned there is much 
import in the exploration of Hudson in Delaware Bay. He made 
known to his employers, the Dutch East India Company, and to the sea¬ 
faring nations of western Europe, the existence of this wide bay, into 
which, as he perceived, a great river must discharge. His discovery laid 
the ground for the claim by the Dutch to the country on the Delaware. 
Exploration followed, then trade, then occupancy, then a new State, in 
which the present Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and New York 
were united under one government, called New Netherlands. 

On August 27, 1610, Captain Samuel Argali, from Jamestown, Va., 
sailed into the Delaware Bay, and, remaining a few hours, gave it the 
name of Delaware, in honor of Lord Delaware, then Governor of 
Virginia. Thus we notice that neither Captain John Smith nor Henry 
Hudson entered Pennsylvania, they approached the very doorway, but 
did not come inside. 

The first actual visit of a white man seems to have been six years 
later, when Etienne Brule, a Frenchman, and a follower of Champlain, 
the first Governor of New France, came into Pennsylvania via the 
headwaters of the Susquehanna River and explored its entire length. 

Hudson’s report of a land rich in furs attracted the attention of 
the Dutch, and before 1614, five vessels came to Manhattan on the 
North River. One of them, the “Fortune,” commanded by Captain 
Cornelius Jacobson Mey, sailed in the Zuyd River, and he named the 
cape at the east entrance of the bay Cape Mey, and the cape on the 
west Cape Cornelius. 

One of these vessels, the “Tiger,” was burned and her captain, 
Adrian Block, built a yacht forty-four and a half feet long, eleven and 
a half feet wide, of sixteen tons burden, to take her place. This boat, 


590 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the “Onrust,” was the first built within the limits of the United 
States, and she was destined to fame. Cornelius Hendrickson brought 
the “Onrust” to the Delaware in 1616, and made the first exploration of 
the Delaware River, and discovered the mouth of the Schuylkill and first 
saw the site of Philadelphia. Here he ransomed from the Indians a 
Dutchman named Kleynties and two companions, who had come down 
from the North River by land, and who may have been the first 
Europeans in Pennsylvania. 

On June 3, 1621, the Dutch West India Company was formed. 
The charter by the Dutch Government gave it the exclusive right to 
trade on the coast of America between Newfoundland and the Straits 
of Magellan. This company, by virtue of its charter, took possession of 
the country, and dispatched the ship “New Netherland,” with a number 
of people, under command of Captain Mey, to the Delaware, where, 
on the eastern bank, fifteen leagues from its mouth, Captain Mey erected 
Fort Nassau. 

The site of this fort was about five miles above Wilmington, and 
here four married couples and eight seamen lived. This was, probably, 
the first settlement on the Delaware River. Fort Nassau was a log 
structure, capable of defense against bows and arrows, sufficient for a 
depot of furs, but badly situated to command the commerce 6f the 
river. It stood for nearly thirty years, until 1651, and in that time 
was the center on this continent of Dutch authority and trade. It was 
to this fort that the Indians of Pennsylvania brought their peltries to 
exchange for articles that served their use or pleased their fancy, or 
for rum that made them drunk. 

Another settlement was made farther north, on the same side of the 
river, which consisted of three or four families. 

The administration of the affairs of New Netherlands was confided 
by the Dutch West Indian Company to Peter Minuit, who arrived at 
Manhattan, May 4, 1626. He came from Wesel, and was commis¬ 
sioned as director-general. It was he who soon after his arrival “pur¬ 
chased the island of Manhattan from the Indians for sixty guilders, or 
the sum of twenty-five dollars in real money.” 

In spite of the fact that the Dutch West Indian Company in 1629 
granted special privileges to all persons who should plant any colony in 
New Netherland, up until 1631 no white man had made a settlement 
on the west bank of the Delaware. 

On December 30, 1630, David Pieterzoon De Vries, with thirty- 
two people and a large stock of cattle, sailed from the Texel, in the 
ship “Walrus,” and arrived at the southern cape, Cornelius, now Hen- 
lopen, and made a settlement near the present town of Lewes, and 
called it Swanendael, or the Valley of the Swans. De Vries is the 
finest figure among the early pioneer history of the settlement of this 
part of our country. He was intelligent, energetic and humane. 


STRUGGLE FOR OIL BEGINS 


591 


World Struggle for Oil Began at Titusville, 
August 28,1859 

HE gigantic struggle for oil began in Titusville, Pennsylvania, 
August 28, 1859, when Colonel Edwin L. Drake struck oil in 
the world’s first well. 

This small hole drilled through the rock so peacefully 
opened the way to wealth hitherto unknown. It yielded about 
forty barrels per day, but the precious fuel was now produced 
in commercial quantities. It opened also the most important natural 
production of Pennsylvania, after iron and coal. 

This first well was in Cherry Tree Township, on the Watson Flats, 
on the bank of Oil Creek, about two miles below the thrifty borough 
of Titusville. 

Venango County seems to have been the native home for petroleum 
for although it has been found in large quantities in neighboring coun¬ 
ties, it was first gathered there and its presence was known from the 
advent of man in that vast region. 

The Indians gathered oil from a stream called Oil Creek, in this 
vicinity, which they used for medicinal purposes. It became well known 
all over the country as “Seneca Oil,” “British Oil” and other names. 
It was collected by digging out the place where it oozed out of the 
ground, and when oil and water had accumulated, blankets were thrown 
in, taking up the oil, when it was wrung out, and the process repeated. 

A century since the product of Oil Creek Valley amounted to a 
dozen barrels a year. The first shipment in bulk was made by a man 
named Cary, who filled two five-gallon kegs and lashed them on either 
side of the horse he rode to the market at Pittsburgh. This supply 
stocked the market. 

By the year 1865 Venango County shipped 13,000 barrels per day 
about the only oil produced in this country. 

Petroleum was desired as an illuminator, but the small quantity 
obtainable made it too expensive. 

According to the production records more than one billion barrels 
of oil were produced in 1923 for a world’s record in oil production— 
and yet the supply is far short of the world demand. 

Fish oil is the earliest known illuminant and lubricant. “Coal oil,” 
however, still used erroneously as the name for kerosene, was discovered 
less than eighty years ago by Dr. Abraham Gesner, who, in 1846, 
obtained oil from coal. That was enough to ruin the fish oil industry, 
and soon more than fifty coal oil works were put in operation, distilling 
oil from bituminous, or soft coal. 









592 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


A man named Kier, at Tarentum, Pennsylvania, in 1847, bored for 
salt water and pumped up oil. He put it in barrels and sold it. A 
professor at Dartmouth College, using some of the oil, told George H. 
Bissell that in his opinion it could be used for illuminating purposes. 
Bissell investigated these claims and organized the Petroleum Oil Com¬ 
pany—which was the first of its kind in the United States, and sent a 
quantity to Benjamin Silliman, Professor of Chemistry in Yale College, 
who reported that nearly the whole of the raw product could be treated 
so as to be used for illuminating and other purposes without any waste. 

In December, 1857, Colonel Edwin L. Drake, one of the stock¬ 
holders of this company, rode into Titusville on a mail coach from Erie. 
He carried with him $1,000 with which to begin boring, for oil. He 
started immediately to his work, but met with many discouragements. 

Well drillers were unknown and well drilling machinery almost 
unheard of in 1858. He built his “pump house” and derrick, and with 
the assistance of “Uncle Billy” Smith, began drilling. 

The beginning was made in quicksand and clay, and as soon as the 
hole was made it filled up with water and caved in. Drake then hit 
upon the scheme of driving an iron pipe through to bedrock, and its 
success made the use of this method the standard practice of today in 
the oil fields everywhere. 

After rock was reached they bored but three feet per day, but by 
Saturday, August 27, 1859, the well had reached the depth of sixty- 
nine feet and the drill was working in coarse sand. Smith and his sons, 
who were helping him, had finished for the week. As they were quitting 
the drill dropped six inches, apparently into a crevice, as was common 
in salt wells. No attention was paid to this circumstance, the tools 
were drawn out and all hands adjourned to Titusville. 

Sunday morning Uncle Billy strolled out to the drill, and to his 
astonishment found the well filled within a few feet of the surface with 
a dark fluid. It was oil. The news soon spread to the village, and 
when Colonel' Drake appeared he found Uncle Billy guarding three 
barrels of petroleum. The pumping apparatus was adjusted, and by 
noon the well was producing at the rate of twenty barrels per day. 
The problem of the ages had been solved. The world’s first oil well was 
in production. 

Then began what has been called the “oil fever.” People from 
all parts of the country flocked to western Pennsylvania. Oil companies 
were everywhere organized, whose stock was sold on the market. Land 
which for generations had been regarded as almost barren sold for 
fabulous prices. 

“Coal Oil Johnnie,” an ignorant young man whose paternal acres 
had long brought only poverty and were now found to be located with 
wealth, appeared in Philadelphia, scattering ten dollar bills in all direc¬ 
tions, and buying teams of horses on one day, only to give them to his 


JOSEPH GALLOWAY, TORY 


593 


coachman on the next. He built an opera house in Cincinnati and 
ended his career as its doorkeeper. 

In 1860, near Rouseville, the oil flowed out of a well without the 
use of a pump, and other flowing wells in adjacent localities were 
soon found. 

Oil was first transported in wagons and boats. The railroads were 
laid out to Oil City in 1865. In 1864 Samuel Van Syckel had con¬ 
structed a pipe line four miles in length, and the result was a change 
in the entire method of transportation. A refinery was built at 
Corry in 1862. 

The Pennsylvania grade of crude oil is the best lubricant that man 
has ever found. And since refineries can add nothing to an oil that 
was not present in its crude state, Pennsylvania grade of crude oil is 
still supreme. 

In recent years the Standard Oil Company has controlled to a 
great extent the oil production of the country. 

The largest individual fortune the world has ever seen is the out¬ 
come of the development of the business of securing and distributing 
coal oil. 


Joseph Galloway, Loyalist Politician, and 
Member Continental Congress, 

Died August 29, 1803 

OSEPH GALLOWAY, the Loyalist Politician, was born in 
the town of West River, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 
in the year 1731. His great-grandfather, Richard Galloway, 
of London, England, acquired considerable land in Lord Balti¬ 
more’s province in 1662, thus indicating that he was a man of 
good fortune and respectability. 

Peter Galloway, father of Joseph, removed with his family in 1740 
to Kent, not far from Philadelphia, where he died while Joseph was yet 
a mere boy. Being possessed of large landed property Joseph chose the 
study of law, and was admitted to the bar and allowed to practice 
before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as early as 1749. In the 
meantime he had obtained a good social standing, and as early as 1748 
had been made a member of the Schuylkill Fishing Company, a club 
composed of the most prominent and aristocratic men of Philadelphia. 

Mr. Galloway still further enhanced his prospects by his marriage 
in 1753 with Grace Growden, daughter of Lawrence Growden, an 
influential character and a former Speaker of the Assembly. The 
Growdens were the owners of the famous iron works at Durham, 
Pennsylvania, and possessed large means. 








594 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Mr. Galloway rapidly acquired a large practice and became one of 
the eminent lawyers in the province. He and John Dickinson suc¬ 
ceeded Andrew Hamilton in the leadership of the Philadelphia bar prior 
to the Revolution. 

Galloway became a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1756, 
and his legal talents proved of especial service in that body. In recog¬ 
nition of his unusual attainments as a lawyer and public man, Mr. 
Galloway was given the degree LL.D., by Princeton College in 1769. 

Mr. Galloway several times served as an Indian Commissioner and 
attended important conferences at Easton and on missions to the Indian 
country. 

He became an opponent of the Proprietaries and fought a successful 
battle with the Governor over the question of preserving to the Assembly 
the disposal of the money and forbidding the Governor to assist in its 
expenditure. 

When the effort was made to abolish the Proprietorship and make 
Pennsylvania a royal province, the Assembly passed resolutions rehears¬ 
ing the tyranny of the Proprietary and a bitter factional struggle ensued 
among the people. In October, 1764, the Assembly passed the resolution 
for a change of government by a vote of 27 to 3. Rather than sign the 
document Isaac Norris resigned as speaker. 

In the final debate, Joseph Galloway and John Dickinson made the 
leading speeches for and against, respectively. Galloway favored the 
abolition of the Proprietary government, while Dickinson believed its 
continuance would better serve the province. Benjamin Franklin and 
Galloway were so closely associated that their leadership was hard 
to beat. 

Galloway was at the head of the committee which considered and 
reported upon the grievances of the Province in the “Paxtang Riot” 
affair following the murder of the Conestoga Indians, December, 1763. 

The conduct of Galloway during the excitement attending the pas¬ 
sage of the Stamp Act was conspicuously loyal. He feared the tyranny 
of mob rule more than the tyranny of Parliament. 

Mr. Galloway gave expression to his views in an article signed 
“Americanus,” printed in the Pennsylvania Journal, in which he 
warned his countrymen of the evils to which their seditious conduct 
would lead. This article aroused great indignation against him. He 
was called a Tory and went by the name of “Americanus” for some time. 

Mr. Galloway had an extreme aversion to the Presbyterians. He 
associated them with rioters, and in their support of the “Paxtang Boys” 
he was convinced they were dangerous characters. 

Although he had taken a rather unpopular stand in the Stamp Act 
controversy, he was returned to the Assembly in 1766, and elected 
its Speaker. 

Mr. Galloway approved the proposal for a Continental Congress 


JOSEPH GALLOWAY, TORY 


595 


and was one of the eight Pennsylvanians who composed the First Con¬ 
tinental Congress. Although Dickinson was the leader, Galloway 
played a conspicuous but not very honorable part. According to Ban¬ 
croft, he “acted as a volunteer spy for the British Government.” 

It is a fact that he was a conservative in his views, and that his line 
of argument in his first debates tended towards political independence. 
He proposed a plan of colonial government, which was rejected. This 
plan contemplated a government with a president-general appointed by 
the king, and a Grand Council, chosen every three years by the colonial 
assemblies, who were to be authorized to act jointly with Parliament 
in the regulation of affairs of the colonies. 

The following year Galloway was permitted to resign and thus be 
relieved from serving on account of the radical acts against England. 
He abandoned the Whigs soon as the question of independence had 
begun to be agitated, and thence forward he was regarded as a zealous 
Tory. 

When the Howes issued their proclamation in 1776, granting 
amnesty to such Americans as would forsake the Revolutionary cause, 
Galloway’s courage failed him and he accepted the offer. 

“Galloway has fled and joined the venal Howe; 

To prove his baseness, see him cringe and bow, 

A traitor to his country and its laws, 

A friend to tyrants and their cursed cause,” etc. 

Galloway accompanied Howe’s expedition against Philadelphia. 
When the British assumed control he was appointed Superintendent of 
the Police of the City and Suburbs, of the Port and of the Prohibited 
Articles. Thus he was for about five months the head of the civil 
government. 

He raised and disciplined troops; and gathered a company of Bucks 
County refugees, and with these two bodies he carried on military enter¬ 
prises against Americans. 

The Pennsylvania Assembly, March 6, 1778, passed an “act for the 
attainder of divers traitors,” among whom was Joseph Galloway. His 
estate was confiscated, and according to his testimony before Parliament, 
was worth at least £40,000 sterling. His house was appropriated by 
the State of Pennsylvania as a residence for the President of the 
Supreme Executive Council, but was afterwards sold to Robert Morris. 

Forbidden the privilege of returning to Pennsylvania, Mr. Gallo¬ 
way devoted his leisure time to religious studies. He died at Watford, 
Herts, England, August 29, 1803. 


596 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Etymology of Pennsylvania Counties Erected 
Since Penn Set Sail August 30, 1682 

ILLIAM PENN sailed from England in the ship “Welcome,” 
August 30, 1682. 

Upon his arrival the organization of his province was 
pushed with dispatch, and today that vast territory is divided 
into sixty-seven counties, each one of which possesses history 
worth the telling. 

The genealogy of the counties of Pennsylvania is both interesting 
and historical, and presents some valuable data. The three original 
counties were Philadelphia, Chester and Bucks, so named by William 
Penn in the latter part of the year 1682. 

It is a singular coincidence that Philadelphia County should be sur¬ 
rounded with counties somewhat similar to those which surround Lon¬ 
don in England; Buckingham, or Bucks, Chester and Lancashire. 

The name Philadelphia means “brotherly love,” the other three were 
given their names in honor of their English importance. In fact all the 
counties formed and named prior to the Revolution were named iden¬ 
tically and relatively after the counties in England in this chronological 
order in the Province—Philadelphia, Chester, Bucks, Lancaster, York, 
Cumberland, Berks, Northampton, Bedford, Northumberland and 
Westmoreland. 

Following the independence of the colonies only three of the counties 
of Pennsylvania were afterwards given names of English Counties. 
They were Huntingdon, Somerset and Cambria. 

In an interesting paper prepared by the late Dr. Hugh Hamilton, of 
Harrisburg and read before the Federation of Historical Societies of 
Pennsylvania, of which he was then president, the sixty-seven counties 
were grouped etymologically as follows: 

“Sentimental—Philadelphia, Columbia, Lebanon and Union. 

“Familiar—Bedford, Berks, Bucks, Cambria, Chester, Cumberland, 
Huntingdon, Lancaster, Northampton, Northumberland, Somerset, 
York and Westmoreland. 

“Gratitude—Armstrong, Bradford, Butler, Clinton, Crawford, 
Dauphin, Luzerne, Mercer, Mifflin, Montgomery, Fayette, Fulton, 
Greene, Lawrence, Montour, Perry, Pike, Sullivan, Warren, Wash¬ 
ington and Wayne. 

“Political—Adams, Blair, Cameron, Franklin, Jefferson, McKean, 
Monroe and Snyder. 

“Aboriginal—Allegheny, Delaware, Erie, Indiana, Juniata, Lacka¬ 
wanna, Lehigh, Lycoming, Susquehanna, Tioga, Venango and 
Wyoming. 







ETYMOLOGY OF COUNTIES 


597 


“Topographical—Center and Clarion. 

“Faunal—Beaver, Carbon, Clearfield, Elk, Forest, Schuylkill.” 

It would seem as if Schuylkill should be placed with the aboriginal 
group and a new one placed in the list called possibly natural character¬ 
istics, when Carbon, Clearfield and Forest would be placed and taken 
from the faunal group. However, the grouping is of much interest 
and value. 

Many of these counties were formed and received their names at 
times of some event in history or when a distinguished person seemed 
entitled to be thus honored. 

Washington County was named in honor of the commander-in-chief 
of the Continental Army in 1781, before he was even thought of as the 
first president of the United States. And it is an interesting fact that 
Washington County was the first one erected after the Declaration of 
Independence. Thus Washington became first in Pennsylvania, as well 
as in war, peace and the hearts of his countrymen. And it is equally 
interesting that the very next county to be formed in the patriotic State 
of Pennsylvania should be named after General La Fayette, who ren¬ 
dered such conspicuous service to the colonies and was so close to 
Washington during the trying days of the great war for liberty. 
Fayette was organized September 26, 1783. 

Then the statesmen paid a great tribute to Franklin, who was the 
great American patriot and statesman. Armstrong was named in honor 
of Colonel John Armstrong of Carlisle, who led the successful expedi¬ 
tion against the Indian town at Kittanning and who afterwards 
became a general and rendered distinguished service in the Revolution. 

The counties of Butler, Crawford, Mifflin, Pike, Potter and Wayne 
were named in honor of distinguished Pennsylvania officers of the Revo¬ 
lution; while Greene and Mercer were names suggested by General 
Washington, both as a tribute to distinguished generals of the Revolu¬ 
tion, who were much in Pennsylvania; Sullivan and Perry were named 
for generals whose great triumphs were enacted here, and Warren 
County was named in honor of the general who made the supreme 
sacrifice at Bunker Hill. 

Bradford County was originally Ontario in the bill creating it, but 
the name was changed in honor of former Attorney General William 
Bradford, of Pennsylvania. Lawrence was so named in honor of the 
flagship of Commodore Oliver H. Perry; Fulton in honor of Lancaster 
County’s native son, Robert Fulton, who first successfully ran a steam¬ 
boat. Clinton was intended to be called Eagle County, but the name 
was changed to Clinton. Montour was so named in honor of 
Madame Montour and her two distinguished sons, Henry and 
Andrew, Indians who were ever loyal to the Provincial Government 
of Pennsylvania. 

Dauphin and Luzerne were so named in thankfulness to France, 


598 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the former in honor of the eldest son of Louis XVI, and the latter in 
tribute to the Minister of France then in the United States. 

It is rather to be regretted that more of our counties, cities, 
boroughs and villages do not still retain their original aboriginal names 
such as have been retained in Allegheny, Delaware, Erie, Indiana, 
Juniata, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Lycoming, Susquehanna, Tioga, Venango, 
Wyoming and Schuylkill Counties. 


Penn Obtains Deed to Province, Then 
Obtains Lower Counties 
August 31, 1682 

WO motives operated in the early colonization of the American 
Continent; one was the desire of amassing sudden wealth with¬ 
out working for it; this tempted the adventurous to seek gold 
here, to trade valueless trinkets to the Indians for valuable furs 
and skins; the other was the desire to escape unjust restrictions 
of government and the hated ban of society against the worship 
of God according to the dictates of one’s own conscience, which 
incited devotees of Christianity to forego the comforts of home in the 
midst of civilization, and to make for themselves a habitation on the 
shores of the new world. 

William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, had felt the heavy hand 
of persecution for religious opinion’s sake. As a gentleman commoner 
at Oxford, he had been fined and finally expelled for nonconformity to 
the established church; at home he was whipped and turned out of 
doors by his father; he was sent to prison by the Mayor of Cork, 
where for seven months he languished in the Tower of London, and, 
finally, to complete his disgrace, he was cast into Newgate with com¬ 
mon felons. 

Upon the accession of James II to the throne of England, more than 
fourteen hundred persons of Quaker faith were immured in prisons for 
a conscientious adherence to their religious convictions. To escape this 
persecution Penn and his followers were moved to emigrate to the 
New World, as they called it. 

In 1680 Penn made application to Charles II for a grant of land 
in America. He based his claim upon moneys due to his father because 
of losses in the public service, where he was a distinguished officer of 
the British navy. 

The Duke of York gave his consent and the king issued a patent to 
William Penn, March 4, 1681. 

Penn was not prepared to visit his new province during the first 
year, but he dispatched three shiploads of settlers, and with them sent 








PROVINCE DEEDED TO PENN 


599 


his cousin, Captain William Markham, to take formal possession of 
the country and act as deputy governor. 

Markham arrived at New York, June 21, 1681, and exhibited his 
commission, bearing date April 10, 1681. He also presented the king’s 
charter and proclamation. 

Armed with these credentials Markham proceeded to the Delaware, 
where he was kindly received. He met Lord Baltimore, who happened 
to be in the province, and the Maryland proprietor discovered by 
observation that Upland was at least twelve miles south of the fortieth 
degree of latitude, and believed his province, therefore, extended to the 
Schuylkill. 

This claim by Baltimore induced Penn to obtain additional grants, 
as without them he feared the loss of his whole peninsula. 

Markham was accompanied to Pennsylvania by four commissioners 
appointed by Penn, who, in conjunction with the Governor, had two 
chief duties assigned them; the first was to meet and preserve friendly 
relations with the Indians, and acquire lands by actual purchase, and 
the second was to select the site of a great city and to make the neces¬ 
sary surveys. 

In the beginning of the year following, Penn published his frame of 
government, and certain laws, agreed on in England by himself and the 
purchasers under him, entitled: “The frame of the government of the 
Province of Pennsylvania, in America; together with certain laws, 
agreed upon in England by the Governor and Divers of the Free-Men 
of the aforesaid Province. To be further Explained and Confirmed 
there, by the first Provincial Council and General Assembly that shall 
be held, if they see meet.” 

Lest any trouble might arise in the future from claims founded on 
the grant of land in America to the Duke of York, of “Long Island 
and adjacent territories occupied by the Dutch,” the prudent forethought 
of William Penn prompted him to obtain a deed from the Duke, which 
he succeeded in doing August 31, 1682. 

The deed included the land in Pennsylvania, substantially in the 
terms cited in the original Royal Charter. 

But Penn, even with the new deed, was not quite satisfied. He 
was cut off from the ocean by the uncertain navigation of some narrow 
stream. He, therefore, obtained an additional deed from the Duke of 
York which was for the grant of New Castle and district twelve miles 
in radius around it, and also a further grant from the Duke of a tract 
extending to Cape Henlopen, embracing the two counties of Kent and 
Sussex. 

This new grant to Penn was thereafter termed “the territories,” or 
“the three lower counties,” and for many years remained a part of 
Pennsylvania, until finally separated, since which time it has formed 
the State of Delaware. 


600 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


William Penn was now satisfied with the limits of his province and 
drew up such a description of the country from his limited knowledge 
as he was able to give. 

This description was published in an attractive booklet, together 
with the Royal Charter and proclamation; terms of settlement, and 
other matters pertaining thereto, and broadcast throughout the King¬ 
dom. He took particular pains to have these books fail into the hands 
of Friends. 

The terms of sale of lands were forty shillings for one hundred acres 
and one shilling per acre annual rental. 

The question had been raised regarding the annual rental, but the 
terms of the grant by the Royal Charter to Penn were made absolute 
on the “payment therefore to us, our heirs and successors, two beaver 
skins, to be delivered at our castle on Windsor, on the first day of 
January in every year, and the contingent payment of one-fifth part of 
all gold and silver which, from time to time, happened to be found, 
clear of all charges.” William Penn, therefore, held his title only by 
the payments of quit-rents. He could in consequence give a valid title 
only by exacting the quit-rents. 

These deeds for the “lower counties” were duly recorded in New 
York, and, by proclamation of the commander there, November 21, 
1682, to the magistrates on the west side of the Delaware, the rights of 
Penn under them were publicly recognized and allegiance was cheer¬ 
fully transferred to Penn’s new government. 

Penn then completed his arrangements for his voyage to his 
Province, \yhere he arrived October, 1682. 


Dr. John Cochran, Native of Pennsylvania, 
Director-General Hospitals, Born 
September 1, 1730 

CENTURY and a half has almost elapsed since the American 
Revolution, and in the interim much has been written and 
published concerning it. But comparatively little has ever 
been accessible to the public concerning the medical department 
of the army of patriots. 

To Pennsylvanians particularly this feature of the war 
should prove of interest, for the only Directors General of Military 
Hospitals were none other than Dr. William Shippen and Dr. John 
Cochran, both of Pennsylvania. 

In the year 1570 John Cochran, of kin to the Earl of Dundonald, 
emigrated from Paisley in Scotland, to the North of Ireland. James, 
his descendant in the sixth generation, crossed the sea to America, and 
in the early part of the eighteenth century settled in Pennsylvania. 
H is third son, born at Sadsbury, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1730, was 
Doctor John Cochran, of the Revolution, who was educated for a 
surgeon by Dr. Robert Thompson of Lancaster. 

Having qualified as a physician at the time of the outbreak of the 
French and Indian War, he entered the English service as surgeon’s 
mate, and remained on active duty until the close of hostilities. In 
the campaigns of this war he acquired the medical proficiency and 
surgical expertness for which he was afterward celebrated. 

On December 4, 1760, he married Gertrude Schuyler, only sister 
of General Philip Schuyler, of New York. 

Dr. Cochran afterward removed to Brunswick, N. J., where he 
practiced his profession, until the British burned his house in the early 
part of the Revolutionary War. 

At the close of 1776 he volunteered his services in the Continental 
army and General Washington, remembering his experience and useful¬ 
ness in the French war, was prompt in recommending his name to 
the Continental Congress. 

Dr. Cochran and Dr. William Shippen had prepared a report on 
hospitals upon plans modeled after those of the British army, and 
submitted their efforts to Congress, after they were approved by General 
Washington. On April 7, 1777, Congress adopted this report, which 
remained in effect until remodeled by Congress, September 30, 1780. 

On April 11, 1777, in pursuance of General Washington’s recom¬ 
mendation, Doctor John Cochran received the appointment of Chief 
Physician and Surgeon-General of the Army. 

After nearly four years of exacting service in this position, he was, 

601 









602 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


on January 17, 1781, on the resignation of Dr. William Shippen, 
promoted to be Director of the Military Hospitals of the United 
States, in which capacity he continued until the end of the war. 

Fortunately a letter book kept by Doctor Cochran has been pre¬ 
served. The entries, memorandums and letters partake of the authority 
of an official record. They also disclose the many distressing difficulties 
of the situation. 

The Medical Department, as re-arranged October 6, 1780, con¬ 
sisted of a Director, stationed at general headquarters, a Chief Physician 
and Surgeon, stationed with the army, three chief physicians and 
surgeons of the hospitals stationed variously at the principal hospitals, 
and other assistants, mates, orderlies, matrons and nurses, as occasion 
required. 

When Doctor Cochran was promoted to be Director, Dr. James 
Craik was given the place of Chief Physician and Surgeon of the 
Army, and Dr. William Burnet was made first of the three chief 
physicians, with Dr. Malichi Treat and Dr. Charles McKnight as 
the other two chiefs. Dr. Thomas Bond was made purveyor and Dr. 
Andrew Cragie, the apothecary. 

Some estimate may be had of Doctor Cochran’s real worth, when 
it is known that Dr. Craik was the life-long friend and personal 
physician of General Washington, yet was his subordinate. 

Previous to this time there had been several very important hospitals 
in Pennsylvania, the base hospital twice being at Bethlehem; first on 
December 3, 1776, until March 27, 1777, when the hospital was 
removed to Philadelphia; then after the battle of Brandywine, Sep¬ 
tember 11, 1777, Bethlehem again became the base hospital. The 
wounded from the battle of Germantown were also treated there. On 
August 28, 1778, the remaining patients were removed to Lancaster 
and Yellow Springs. Other hospitals in Pennsylvania were at Ephrata, 
Lititz and Reading. 

The position of Director was always most exacting; not only 
were his duties the alleviation of the suffering, in the rigors of a Valley 
Forge, or stimulating its convalescence in the camp at Norristown, but 
often the finances were expended and the medical stores entirely ex¬ 
hausted. At no time did the army abound in medical stores. 

At times hundreds were sick and lame when there were no supplies 
to relieve them. Untended wounds or languishing disease filled hospitals 
destitute of medicines. Scarcely was convalescence a boon, when lack 
of subsistence faced the soldier in the hospital and often compelled 
him to beg in the streets for the very necessaries of life. 

In this appalling crisis Doctor Cochran seemed to be the right man in 
the right place. He remained almost constantly in the field and pur¬ 
chased supplies as they moved from place to place, and made such 
strong and insistent appeals to Congress that some better support was 


DR. JOHN COCHRAN 


603 


given him, but not before his staff had been reduced to eight hospital 
physicians out of the fifteen established by Congress, and only five of 
these on actual duty. 

Early in 1782 a quantity of medicine was received from France 
and it arrived none too soon. 

But the lack of medicine was not the only hardship of those in 
the Medical Department. A letter from Dr. Cochran to Abram 
Clark, President of Congress, dated February 28, 1781, says: “I hope 
some pay is ordered to be advanced to the officers of the department, 
without which it cannot much longer exist. Many of us have not 
received a shilling in near two years, nor can we procure public 
clothing.” 

Many hospital physicians resigned owing to their inability to subsist 
themselves longer. When Congress at length issued warrants they 
were as worthless as the credit of Congress, and they afforded no relief. 

Dr. Cochran was of stately presence and most genial. He won his 
high place by real merit and experience. 

He pawned his personal credit for the cause; the last sheets from 
his bed were used on the wounded. He quieted dissensions in the 
department, composed the difficulties of individuals, presented petitions 
for his subordinate officers, and performed routine work which should 
have been done by others. All this various labor was performed with 
cheerfulness in adversity, and courage amid danger. 

He was on terms of intimacy with Washington, Lafayette, Wayne, 
Paul Jones and many more. Washington presented him with his camp 
furniture, Lafayette gave him his watch, Wayne gave him his sword, 
the silver hilt of which was melted into goblets. 

Dr. Cochran was a charter member of the Society of the Cin¬ 
cinnati. He died at his country-seat at Palatine, Montgomery County, 
N. Y., April 6, 1807. His widow survived him until March, 1813. 


Constitution of 1790, the First for the State, 
Adopted September 2, 1790 

HE convention to frame a Constitution for the government 
of Pennsylvania as a State completed its labors September 

2, 1790. 

On that day the members signed the instrument, after 
which they went in procession from the State House to the 
court-house, where the new Constitution was proclaimed. 
Provision had been made for the continuance in office, until the 
new government went into operation, of the Supreme Executive Council 
and other State officers, but not of the Legislature, and the latter 







604 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


body believing its authority had ceased, did not proceed to the transaction 
of business on the following day. 

At the election held in October, Thomas Mifflin, of Philadelphia, 
who had been president of the Supreme Executive Council since 
November 5, 1788, was elected governor over General Arthur St. 
Clair. 

The new Legislature met in the State House December 7, and on 
December 21 the change of government was formally effected. 

A procession was formed at the chamber of the Supreme Executive 
Council, which moved to the old court-house at Second and Market 
Streets, where the old government yielded up its powers, and the new 
government was proclaimed. Governor Mifflin was inaugurated “with 
much ceremony.” 

On January 1, 1791, the City Councils, Mayor, Recorder and a 
great number of citizens waited on Governor Mifflin and tendered him 
their congratulations. 

The first constitutional convention, whose most conspicuous members 
were Benjamin Franklin, David Rittenhouse, George Ross and James 
Smith, met at Philadelphia July 15, 1776, each one taking, without 
hesitancy, the prescribed test oath, and organized by the selection of 
Benjamin Franklin, president. 

The labors of this convention were completed September 28, when 
the Constitution was adopted, and went into immediate effect without a 
vote of the people. 

This Constitution vested executive authority in a Council of Safety, 
presided over by Thomas Wharton, Jr., composed of twelve members, 
one from Philadelphia and one from each of the counties. The 
legislative power was vested in a General Assembly of one house 
elected annually, and consisting of six members from Philadelphia and 
six from each county. The supreme executive power was vested in 
a President, chosen annually by the Assembly and Council. 

A Council of Censors, consisting of two persons from Philadelphia 
and two from each county, was to be elected in 1783, and in each 
seventh year thereafter, whose duty was to supervise the Constitution 
and the branches of government, with a power to impeach. 

The Constitution of 1776 also provided that, “all useful learning 
shall be duly encouraged and promoted in one or more universities.” 
This was the first time in America that higher education was made a 
part of the fundamental law. 

Following the successful termination of the Revolution the Pennsyl¬ 
vania Constitution of 1776 proved inadequate for the requirements of 
a useful and effective State Government, and its revision was demanded. 

On March 24, 1789, the Assembly adopted resolutions recommend¬ 
ing the election of delegates to form a new Constitution. The Supreme 
Executive Council refused to promulgate this action of the Assembly, 


FIRST STATE CONSTITUTION 


605 


but acquiesced in September. An election was held in October, when 
delegates were chosen. 

The convention met November 24, 1789, and in it were the first 
talents that Pennsylvania could boast. Thomas McKean, Thomas 
Mifflin, Albert Gallatin, William Findlay, James Wilson, William 
Lewis, James Ross, Alexander Addison, Edward Hand, Samuel Sit- 
greaves, Joseph Hiester and Thomas Pickering were among the 
members. Thomas Mifflin was elected President. 

After a long session the members adjourned in the ensuing year 
to meet again, when the subject of the Constitution was again taken 
up and concluded, and the new instrument adopted September 2, 1790. 

The most radical changes were made in the executive and legislative 
branches of government. 

The Supreme Executive Council was abolished, and a single 
executive called a governor was created. The Assembly ceased to 
have the sole right to make laws, as the legislative body was divided 
into two branches, a Senate and a House. 

The former judicial system was continued, excepting that a Supreme 
Court was provided, the judges of which were to be appointed during 
good behavior, instead of for seven years. 

The Bill of Rights re-enacted the old Provincial provision copied 
into the first Constitution, respecting freedom of worship, rights of 
conscience, and exemptions from compulsory contributions for the sup¬ 
port of any ministry. The recognition of God, and of a future state 
of rewards and punishments, was still demanded of all holding office, 
but a belief in the divine inspiration of the Old and New Testaments 
was not included. 

The Council of Censors ceased to have authority, and the veto 
power was given to the Governor. 

This body, with Frederick A. Muhlenberg as president, had met 
but once, in 1783. It then got itself into such a snarl with the 
Assembly that it became very unpopular. 

Pennsylvania conformed in all important matters to the system 
upon which the New Federal Government was to be administered. 

General Mifflin continued to discharge the duties of the chief 
executive with great ability, and was re-elected twice, serving in all 
three terms, the limit allowed by the Constitution. 

Governor Mifflin was elected to the Legislature at the end of his 
service as Governor, and died at Lancaster, January 21, 1800, while 
serving in that body. 


606 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


General Edward Hand, Distinguished 
Officer of Revolution, Died 
September 3, 1802 

ENERAL EDWARD HAND, M.D., a native of Clyduff, 
Kings County, Province of Leinster, Ireland, born December 
31, 1744, became a resident of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and 
one of the first distinguished officers of the Revolution. He 
died at his fine farm “Rockford,” near Lancaster, September 
3, 1802. 

In 1767 he was appointed by King George III surgeon of the 
Eighteenth Royal Irish Regiment of Foot, and sailed with the regiment 
from Cork, May 20 of the same year, arriving at Philadelphia July 11. 

Dr. Hand was appointed ensign in the same regiment in 1772, and 
accompanied the command to Fort Pitt, returning to Philadelphia in 
1774, when he resigned his commission and was regularly discharged 
from the service. 

In the same year he went to Lancaster, with recommendations, in 
order to practice his profession in that place. 

The following year he married Catherine, daughter of Captain 
John Ewing and Sarah Yeates, a sister of Hon. Jasper Yeates. 

At the beginning of the American Revolution Dr. Hand gave his 
allegiance to the colonies, and was commissioned, June 25, 1775, lieu¬ 
tenant-colonel in Colonel William Thompson’s Battalion of Riflemen. 

This battalion consisted of nine companies of troops enlisted in the 
counties of Cumberland, York, Lancaster, Northumberland, Bedford, 
Berks and Northampton. After January 1, 1776, it became known 
as the First Regiment of the Army of the United Colonies. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Hand accompanied Colonel Thompson and the 
battalion to Boston, where they arrived August 17, 1775. He was 
on Prospect Hill, August 20, when the battalion distinguished itself, 
and participated in the siege of Boston during the following autumn 
and winter. 

The officers and men of the battalion were publicly thanked by 
General Washington in general orders the day following the skirmish 
at Lechmere’s Point, November 9, when each man demeaned himself 
with unusual skill and daring. The British had landed under cover 
of a fire from their batteries on Bunker, Breed’s and Copp’s Hills, as 
well as from a frigate which lay three hundred yards off the point, 
which at high tide was an island. The regiment marched instantly, 
and, though the day was stormy, regarded not the tide, nor waited for 
boats, but took to the water, although up to their armpits, for a quarter 









GENERAL EDWARD HAND 


607 


of a mile and, notwithstanding the regulars’ fire, reached the island 
and drove the enemy from behind their cover into their boats. 

March 7, 1776, Hand was appointed colonel of the regiment he 
had commanded since February 2, and, with his command, left Cam¬ 
bridge March 15 to join General John Sullivan in New York. 

During May and June this regiment was on Long Island. It 
picketed the shores until August. 

Colonel Hand took part, with his regiment, in the battle of Long 
Island, and assisted to successfully protect the retreat of the American 
army. This was a skillful maneuver which effected the retreat of twelve 
thousand men, within sight of a strong enemy, possessed of a mighty 
fleet, without any loss of troops and saving all the baggage. 

Colonel Hand took part in the battles of White Plains, Trenton 
and Princeton. At the last of these conflicts, says General Wilkinson, 
“at the time General Mercer engaged the 17th Regiment, Colonel 
Hand endeavored, by a rapid movement, to turn the enemy’s left flank, 
and had nearly succeeded when they fled in disorder . . . the riflemen 
were therefore the first in the pursuit, and in fact took the greatest part 
of the prisoners; they were accompanied by General Washington in 
person with a squad of the Philadelphia Troop.” 

Colonel Hand continued in command of his regiment until April 
1, 1777, when he was promoted to be brigadier-general, and was soon 
thereafter sent to Fort Pitt in command of the western frontiers of 
Pennsylvania. 

A new fort was erected in Westmoreland County, named Fort 
Hand. 

General Hand did not meet with the expected success in fighting 
Indians and asked to be relieved of his commahd, which Congress, 
May 2, 1778, resolved to do. But before leaving Fort Pitt, General 
Hand conducted a successful treaty with the Indians June 17, 1778. 

In October following he succeeded General Stark in command at 
Albany, and the next spring General Hand was ordered to take part 
in General Sullivan’s campaign against the Six Nations. Although the 
youngest of the generals engaged, Hand held the most important position 
after that of General Sullivan. His experience in fighting Indians 
gained on the western frontier was of great value in the expedition. 

General Hand afterward joined General Washington and encamped 
at Morristown, N. J., during the winter. 

On the formation of the light infantry corps of the army, August, 
1780, General Hand was given command of one of the two brigades. 

He was a member of the tribunal that tried and convicted Major 
Andre. 

General Hand was appointed Adjutant-General of the Army of the 
United States January 8, 1781. He was present at the siege of York- 
town and returned with the troops to Philadelphia. 


608 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


September 30, 1783, he was commissioned Major-General of the 
Pennsylvania Line. 

Upon the close of the war he resumed his practice of medicine at 
Lancaster. 

He was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1784 and 1785, 
and a member of the General Assembly 1785, and an Elector for the 
first election of a President and Vice President of the United States 
in 1789. 

General Hand helped frame the Constitution of Pennsylvania of 
1790, and held other positions of honor and trust. 

He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati, and 
served as President in 1799. He was the lover of fine horses and 
was himself an excellent horseman. 

As a citizen he was highly esteemed, and as a physician greatly 
sought after and much beloved. He was a great Pennsylvanian. 



First Permanent Settlement and Earliest 
Church, Dedicated September 4, 1646 

HE first European settlement in what is now Pennsylvania was 
made on Tinicum Island, now Essington, not far distant from 
the mouth of Darby Creek on the Delaware River. The 
beautiful buildings of the Corinthian Yacht Club are now 
located on this historic spot. 

A monument was unveiled June 14, 1923, to mark the 
place where the first permanent settlement in what is now Pennsylvania 
was made. This shaft was erected by the Swedish Colonial Society 
and was unveiled by Miss Nancy J. Paxson, tenth in descent from 
one of the original founders of the colony. 

Here it was that Colonel John Printz, a Swedish military officer 
of note, who had recently been knighted by the Swedish Government 
for the. conspicuous role he enacted in the Thirty Years’ War, accom¬ 
panied by a few adventurers of the same nationality, located in 1643, 
erected a fort of green logs and named the settlement he founded New 
Gottenberg. The fort was mounted with four cannon. Provisions were 
made for the planting of corn and tobacco. 

A short time thereafter Printz built a pretentious mansion on 
Tinicum Island, “very splendid,” with an orchard and pleasure house, 
and it bore the name of Printz Hof or Printz Hall. This mansion 
house was two stories high and built of hewn logs, while two or more 
fireplaces and ovens were made of bricks imported from Sweden for 
that purpose. There were even glass windows. The utensils were of 
copper and tin. Their light was candle. Printz Hall also contained a 







FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT 


609 


fine library and every convenience known at that period. This great 
house stood 160 years, when it was accidentally destroyed by fire. 

Printz planted orchards, cleared fields and firmly established himself 
on the place he determined should be the seat of government for the 
Swedish colony on the South River, as the Delaware was then known. 

Printz sent Maus Kling, the engineer for the colony, to make a 
settlement on the Schuylkill. Log houses were built there, and Kling 
built on the east bank of the Schuylkill, near its mouth, probably on 
what was afterward called Providence Island, a small fort which was 
called New Korsholm. 

These operations of Kling, the plantation and the fort, form the first 
authenticated occupancy by Europeans of the site of the City of 
Philadelphia. 

On April 17, 1640, the Swedish ship Kalmer Nyckel sailed into 
the Christiana Creek. Among the immigrants was the Reverend Reorus 
Torkillus, a clergyman of the Swedish Lutheran Church, who thus 
became the first minister of the gospel on the Delaware River. Soon 
after this preacher’s arrival in the colony a meeting house was built, 
in which the services of the Lutheran Church were conducted. 

Governor Printz built a church on Tinicum Island, which had a 
bell and belfry. It was succeeded by a more imposing and commodious 
edifice in 1646, built of logs, with a roof of clapboards and an altar 
with a silver cloth. This church was dedicated by the Reverend John 
Campanius on September 4, 1646. 

Printz reported to his home Government he had the church finished 
and dedicated, “adorning and decorating it according to our Swedish 
fashion, so far as our limited means and resources would allow.” 

There was a graveyard located adjacent to the church, in which was 
interred the corpse of Andrew Hanson’s daughter Catherine, who was 
buried October 28, 1646. This was the first burial of any European 
in Pennsylvania, certainly the first in any regularly established cemetery. 

The marriage of Governor Printz’s daughter, Armegot, to Johan 
Papegoja, the commandant at Fort Christina, was solemnized in this 
old church at Tinicum, in 1644, and it is believed to have been the 
first instance in which a matrimonial ceremony was performed between 
Europeans within the limits of the present State of Pennsylvania. 

The Old Swedes’ Church called the worshippers together with the 
sound of the first “church-going bell” on the American Continent. But 
in May, 1673, Armegot Papegoja was in such dire distress for funds 
that she sold the bell to the congregation of the adherents of the 
Augsburg Confession, at Laus Deo. 

The worshippers believed this bell should be nowhere but in their 
own Swedes’ Church and they determined to repurchase it, when the 
members of the congregation gave their labor for two years at harvest 


20 


610 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


time as the consideration. The bell was brought back to Tinicum, 
but the facts relating to its subsequent history are lacking.* 

It is quite probable that this Old Swedes’ Church remained the 
active center for worship long after the Swedes were swept from power 
on the Delaware. 

Peter Stuyvesant, at the head of a large fleet and formidable expedi¬ 
tion, September, 1654, captured Fort Cassimer, or Trinity, as the 
Swedes called it, then after a siege of fourteen days compelled the 
surrender of Fort Christina, which was defended by Governor Johan 
Claesson Rysingh. 

In the articles of capitulation, which were formally drawn up and 
signed September 25 by the two commanders on the “parade ground’’ 
outside the fort, it was agreed that the Swedish soldiers were to march 
out with the honors of war. 

The “guns, ammunition, implements, victuals and other effects be¬ 
longing to the Crown of Sweden and to the South Company,” in the 
fort or its vicinity, were to remain their property. The Swedish settlers 
might stay or go, as they chose, and for a year and six weeks, if they 
stayed, need not take the Dutch oath of allegiance. Swedes who re¬ 
mained should enjoy the Lutheran faith, the “liberty of the Augsburg 
Confession,” and have a minister to instruct them. 

When the English came to the South River in the fall of 1664, the 
Swedes at Tinicum still were worshiping in their Lutheran Church. 

After the departure of Governor Rysingh, in 1653, there was only 
one minister among the Swedes on the river, the man who was 
variously called Laers, Laurentius Carolus, Lock, Lokenius, etc., was a 
poor fellow whose missteps and mischances, moral lapses and legal 
misdemeanors are repeatedly fnentioned in the scanty chronicles of the 
time. He preached in the Swedes’ Church at Tinicum and at Crane 
Hook, between Christina and New Castle, where a log church was built 
about 1667. Lock died in 1688. 

When Governor Andros visited the Delaware, in 1675, the New 
Castle Court decreed, when designating places of meeting for worship, 
“that the church at Tinicum Island do serve for Upland and parts 
adjacent.” 

Great Tinicum Island stands with Jamestown and Plymouth as one 
of the birthplaces of America. 

Lewis, in the history of Chester County, says that the Swedes 
came from New Castle and places along the Delaware, both above and 
below, to worship in that building. 

About this time the settlement at Upland, now Chester, began to 
thrive, and it was not long before it became a more important place 
than Tinicum. 

* Colonel Henry D. Paxon says this original bell was recast, with some additional 
metal, and now hangs in “Gloria Dei,” Old Swedes’ Church, Philadelphia. 



FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 


611 


First Continental Congress Meets in 
Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia, 
September 5, 1774 

HE Assembly of Pennsylvania promptly responded to the “In¬ 
structions” of the great meeting of the Provincial deputies 
held in the State House July 15, 1774, and appointed Joseph 
Galloway, speaker, Samuel Rhoads, Thomas Mifflin, John 
Morton, Charles Humphreys, George Ross, Edward Biddle, 
and, subsequently, John Dickinson as delegates to the Con¬ 
gress to be held in Philadelphia in September. 

This body assembled September 5 in Carpenters’ Hall and chose 
Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, president, and Charles Thomson, of 
Pennsylvania, secretary, of what proved to be the first Continental 
Congress. 

The Declaration of Rights was agreed upon. This claimed, first, 
as natural rights, the enjoyment of life, liberty and fortune; secondly, 
they claimed, as British subjects, to be bound by no law to which they 
had not consented by their chosen representatives. They denied to 
Parliament all power of taxation and vested the right of legislation 
in their own Assemblies. 

The common law of England they declared to be their birthright, 
including the rights of trial by jury of the vicinage, of public meetings 
and petition. They protested against the maintenance in the Colonies 
of standing armies without their full consent, and against all legisla¬ 
tion by councils depending on the Crown. 

Having thus proclaimed their rights, they calmly enumerated the 
various acts which had been passed in derogation of them. There 
were eleven in number, passed in as many years—the Sugar Act, the 
Stamp Act, the Tea Act, those which provided for the quartering of 
troops, for the supersedure of the New York Legislature, for the trial 
in Great Britain of offenses committed in America, for the regula¬ 
tion of the government of Massachusetts, for the closing of the port of 
Boston, and the last straw, known as the Quebec bill. 

On October 18, articles of confederation were adopted, the signing 
of which, two days afterward, should be regarded as the commence¬ 
ment of the American Union, based upon freedom and- equality. 

On October 26, an address to the people of Great Britain was 
adopted, also a memorial to the inhabitants of British America, and 
a loyal address to His Majesty. The Congress then adjourned to 
meet in Philadelphia on the 10th of May following. 

Dickinson was a powerful member of this first Congress, his master 








612 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


hand being first employed in the “Address to the inhabitants of Que¬ 
bec,” forwarded under date of October 26. This address set forth 
the reasons why the people of that province should join with those of 
the Colonies in their political interests. 

Over the Pennsylvania delegation Galloway, with his wealth, edu¬ 
cation and political prestige, and with some claim on their gratitude 
as their advocate against the Proprietaries, was both presiding officer 
and presiding genius. His influence was clearly seen in the selection 
of delegates, for both Dickinson and Wilson were omitted in the origi¬ 
nal list. The failure to name Mr. Dickinson was a grave error, but 
was corrected when Mayor Rhoads could not serve. 

As Congress assembled Galloway did the honors, but his conduct 
soon revealed him acting as a volunteer spy for the British Govern¬ 
ment, and he did everything in his power to exert a control over the 
first Congress. 

He even went so far as to hold secret meetings with the Governor 
of New Jersey and the Lieutenant Governor of New York, when he 
proposed in Congress a government for America to consist of a Presi¬ 
dent General appointed by the King, and holding office during his 
pleasure, and a Grand Council chosen once in three years by the as¬ 
semblies of the various colonies, the members thereof to be apportioned 
according to population. 

His celebrated scheme was not popular, but in presenting it to Con¬ 
gress, said: “I am as much a friend to liberty as exists, and no man 
shall go further in point of fortune or in point of blood than the man 
who now addresses you.” 

The plan was favored by New York and South Carolina and on 
final vote was rejected by the close vote of six colonies against five. 
“With this defeat,” says Bancroft, “Galloway lost his mischievous im¬ 
portance.” 

At the October election Galloway was re-elected to the As¬ 
sembly, but the many changes in the membership foretold the decided 
advancement of the Whigs. Edward Biddle was elected Speaker. Gal¬ 
loway did not attend until after the report of the preceding Congress 
had been made. 

The Assembly of Pennsylvania, which met on December 8, 1774, 
was the first Provincial Legislature to which report of the congressional 
proceedings was made. The Assembly unanimously approved them 
December 15, and recommended them to the inviolable observance of 
the people. This body then appointed Messrs. Biddle, Dickinson, Mif¬ 
flin, Galloway, Humphreys, Morton and Ross as delegates to the new 
Congress. Mr. Samuel Rhoads, who was then the Mayor of Phila¬ 
delphia, was too occupied with those duties and was omitted from this 
delegation. 

Upon the return of Benjamin Franklin from London, he was im- 


FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 


613 


mediately added to the congressional delegation, together with Messrs. 
James Wilson and Thomas Willing. Mr. Galloway, who had re¬ 
peatedly requested to be excused from serving, was permitted to with¬ 
draw. Galloway had become too much alarmed at the length to which 
the opposition to the mother country was carried. 

Hitherto Governor John Penn had looked upon the proceedings 
of the Assembly without attempting to direct or control them. He was 
supposed to favor the efforts made in support of American principles; 
but now a semblance of regard to the instructions of the Crown induced 
him to remonstrate in mild terms against the continental system of 
petition and remonstrance. 

In England the proceedings of the Americans were viewed with 
great indignation by the King and his ministry, and the petition of Con¬ 
gress, although declared by the Secretary of State, after a day’s perusal, 
“to be decent and proper and received graciously by His Majesty, did 
not receive much favor at the hands of the ministry, which resolved to 
compel the obedience of the Americans.” 

The remonstrances of three millions of people were therefore 
treated, perhaps believed, as the clamors of an unruly multitude. 

Both houses of Parliament joined in an address to the King, de¬ 
claring “that they find a rebellion actually exists in the Province of 
Massachusetts.” That was followed by an act for restraining the 
trade and commerce of the New England Provinces and prohibiting 
them from carrying on the fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland, 
which was subsequently extended to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mary¬ 
land, Virginia, South Carolina and the Lower Counties on the Dela¬ 
ware. 

Conciliatory measures were introduced in Parliament, which pro¬ 
vided a relief from tax or duties for those colonies which would yield 
strict obedience to the laws of the mother country. This proposition 
was opposed as an admission of the correctness of the American views. 
Upon Pennsylvania’s reply to the resolutions of Parliament much de¬ 
pended, and the Assembly acted promptly and with unanimity. 

By reason of Edward Biddle’s illness, John Morton was elected 
Speaker, March 15, 1775. 


614 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Fort Montgomery Withstands Attack of 
British and Indians, September 6, 1780 

N THE early days of the Revolution the settlers on the 
frontiers suffered much at the hands of the Indians, and this 
was particularly true in the region of the Susquehanna val¬ 
leys. A chain of forts or blockhouses was established from 
Fort Jenkins on the North Branch of the Susquehanna, 
about midway between the present towns of Berwick and 
Bloomsburg, to Fort Reid, in the present borough of Lock Haven. 

Each of these forts was garrisoned by troops from large Fort 
Augusta at the forks of the Susquehanna, and each in its turn was 
attacked by Indians or by British and Indians, during the period of 
the Revolution, and all but one or two of them were destroyed. 

The most important attack on any of the above forts occurred 
July 28, 1779, when the British under Captain John MacDonald and 
Seneca Indians, under Chief Hiakatoo, defeated the garrison at Fort 
Freeland, took all the men and boys prisoners and destroyed the fort. 
This story is told on July 28. 

In 1769, William Patterson patented 700 acres of land in what is 
now Lewis Township, Northumberland County, which he named 
Paradise. Two years later he sold his Paradise farm to John Mont¬ 
gomery, of Paxtang, and removed to White Deer Creek, to reside 
with his daughter, Mrs. Hunter. John Montgomery established his 
family at Paradise, and his descendants still reside in that beautiful 
valley. 

At the time of the battle at Fort Freeland, John Montgomery 
heard the firing, mounted two of his young sons on horses and sent 
them to the top of a hill to learn the cause of the shooting. They soon 
discovered the fort on fire and a fight raging in the timber below them. 
They hurriedly returned and reported what they had seen, when their 
father loaded his family in a wagon, with what provisions and clothing 
they could carry, and rapidly drove across the country to the cabin 
of Philip Davis, on Chillisquaque Creek, near the present village of 
Pottsgrove. Davis gathered up his family and together they hurriedly 
journeyed to Fort Augusta, then down the river to Paxtang, where they 
remained until after the war was closed. 

The precaution of Montgomery was intuitive, for the victorious 
British and Indians soon reached Paradise and burned his home and 
buildings. 

With Fort Freeland destroyed and Montgomery’s home in ruins, 
it was necessary that one of these places be immediately rebuilt and 
fortified. 






ATTACK ON FORT MONTGOMERY 


615 


A detachment of the German Regiment, then in that vicinity, was 
sent to Paradise under command of Captain John Rice, and in the 
winter of 1779-80 they built a stockade around a fine spring of water, 
which forms the headwaters of Muddy Run. This was built per¬ 
manently out of limestone found in that locality and today is in an ex¬ 
cellent state of preservation and used by the tenant of the farm. 

After completing this real fort they ably defended it, as an attack 
took place there early in September, 1780, which is told in a letter 
written by Colonel Samuel Hunter, county lieutenant, dated Fort 
Augusta, September 21, 1780, as follows: 

“We were alarmed by a large party of the enemy making their ap¬ 
pearance in our county on the 6th inst. They came first to a small fort 
that Colonel Weltner’s troops had erected on the headwaters of the 
Chillisquaque, calling it Fort Rice, about thirteen miles from Sunbury. 
(Three errors: Headwaters of Muddy Run; should be Fort Mont¬ 
gomery, the owner and original builder, and not Fort Rice, just be¬ 
cause such a soldier was in charge of the detail, and the distance is 
seventeen miles from Sunbury, or about four from Milton). 

“When the German Regiment marched off the enemy attacked the 
fort about sundown, and fired very smartly. The garrison returned 
the fire with spirit, which made them withdraw a little off, and in the 
night they began to set fire to a number of houses and stacks of grain 
which they consumed. 

“In the meantime our militia had collected to the number of one 
hundred men under command of Colonel John Kelly, who marched to 
the relief of the garrison, and arrived there next day. The people of 
the garrison acquainted Colonel Kelly that there must be two hundred 
and fifty or three Hundred of the Enimy, which he did not think 
prudent to engage without being Reinforced. The confusion this put 
the inhabitants in, it was not easy to collect a party equal to fight the 
savages. 

“I immediately sent off an express to Col. Purdy on Juniata whom 
I heard was marching to the Frontiers of Cumberland County with 
the militia, he came as quick as possible to our assistance with one Hun¬ 
dred and ten of the militia and about Eighty Volunteers, which was 
no small Reinforcement to us. 

“Genl. Potter just coming home from camp at this critical time 
came up to Sunbury and took command of the party that went in 
Quest of the Enimy. But previous to his marching, discharged the 
Volunteers as he concluded by the information he had received from 
spyes we had out that the enemy did not exceed one Hundred and 
fifty and that they had withdrawn from the inhabitants to some Re¬ 
mote place. 

“General Potter, However, marched on to Muncy Hills, but was 
a little baffled by the information to their route and did not come on 


616 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


their track till the 13th and followed on about 50 miles up Fishing 
Creek, the road the enemy took, but finding they had got too far ahead 
returned here the 17th inst. The enemy got but one scalp and one 
prisoner. (Colonel Hunter did not know of the Sugar Loaf Massacre 
when he wrote.) 

“We all concluded the enimy had got off, but on the 18th there 
was a small party made their appearance on the West Branch about 
fourteen miles above this place, they killed one man and wounded 
another, and killed their horses they had in the plow, which plainly 
shows they have scattered into small parties to Harass the inhabitants, 
which I am afraid will prevent the people from getting crops put in 
the ground this fall. 

“When the German Regiment marched off from here I gave orders 
for the Frontier’s Companys to embody and keep one-fourth of the 
men Constantly Reconnoitering. 

“After garrisoning Fort Jenkins, Fort Rice and Fort Swartz with 
twenty men in each of them, this was the only method I could think 
of encouraging the people as we were left to our own exertions. Only 
about thirty of Capt. McCoy’s company of Volunteers from Cumber¬ 
land County, until the 10 inst., that two companies of militia came here 
from the same county in the whole about eighty men. 

“When I received the intelligence of a large party of savages and 
tories coming against Fort Rice, I gave orders to evacuate Fort Jenkins 
as I did not look upon it to be tenable, which is since burned by the 
Enimy, and would have shared the same had the men staid there on 
act. of the Buildings, that were adjoining it, etc.” 

John Montgomery and his family returned after peace was de¬ 
clared. Finding the buildings of his farm destroyed and a good, 
strong stone house supplying its place, he at once occupied the fort, 
which, with additions, made him a comfortable home for years. 


Colonel Hartley Leads Expedition Against 
Six Nation Indians—Born 
September 7, 1746 

OLONEL THOMAS HARTLEY, who was one of the 
most prominent Pennsylvanians during the period of the 
Revolution, was born in Colebrookdale Township, Berks 
County, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1746. 

He was the son of George Hartley, a well-to-do farmer, 
who was able to give his son a good classical education at 
Reading. At the age of eighteen he began to read law in the office 
of Samuel Johnson, at York, a prominent lawyer and relative of his 





COLONEL THOMAS HARTLEY 


617 


mother. He was admitted to practice in the courts of York County 
July 25, 1769, and in the courts of Philadelphia a month later. He 
rose rapidly in his profession, and was enjoying a lucrative practice 
when the War for Independence opened. 

He served on the Committee of Observation for York County in 
1774-75; he represented York County as a deputy in the Provincial 
Conference held at Philadelphia July 15, 1774, and in the Provincial 
Convention, January 23, 1775. 

In December, 1774, he was chosen first lieutenant of Captain 
James Smith’s company of Associators and a year later lieutenant 
colonel of the First Battalion of York County. He was elected by 
Committee of Safety January 10, 1776, to be lieutenant colonel of the 
Sixth Battalion, commanded by Colonel William Irvine, of Carlisle, 
and served with distinction in the Canadian campaign. 

In December, 1776, Congress authorized General Washington to 
raise sixteen battalions of infantry additional to those in service, and 
the command of one of these was given to Colonel Hartley. 

In the campaign for the defense of Philadelphia Hartley’s regiment 
bore a conspicuous part. At the Battles of Brandywine and German¬ 
town it was attached to the First Philadelphia Brigade, of General 
Wayne’s division, Colonel Hartley commanding the brigade, and was 
also at Paoli. 

To repel the inroads of the Tories and Indians from New York 
and for the protection of the frontiers following the “Great Runaway,” 
Colonel Hartley and his regiment, July 14, 1778, were ordered to Sun- 
bury. The order continues: 

“A detachment of Colonel Hartley’s Regiment to march from New 
Jersey to Easton, there to join Colonel Kowatz, who has under his 
command a small number of horse. The remainder of Colonel Hart¬ 
ley’s Reg’t, now in Philad’a, to march immediately to Sunbury and 
join the Two Companies lately raised at Wioming. Col. Brodhead’s 
Regiment, now on their march to Pittsburgh, to be ordered to the 
Standing Stone. But it is necessary to add to these Continental troops 
a considerable body of Militia. Council have therefore determined to 
order to Sunbury three hundred Militia from the County of North¬ 
umberland, four hundred from the County of Lancaster & one hun¬ 
dred and fifty from the County of Berks.” 

The troops at Standing Stone and Easton were also to be re-en¬ 
forced by militia. 

This arrangement for the frontier defense was intended to rendez¬ 
vous at Sunbury 1050 troops, as follows: Part of Hartley’s Regi¬ 
ment at Philadelphia, 100; two companies recruited at Wyoming, 100; 
militia from Lancaster County, 400; from Berks, 150, and Northum¬ 
berland, 300. 

On July 16 the Board of War advised Council that they learned 


618 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


by letters that General McIntosh, who was at Carlisle, hearing of the 
Indian incursions, ordered Colonel Brodhead, then on his way to Fort 
Pitt, to hurry his Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment to the Susquehanna, 
“to stop the progress of the enemy & encourage the militia to stand 
in their own defence.” 

Then General J. P. DeHaas, who was stationed at Lebanon, sent 
an express to Colonel Samuel Hunter, at Fort Augusta, to learn the 
exact situation, when he offered his services to the Board of War. 

Colonel Brodhead and the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment arrived 
at Fort Augusta and soon as the colonel learned he could not be of 
assistance there, he took up his march and arrived at Fort Muncy July 
23, and immediately sent out scouting parties in every direction. 

When Colonel Hartley and 300 of his command arrived at Fort 
Augusta, General John P. DeHaas was already there and had assumed 
command. 

General James Potter wrote from Fort Augusta August 1, 1778: 
“I came here last week to station the militia. I found General DeHaas 
here, who said he commanded all the troops. The next day Colonel 
Hartley came and showed me his orders to command the troops, and 
politely requested me to take the command, which I declined, as I 
never was very fond of command, and this is a disagreeable one.” 

Colonel Hartley wrote to Council from Fort Augusta August 1, 
advising the conditions when he arrived, and that General DeHaas, 
who was in command, had given the command to him. Hartley gave 
a very correct statement of the distressed situation following the great 
Wyoming Massacre of July 3. 

Soon as Colonel Hartley arrived at Fort Muncy, Colonel Brod¬ 
head led his troops off toward Fort Pitt, via Carlisle, and Colonel 
Hartley settled down to the difficult task of handling the unfortunate 
conditions on that harassed frontier. 

Colonel Hartley’s men built Fort Muncy. It was about a half a 
mile above the present Hall’s Station, on the Philadelphia and Reading 
Railway, in Lycoming County, a few hundred yards directly in front 
of the famous Hall’s Stone House, built in 1769. It was intended to 
be the most important stronghold, next to Fort Augusta, on the West 
Branch of the Susquehanna. 

Colonel Hartley immediately planned an expedition against the 
Indians, as he believed the way to successfully combat the savage foe 
was to carry the war into his own country. 

He marched from Fort Muncy, September 18, with two hundred 
troops and twelve days’ rations. In his report to Congress, the Colonel 
says: “In our route we met with great rains and prodigious swamps, 
mountains, defiles and rocks which impeded our march, we had to open 
and clear the way as we passed. 

“We waded or swam the River Lycoming upward of twenty times. 


ARMSTRONG DESTROYS KITTANNING 


619 


In lonely woods and groves we found where the Indians had dressed 
and dried scalps of the frontier victims. On the morning of the 26th, 
the advance party met nineteen Indians in a skirmish. An important 
Indian chief was killed and scalped.” They burnt Tioga, Queen 
Esther’s Town and other settlements. 

Colonel Hartley performed the marvelous feat of marching his 
small army 300 miles and fighting several severe battles with Indians 
and Tories in two weeks; bringing in fifty head of cattle, twenty- 
eight canoes and much plunder and above all else rendered such signal 
service to the frontiers that the settlers could return to their habita¬ 
tions and harvest their crops in safety. 

Both the Provincial Council and the Continental Congress, Nov. 
14, 1778, adopted resolutions of commendation to Colonel Hartley for 
the success of his expedition. 


Colonel John Armstrong Destroyed Indian 
Town of Kittanning September 8, 1756 

EFORE Governor Robert Morris was superseded by William 
Denny he concerted with Colonel John Armstrong an expe¬ 
dition against the Indian town of Kittanning, on the Alle¬ 
gheny, the stronghold of Captains Jacobs and Shingas, the 
most active Indian chiefs, and from which place they dis¬ 
tributed their war parties along the frontier. 

When Governor Denny assumed the office of Governor his pred¬ 
ecessor communicated to him his plans for this expedition, which 
were favorably received by the Governor and his Council. 

The details of this enterprise had been perfected in great secrecy. 
It is quite likely that Colonel Armstrong was selected for this pur¬ 
pose, not only on account of his well-known military prowess, but for 
the further fact that his beloved brother, Lieutenant Edward Arm¬ 
strong, had been killed in the attack and destruction of Fort Gran¬ 
ville, and for the many other’ depredations which the Indians had com¬ 
mitted in the Juniata, Valley. 

Colonel Armstrong collected his forces at Fort Shirley, at Augh- 
wick, now Huntingdon County, consisting of 300 troops, divided into 
seven companies. Among the captains were James Hamilton, Hugh 
Mercer, Edward Nord and James Potter, all afterward distinguished 
officers of the Revolution and leading citizens of the State. 

On September 2, 1756, he came up with the advanced party at 
“Beaver Dams,” a few miles south of Frankstown, on the north branch 
of the Juniata. Here the little army struck the celebrated Kittanning 
path, well trodden by Indians in their travels to the westward. 






620 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


On the 7th, the evening, within six miles of Kittanning, the scouts 
discovered a fire in the road, and four Indians about it, but these could 
not be attacked, as one or more might escape and alarm the town. 
Lieutenant Hogg and twelve men were left to watch them, with orders 
to fall upon them at daybreak. The main body then made a circuit 
and proceeded to the village. 

Guided by the whooping of the Indians at a dance, the army ap¬ 
proached the place by the river, about 100 perches below the town. 
They arrived at 3 o’clock on the morning of the 8th near a cornfield 
in which some of the enemy were lodged, sleeping in the open on ac¬ 
count of the excessive heat of the weather. 

As soon as the dawn of the new day made the town visible the 
troops attacked it through the cornfield, killing several of the enemy. 
The men were wearied by a forced march of thirty miles and had been 
aroused from sound sleep to make the attack, but they fought with 
great eagerness. 

When the firing began Captain Jacobs immediately sounded the 
war whoop, and with a number of Indians, as the English prisoners 
afterward told Colonel Armstrong, cried: “The white men are at last 
come, we will soon have scalps enough,” but at the same time ordered 
their squaws and children to flee to the woods. 

Captain Jacobs defended his house bravely and through loopholes 
in the logs a deadly fire was poured into the provincial troops. 

The Indians refused quarter, saying they were men and would not 
be prisoners. At this point Colonel Armstrong turned his attention 
to the hiouses from which the Indians were making such a stand. He 
received a bad wound in his shoulder, but continued to direct the attack. 
He found the houses must be destroyed, and ordered the contiguous 
buildings set on fire, which was performed by his officers and soldiers 
with much dispatch. 

The Indians fired at every moving object and as their aim was 
deadly many soldiers were killed or wounded. 

Soon as the buildings were set on fire the Indians were given an¬ 
other opportunity to surrender themselves prisoners, but again they re¬ 
fused. One Indian declared he did not care for death; he could kill 
four or five more before he died, and some began to sing as the 
flames burned near them. The few who burst from the burning build¬ 
ings and ran for the river were shot down by the soldiers. 

Captain Jacobs was shot as he attempted to get out of an upper 
window. Armstrong’s soldiers identified the powder horn and pouch 
he wore as one he had lately received from a French officer in ex¬ 
change for Lieutenant Edward Armstrong’s boots, which he carried 
from Fort Granville, where the lieutenant was killed. 

The soldiers got the scalp of the great Indian chief, as they also 
did of his squaw and a young Indian, called the “King’s Son.” 


ARMSTRONG DESTROYS KITTANNING 


621 


Before this time Captain Hugh Mercer had been severely wounded 
in the arm and was carried to the top of the hill above the town, 
where a number of the wounded men gathered. These soon discovered 
from their elevated position that Indians were passing the river and 
taking to the hills, they thought with the intention of surrounding 
and cutting off the troops from any possible retreat. Colonel Arm¬ 
strong would not believe this their design, but sent men in every di¬ 
rection to keep him posted upon the enemy’s movements. The Indians 
in their hasty retreat left behind a number of English scalps and not 
a few white prisoners. 

Instead of cutting down the cornfield, the colonel immediately as¬ 
sembled the wounded and loaded them upon the few Indian horses 
which they had collected. 

The return march was slow and tedious, made so by the many 
wounded and the constant watch necessary to prevent a surprise attack 
from ambush. Captain Mercer was carried by some of his men over a 
different road and Colonel Armstrong was alarmed for his safety. 

Colonel Armstrong in his report of the action at Kittanning said 
he could not estimate the loss of the enemy, as many were burned in 
the buildings, but he could account for thirty or forty killed. They 
brought back a dozen scalps and eleven English prisoners. 

The loss sustained by the provincial forces was seventeen killed, 
thirteen wounded and nineteen missing. All the wounded recovered 
and all but two of the missing reached their homes. 

In speaking of the horrible Indian massacres which followed Brad- 
dock’s defeat, Drake in his Indian history, says: 

“Shingas and Captain Jacobs were supposed to have been the prin¬ 
cipal instigators of them, and a reward of $700 was offered for their 
heads.” 

King Shingas was the greatest Delaware warrior at that time. 
Heckwelder, who knew him personally, says: 

“Were his war exploits all on record they would form an interest¬ 
ing document, though a shocking one.” 

King Shingas happened to be at Fort Duquesne when Colonel 
Armstrong destroyed Kittanning. 

The Corporation of Philadelphia, on the occasion of Colonel Arm¬ 
strong’s victory, addressed a complimentary letter to him, January 5 
following, thanking him and his officers for their gallant conduct and 
presented him with a piece of plate. 

Many descendants of the gallant Colonel Armstrong are living 
today and well may they be proud of such a distinguished ancestor. 


622 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Franklin County Erected from Part 
of Cumberland County 
September 9, 1784 

N January 27, 1759, Lancaster County was divided by act 
of Assembly, and the southern division thereof erected into 
a new county, to which the name of “Cumberland” was 
given, with the town of Carlisle as the seat of justice. 

For a quarter of a century the county of Cumberland thus 
constituted, remained intact, when the wants of the south¬ 
western part, known as the Conocheague settlement, led them to peti¬ 
tion the General Assembly of 1784 that their territory might be set 
apart as a new county, with concomitant privileges setting forth in 
glowing terms the hardships they were compelled to endure traveling 
the long distance from their homes to the seat of justice at Carlisle, etc. 

The General Assembly complied therewith and September 9, 1784, 
erected the new county to be named “Franklin,” in honor of the great 
Pennsylvanian, Benjamin Franklin. 

By 1790 some doubts arose as to the correct boundary, and March 29, 
in that year, a re-adjustment of the lines was made by running a new 
line so as to leave the entire tract of land owned by Edward Shippen, 
of Lancaster, and upon which Shippensburg now stands, in Cumber¬ 
land County. 

On March 29, 1798, a portion of the then county of Bedford, 
known as the “Little Cove” was detached from that county and an¬ 
nexed to Franklin, and the county thus erected is the Franklin County 
of today. 

By the terms of the act establishing the county of Franklin, James 
Maxwell, James McCalmont, Josiah Crawford, David Stoner, and 
John Johnson were appointed trustees on behalf of the county, and 
were directed to procure two lots of ground in the town of Chambers- 
burg or Chamberstown, for seats of a court house and of a county gaol. 

The original court house was a brick building of two stories, sur¬ 
mounted by a tall conical cupola and a spire. In the belfry was sus¬ 
pended a bell of Spanish make, which had rendered service in an old 
convent. 

The first court in Franklin County was held September 15, 1784. 
As the court house was not yet completed this first session was con¬ 
vened in the stone house on the corner of the “square,” which was 
built by John Jack in 1770. This historic building stood until July 
30, 1864, when the rebel horde burned the town during the Civil War. 

The first court was held before Judges Humphrey Fullerton 









FRANKLIN COUNTY ERECTED 


623 


Thomas Johnston and James Findley. Edward Crawford, Jr., was 
prothonotary. Jeremiah Talbot was commissioned sheriff October 20, 

1784. 

The following named persons sat as the first grand jury: James 
Poe, Henry Pawling, William Allison, William McDowell, Robert 
Wilkins, John McConnell, John McCarny, John Ray, John Jack, Jr., 
John Dickson, D. McClintock, Joseph Chambers, and Joseph Long. 

As late as 1748 there were many Indians within the present limits 
of Franklin County. The first settlers of Franklin County were 
Scotch-Irish, many of whose descendants yet remain, but the larger 
proportion migrated west or south, giving way before the German 
element coming from the eastern counties of the state. 

It is believed that Joseph and Benjamin Chambers located at the 
Falling Spring earlier than 1730. They had previously built at 
Fort Hunter, above Harrisburg, on the Susquehanna, but an accidental 
fire consumed their mill on the Fishing Creek, and they wandered west¬ 
ward, finally located at Falling Spring, where they erected a log 
house, and eventually a saw and grist mill. 

Benjamin Chambers maintained a friendly intercourse with the 
Indians in his vicinity. They became attached to him; with them he 
traded, and had so much of their confidence and respect that they did 
not injure him or offer to molest him. 

After Braddock’s defeat July, 1755, the Western Indians became 
so troublesome, and made so many incursions east of the mountains, 
that Colonel Chambers, for the security of his family and his neigh¬ 
bors, erected a large stone dwelling house, where Chambersburg now is. 
This house was surrounded by water from Falling Spring, and, to 
prevent the Indians from setting it on fire, the roof was made of lead. 
The dwelling, buildings and mill were surrounded with a stockade. 

This fort was provided with a blunderbluss and swivel, and the 
garrison had an ample supply of smaller firearms. The Indians seldom 
assaulted this fort and none of its defenders was killed or carried off. 

Benjamin Chambers reported the terrible massacre at Great Cove, 
Sunday morning, November 2, 1755. He wrote: “If you intend to 
go to the assistance of your neighbors, you need wait no longer for the 
certainty of the news. The Great Cove is destroyed.” 

The Great Cove was burned by the Indians and fifty-seven per¬ 
sons out of ninety-three settlers were killed or taken captive. 

A record of the persons killed or taken captive by the Indians dur¬ 
ing this period until the close of the Revolution reveals a long list of 
savage cruelty. 

In the war of 1812-14, Franklin County played an important part. 
Eight companies were mustered in the county; Chambersburg furnished 
four, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Waynesboro and Path Valley, each 

one. 


624 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


During the Civil War Franklin County suffered as did no other 
border county of Pennsylvania. 

First came the great Confederate raid in October, 1862, led by 
Generals J. E. B. Stuart and Wade Hampton; then during General 
Lee’s invasion, June, 1863; and finally General McCausland’s invasion 
when the town of Chambersburg was sacked and burned July 30, 1864. 
The scenes presented on the latter terrible occasion beggar description. 

Wilson College is situated in Chambersburg, and Mercersburg 
Academy is in the borough of Mercersburg, which was also the home 
of Marshall College, now a part of Franklin and Marshall College, 
of Lancaster. The Soldiers’ Orphans’ Industrial School of the state 
is located at Scotland, and the Pennsylvania State Sanitarium for 
Tuberculosis, No. 1, is beautifully located at Mont Alto. 

Green Castle and Waynesboro are the other towns of importance 
in old Franklin County. James Buchanan, President of the United 
States, and William Findlay, Governor of Pennsylvania, were both 
born in Mercersburg. 


Commodore Perry Defeats British Squadron 
on Lake Erie, September 10, 1813 

OREIGN nations, who still smiled incredulously at the pre¬ 
tensions of the United States in carrying on an ocean war¬ 
fare with the proud “Mistress of the Seas,” as England was 
everywhere acknowledged to be, were not prepared to receive, 
in addition to the splendid victory of the United States frigate 
Constitution over the Guerriere, fresh and decisive proof of 
the naval supremacy of the youthful Republic, in the magnificent 
triumph achieved by Commodore Oliver H. Perry on the waters of 
Lake Erie September 10, 1813. 

It was here for the first time in the history of the Western World 
the flag of a British squadron was struck, humiliatingly, to the Ameri¬ 
cans. Great Britain had already been signally defeated in single naval 
combats during the War of 1812; she was now beaten in squadron; 
every one of her ships striking their colors to the Stars and Stripes. 

The unexpected and disgraceful surrender of the Northern Army 
under General Hull to the British rendered a superior force on Lake 
Erie necessary for the defense of the American territory bordering on 
the lake, as well as for offensive operations in Canada. 

Under those circumstances, Oliver H. Perry, a brave and capable 
young officer, was designated to the command on Lake Erie. But at 
this time the United States possessed no naval force on the lake; the 
only vessels belonging to the Government had been captured at De¬ 
troit. 






COMMODORE PERRY’S VICTORY 


625 


Commodore Perry was directed to locate at Presque Isle, where a 
peninsula extended a considerable distance into the lake, encircling a 
harbor, on the borders of which was the port of Erie. He was to 
build ships, and the only materials at hand were the vast forests—ship¬ 
builders, sailors, naval stores, guns and ammunition were all trans¬ 
ported overland by wagons over 400 miles of bad roads from Albany, 
Buffalo and Philadelphia via Pittsburgh. 

In spite of those embarrassments, by August 1, 1813, Perry had 
provided a flotilla, consisting of the ships Lawrence and Niagara, of 
twenty guns each, and seven smaller vessels, to wit: One of four guns, 
one of three, two of two and three of one. 

The enemy appeared off the harbor while this navy was being 
built, but the shallowness of the water prevented their approach where 
the construction work could be destroyed. 

After Perry succeeded in getting his navy into the deep waters of 
the lake, he proceeded to Put-in Bay, near where the British fleet lay 
under the guns of the fort. Here he watched the movements of the 
enemy and awaited a chance to offer battle. 

On the morning of September 10, 1813, the enemy was discovered 
bearing down upon the American force, which immediately prepared 
to meet them. Perry had nine vessels with fifty-three guns and two 
swivels. The British fleet consisted of six vessels, carrying sixty-three 
guns, four howitzers and two swivels. 

Perry advised his officers he proposed to bring the enemy to close 
quarters. As soon, therefore, as the approach of the enemy warranted 
the display of the signal, every vessel was under sail beating out against 
the wind with the boats ahead towing the others. 

Perry endeavored to beat to the windward of the islands, which 
interposed between them and the two approaching squadrons, hoping thus 
to bt able to bear down upon the enemy with the wind, but that 
proved to be too light and baffling, and so much time was lost by 
tacking that Perry suddenly changed his plans and ordered his ships to 
run to the leeward of the islands, when his sailing master replied: 
“Then we’ll have to engage the enemy from the leeward.” “I 
don’t care,” replied Perry; “to windward or leeward, they will fight 
today.” 

Perry formed his line of battle and the two squadrons slowly ap¬ 
proached each other. Realizing they would be in battle by the noon 
hour, grog and bread were served in advance, and in a moment every 
man was at quarters. Perry made a round of the deck, from gun to 
gun, carefully examining each and exchanging cheering words with the 
men. 

At fifteen minutes after 11 a bugle was sounded on board the 
enemy’s flagship, the Detroit. Loud cheers burst from all their crews, 
and a tremendous fire opened upon the Lawrence from the British 


626 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


long guns, which on account of the range of the guns on the Law¬ 
rence the fire could not be returned for nearly forty minutes. 

The Lawrence kept her course in gallant and determined style, but 
was badly cut up by the big guns of the Detroit. The enemy’s fire was 
clearly directed toward the Lawrence. She was hit in every direction 
and narrowly escaped several explosions. 

Perry realized the seriousness of his situation and made full sail, 
directing the other vessels to follow, for the purpose of closing with 
the enemy. The terrible fire, however, to which he was exposed soon 
cut away every brace and bowline of the Lawrence, and the boat be¬ 
came unmanageable. The other vessels could not close up, and in this 
disastrous situation the Lawrence continued to sustain the main force 
of the enemy’s fire. 

Throughout the ordeal order prevailed. There was no sign of fear, 
and as rapidly as the men at the guns were wounded they were quietly 
carried below, and others bravely stepped to their places. The dead 
remained where they fell until after the action. 

At this juncture the enemy believed the battle won. The Lawrence 
was reduced to a mere wreck; her deck was streaming with blood and 
covered with mangled limbs and bodies of the slain; nearly the whole 
crew were either killed or wounded; her guns, too, were dismounted, 
Commodore Perry and his officers working the very last one capable 
of firing a shot. 

At 2 o’clock Captain Elliott was enabled to bring the Niagara into 
closer action; and Commodore Perry, finding he could get no further 
use from the Lawrence, suddenly shifted his flag to the Niagara and 
boarded her, leaving the gallant Lieutenant Yarnell in command of the 
Lawrence. 

The transfer of Perry was made in the face of a terrible fire from 
the enemy ships, with the commodore standing erect in the small boat 
and directing his oarsmen. 

The entire squadron was soon in action and Perry alongside the 
British Commodore Barclay, in the Lady Prevost. Approaching within 
half pistol shot, Perry’s fire was so deadly that the enemy’s men were 
compelled to run below. 

The Caledonia opened a destructive fire upon the British, and she 
was closely followed by the other American vessels, and the enemy was 
soon enclosed between the Niagara and the American fleet, and in that 
position the British ships suffered a terrible fire on both quarters. 

Thus, after a contest of three hours, a naval victory was achieved 
by the Americans, in which every vessel of the enemy fleet was cap¬ 
tured. If anything could enhance its brilliancy it was the modest and 
laconic manner in which it was announced by the gallant victor—“We 
have met the enemy and they are ours!” 


BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE 


627 


Lord Cornwallis Defeats American Forces 
on the Brandywine, September 11, 1777 

HE objective of the British forces, early in the Revolution, 
was to occupy Philadelphia, which was then the largest city 
in the revolting provinces. It was the seat of the Continental 
Congress, and the center of the colonies. Although com¬ 
manding easy access to the sea, it was capable of being 
readily protected from the approach of a hostile fleet, and it 
lay in the heart of an open, extended country, rich, populous and so 
far but little disturbed by war. 

Philadelphia was, in a sense, regarded as the capital of the new¬ 
born Nation, and the moral influence resulting from its occupation by 
Congress was great, so that it was deemed an important point would 
be gained by its conquest. There was much criticism hurled at an 
army which could not penetrate to the headquarters of the infant 
Nation. 

Sir William Howe directed the campaign of 1777, and disposed 
the troops under his command to that purpose. The British fleet under 
Lord Howe, bearing a land force of 18,000, left New York in July, 
1777, with the intention of approaching Philadelphia by way of the 
Delaware River. 

When about to enter it, however, the British commander was in¬ 
formed that the Americans had placed obstructions in the channel, and 
he, therefore, proceeded to the Chesapeake, and on August 25, landed 
his forces at Turkey Point. 

When the departure of the British fleet from New York was made 
known to General Washington, he was uncertain as to its objects, but 
directed the concentration of his army in Bucks County, so as to meet 
the enemy should he attempt to approach Philadelphia. 

Washington soon learned that the fleet was off the Capes of the 
Chesapeake, and turned his attention in that direction. The very day 
the British landed the Americans marched to Wilmington with a 
force of about eleven thousand men. 

Washington made immediate preparations to oppose the enemy. A 
severe though brief encounter occurred September 3 at Iron Hill, 
Delaware. 

On the 8th the American Army took its position behind the Red 
Clay Creek, where a battle was anticipated. Washington saw that the 
object was to turn his right, cross the Brandywine, and cut off his 
communication with Philadelphia. 

After reconnoitering the enemy, Washington withdrew to Chadd’s 






628 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Ford, on the Brandywine, where he arrived on the 9th of September, 
and entrenched himself. 

Maxwell’s Light Infantry occupied the advance posts, and during 
the night of the 10th threw up defenses on the west side at the ap¬ 
proaches to the ford. Here Washington determined to take his stand. 

On the evening of the 9th the British Army entered Chester 
County in two divisions, one of which, under General Knyphausen, en¬ 
camped at New Garden and Kennet Square, and the other, under 
Lord Cornwallis, a short distance below Hockesson Meeting House. 

Early on the morning of the 10th they united at Kennet Square, 
whence in the evening the forces under Knyphausen advanced toward 
Welsh’s Tavern, later known as the Anvil, and those under Corn¬ 
wallis remained encamped on the hills north and west of Kennet 
Square. 

Early on the morning of the 11th the army divided into two 
columns—one division, under Knyphausen, marched to Chadd’s Ford, 
by the Philadelphia road; the other, under Cornwallis and accompanied 
by Sir William Howe, took a circuitous route and crossed the west 
branch of the Brandywine at Trimble’s Ford, and approached the Bir¬ 
mingham Meeting House. The object of these movements was to hem 
in the Americans between the two British forces and thus make them 
easy prey. 

Both British columns had moved early and through a dense fog 
which did not lift until a later hour. The column under Knyphausen 
skirmished with the advance parties of the American Army sent for¬ 
ward to harass their march. 

Maxwell’s corps, which occupied the hills west of the Brandywine, 
was driven across the stream after a severe engagement, and joined 
the main body of the American Army, which was already ranged in 
battle order, awaiting the attack of the enemy. 

Several detachments of the Continental troops subsequently re¬ 
crossed the creek and assailed the British, who were busy throwing up 
intrenchments and planting batteries. A footing having thus been 
gained on the western bank, General Maxwell returned in force, and a 
hot conflict ensued, the Americans driving the enemy from the ground. 

The spirit of this action soon drew upon them overwhelming num¬ 
bers, and the Americans were again repulsed. 

Lord Cornwallis, with a larger division, under cover of the hills 
and forests and aided by the fog, proceeded in a circuitous route a con¬ 
siderable distance unobserved, and reached the hills south of Trimble’s 
Ford about the time Knyphausen moved from his position east of Ken¬ 
net Square. 

General John Sullivan, who commanded the right wing of the 
American Army, had received instructions to guard the fords as far 
up the stream as Buffingtons. 


BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE 


629 


About 9 o’clock intelligence was brought that the British left wing 
was about crossing the Brandywine above its forks. Colonel Bland 
sent word to General Washington that a large force of the enemy was 
seen advancing up the road toward Trimble’s Ford. 

That was confirmed by a note from Colonel Ross, who was in 
their rear, and who advised their strength was 5000. Those reports 
were in contradiction to one that Squire Thomas Cheney gave when 
he rode up to General Sullivan and advised him that the main body of 
the British had crossed the Brandywine and was already near at hand, 
approaching from the north. 

The squire was not believed, and demanded to be led to General 
Washington, who doubted his information, but was at length con¬ 
vinced of its truth and immediately disposed of his troops to meet the 
emergency. 

General Sullivan attacked the Hessians, who were the advance 
guard, who returned the fire, and soon the action became general. The 
artillery of both sides opened with terrible effect, and while the 
Americans held their position, the carnage was great. 

The right wing of the American army under General Debarre gave 
way first, and the left under General Sullivan, soon followed. The 
latter tried to rally his troops, but fled over the fields toward the 
main army at Chadd’s Ford. 

Sterling’s division in the center remained firm. General Sullivan 
attached himself to this division, and with Lafayette he engaged per¬ 
sonally in the hottest of the battle. Cornwallis used his artillery with 
telling effect. Two of Sullivan’s aides were killed and Lafayette fell 
with a wounded leg. The troops fled into the woods, but were again 
rallied and after a sharp conflict again retreated. 

When Washington learned of the approach of the British, he 
pushed forward with Green’s division of Pennsylvanians and Virginians 
to the support of Sullivan, leaving Wayne at Chadd’s Ford to oppose 
Knyphausen. Green, by a skillful movement, opened his ranks and 
received the fleeing troops and closed them again. 

Wayne was on the alert, and the moment Knyphausen moved for¬ 
ward he opened a heavy artillery fire upon him. Soon as he learned 
of Sullivan’s defeat he retreated. 

The approach of night ended the bloody conflict, but not soon 
enough to prevent the American army from a defeat which was most 
distressing to the American cause at this critical period. 


630 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Mob Storms Mifflin County Courthouse 
September 12, 1791 

EPTEMBER, 1791, an incident occurred during a term of 
court in Mifflin County, which has since been known as 
the Lewistown Riot. 

. The cause of the disturbance centered in the act of 
Samuel Bryson, then a resident of what is now the borough 
of Mifflintown, who for several years had served as county 
lieutenant, and while acting in that capacity refused to commission two 
colonels who had been elected by their regiments, which so incensed the 
members and their friends that when Mr. Bryson subsequently received 
the appointment of Associate Justice they were indignant and deter¬ 
mined he should not act in that capacity. 

On Monday, September 12, 1791, the Hon. William Brown, 
Samuel Bryson and James Armstrong, Esqs., met in the forenoon in 
order to open the Court and proceed to business, but Thomas Beale, 
Esq., one of the Associate Judges, not having arrived, the others did not 
attempt to convene the Court until he appeared, which was 3 o’clock, 
when he was requested to proceed with them to the court house. Mr. 
Beale declined to go, but the others went into the court room, where 
the commissions of the Judges were read, the Court duly opened, the 
officers sworn in, and Court adjourned until 10 o’clock next morning. 

The following morning, John Clarke, Deputy State’s Attorney, re¬ 
ceived the intelligence that a large body of men was assembled below 
the Long Narrows, at David Jordan’s tavern, on the Juniata River 
shore. 

They were armed with guns, swords and pistols, with an avowed 
intention to proceed to Lewistown and seize Judge Bryson on the 
bench and drag him from his seat, and march him off before them, and 
otherwise ill-treat him. 

That information was immediately communicated to the Judges, 
who, acting upon the suggestion of Mr. Clarke, named Samuel Ed- 
minston, Esq., the Prothonotary; Judge Thomas Beale, Mr. Stewart, 
William Bell, Esq., and the Sheriff of Mifflin County, a committee 
to proceed to the place where the mob had assembled and meet with 
the rioters. 

The Sheriff was commanded to inquire of them their object and 
intention, and if hostile, to order them to disperse and tell them the 
Court was alarmed at their proceedings. 

Two hours after this the Court opened. A fife was heard playing, 
some guns were discharged and almost immediately the mob appeared, 





LEWISTOWN RIOT 


631 


marching toward the court house. Three men on horseback were leading 
the column. The gentlemen who had been sent to counsel with them 
were being marched under a guard in the rear. When the column 
reached Lewistown all the committee were permitted to go at large 
except George Wilson, the Sheriff, who was held by an armed guard 
of four men. 

The Court ordered Mr. Clarke to go and meet the rioters and 
remonstrate against their proceedings and warn them of their danger, 
which order was obeyed, but his endeavors were in vain. 

The mob cried out, “March on! March on! Draw your sword on 
him! Ride over him!” 

Mr. Clarke grabbed the reins of the leader’s horse, who refused to 
be held, and threatened to proceed to the bench and drag Judge Bryson 
off, take him down the Narrows to his own farm and there compel him 
to sign a written paper that he would never again sit there as a Judge. 

This leader was a brother of Sheriff George Wilson. The mob 
cried out, “March on!” He drew, his sword and ordered Clarke to 
let go the reins. The crowd pressed on him and one of them, a nephew 
of Judge Beale, pressed a pistol to his breast, when Clarke let go of the 
horse, and the mob reached the stairs on the outside of the court house. 
Clarke rushed ahead, and as he mounted the stairs he was met by Judge 
Armstrong, who said: “Since nothing else will do, let us defend the 
stairs.” 

At that point several of the attorneys and citizens, who had been 
in the court, reached the stairs, where they were met by the rioters, 
now ably led by William Wilson, Colonel Walker and Colonel Holt. 
They cried: 

“March on, damn you; proceed and take him!” 

Judge Armstrong replied, “You damned rascals, come on! We 
will defend the Court ourselves, and before you shall take Judge Bryson 
you shall kill me and many others, which seems to be your intention, 
and which you may do.” 

At this moment Colonel Holt seized Judge Armstrong by the arm 
with the intention of dragging him down the stairs, but he freed him¬ 
self. Holt’s brother rushed to him with a sword and urged him to run 
it through the Judge. The other leaders drew swords and pistols. 

Clarke suggested that they name three of their most respectable per¬ 
sons to meet with him to settle the dispute. Wilson, the leader, agreed 
to that, but it was with difficulty he was able to get the mob to move 
from the court house. 

Mr. Hamilton went with Mr. Clarke to Alexander’s tavern, and 
soon after their arrival Messrs. Wilson, Walker and Sterritt, of the 
rioters, came in. Sterritt acted as their chief counselor. 

Proposals were made that they should return home, offer no insult 
to Judge Bryson or the Court and send to the Governor a decent peti- 


632 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


tion, stating their grievances, so that they might be laid before the Leg¬ 
islature, and that in the meantime Judge Bryson should sit on the bench 
of the court. 

They seemed to be agreed, when mutual honor was pledged, but 
Sterritt stated that too great a delay was evident, that injuries had 
been received which required immediate redress and even objected 
to the power of the Governor as to the points proposed. 

At that juncture Colonel Holt and young Beale rushed in, the latter 
heavily armed, and insisted on Wilson joining them, which broke up the 
conference. Clarke followed them to the field where the mob was 
assembled. Clarke asked Wilson: 

“Your object is that Judge Bryson leave the bench and not sit on 
it this Court?” 

He and Walker replied, “Yes.” 

“Will you promise to disperse and go home and offer him no insult?” 

They replied, “Yes.” 

Their mutual honor was pledged for the performance of the agree¬ 
ment. 

Mr. Hamilton then entered the Court, told Judge Bryson the agree¬ 
ment, when he left his seat and retired. 

Hardly had Messrs. Hamilton and Clarke reached the court house 
when the mob again appeared in martial attitude at the foot of the 
stairs. Clarke reminded Wilson of his broken pledge; he acknowledged 
it, but said the mob would not have it that way. Clarke told him 
Judge Bryson had left the bench and departed. 

The next day Colonel McFarland, of the local militia, marched his 
command to the court house. 

The Court adjourned until 2 o’clock, and at that hour directed 
the Sheriff to invite Judge Bryson to march in and sit with them. 

The Sheriff returned and advised them Judge Beale would not 
walk in or sit with Bryson. The Sheriff and Judge Bryson got into 
an argument, when the Sheriff struck and kicked the Judge. 

Judge Armstrong seized the Sheriff, and took his rod from him, the 
Sheriff was brought before the Court, when he was committed to jail. 

That night the mob again assembled with the object of rescuing 
the Sheriff, but before a sufficient number could be raised the Sheriff 
apologized to the Court and was released on his own recognizance. 

The mob to the number of 300 assembled at the Narrows the fol¬ 
lowing day, but when they learned the Sheriff was no longer in jail 
and had been forgiven by the Court they dispersed and went to their 
homes. The Court then adjourned. 


MURDER OF THOMAS BOYD 


633 


Inhuman Murder of Lieutenant Thomas Boyd 
by Tory Butler, September 13, 1779 

URING the expedition of Major General John Sullivan 
against the Six Nations, in August and September, 1779, there 
occurred one of the most horrible Indian massacres recorded 
in the frontier history of Pennsylvania. 

On September 12, Lieutenant Thomas Boyd, of the Rifle 
Corps, a resident of Northumberland and older brother of 
the illustrious Captain John Boyd and brother of Lieutenant William 
Boyd, who lost his life in the Battle of Brandywine, was sent with 
about twenty-four soldiers to reconnoiter the town of Genesee. They 
were guided by a friendly Oneida Indian named Hanjost, a chief of 
that tribe. 

This number was too few if a battle was intended and too 
many for a secretive expedition. When the party reached Little 
Castle, on September 13, they surprised, killed and scalped two 
Indians. 

They mistook this place for Genesee, and Lieutenant Boyd intended 
to await there for the advance of the main army, and sent four men to 
report his intentions. This party was fired on, a corporal was killed 
and the others fled until the main army was reached. 

Boyd dispatched two more men to learn what had detained 
the army, when they discovered the dead corporal and at the 
same time the presence of Indians. They informed Lieutenant 
Boyd, who immediately assembled his party and gave chase, fol¬ 
lowing the British and Tories to within less than three miles from the 
main army. 

There they encountered a body of four or five hundred which lay 
in ambush, probably awaiting to surprise the main army, who imme¬ 
diately surrounded Boyd’s small party. Their defense against over¬ 
whelming odds was not less gallant than it was hopeless. 

In their extremity they posted themselves in a small grove, with a 
considerable open space around it, and there they continued to fight. 
Some of the enemy were so near that the powder from their muskets 
burned the clothing and persons of the Americans, who fought bravely 
until the overwhelming superiority of the enemy obliged them to at¬ 
tempt a retreat, which they did, covering their movement with a 
deadly fire. 

This small army of British and Indians was under the command 
of Colonel John Butler and the notorious Indian chieftain, Joseph 
Brant. 







634 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The Indians killed and in a most inhuman manner tomahawked 
and scalped six of Boyd’s soldiers, whose bodies were found the next 
day. 

Nine of Boyd’s party escaped and reported the battle as soon as they 
had reached the main army. 

As Lieutenant Boyd, the Indian guide, Chief Hanjost, Timothy 
Murphy and six others had not arrived safe in camp, there was much 
anxiety for their safety. 

Timothy Murphy was from Northumberland, a personal friend of 
the Boyd brothers and one of the most famous marksmen in the service. 
It was his unerring aim which killed General Frazer, the British com¬ 
mander at the second battle of Stillwater, October 7, 1777. 

Colonel Adam Hubley, in the journal which he kept during the 
Sullivan expedition, writes of him: 

“This Murphy is a noted marksman and a great soldier, he having 
killed and scalped that morning in the Town they were at an Indian, 
which makes the three & thirtieth man of the Enemy he has killed 
(as is well known to his officers) in this War.” 

It is also interesting to note that Murphy made his escape and 
was the one to report that Lieutenant Boyd and Chief Hanjost 
were taken prisoners, and he told in detail of the brave resistance 
they made. 

The army made a quick march with the hope of releasing 
Lieutenant Boyd, but on arriving at Genesee Castle, or “Little 
Beard’s Town,” the capital settlement of the Seneca country, Colonel 
Hubley writes: 

“At this place we found the body of the brave but unfortunate 
Lieutenant Boyd and one Rifleman massacred in the most cruel and 
barbarous manner that the human mind can possibly conceive. The 
savages having put them to the most excruciating torments possible by 
first plucking their nails from hands and feet, then spearing, cutting 
and whipping them and mangling their bodys, then cutting off the 
flesh from their shoulders, tomahawking & severing their heads from 
their bodys and leaving them a prey to their dogs. 

“This evening the remains of Lieutenant Boyd and the Rifleman 
were interred with military honors. Mr. Boyd’s former good character 
as a brave soldier and an honest man, and his behaviour in the skirmish 
of yesterday (several of the Indians being found dead & some seen car¬ 
ried off must indear him to all friends of mankind. May his fate 
await those who have been the cause of his. O! Britain—Behold— 
and blush!” 

Miner in his “History of Wyoming” says their tongues were pulled 
out and flaming pine knots thrust into their flesh and that they were 
slowly burned to death in addition to the tortures mentioned by Colonel 
Hubley. 


MAJOR GRANT DEFEATED 


635 


Miner says that Lieutenant Boyd was taken before Colonel Butler, 
the detestable Tory, who examined him, while Boyd was held by two 
savages, with a third standing at his back, with a tomahawk raised. 

Butler demanded: “How many men has Sullivan?” 

Boyd replied: “I cannot tell you, sir.” 

Butler then asked: “How is the army divided and disposed ?” 

Boyd replied: “I cannot give you any information, sir.” 

Butler then taunted him: “Boyd, life is sweet, you had better 
answer me.” 

The brave lieutenant replied: “Duty forbids, and I would not if 
life depended on the word—but Colonel Butler, I know the issue, 
my doom is fixed.” 

That a prisoner should be taken before Colonel John Butler for 
examination is quite probable. 

Sergeant Michael Parker was the rifleman who was murdered with 
Lieutenant Boyd. 

The remains of Lieutenant Boyd and Sergeant Parker were found 
on the outskirts of the town and were interred with the honors of war. 
In August, 1842, the remains of these two soldiers were exhumed and 
removed to Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, N. Y., where they were 
re-interred. 

The unfortunate Lieutenant Boyd had shared all the hardships of 
the ill-fated expedition to Quebec under General Arnold, and had 
experienced many campaigns prior to the one in which he made the 
supreme sacrifice. 


Major Grant Meets Defeat at Fort 
Duquesne, September 14, 1758 

HE destruction of the Indian town at Kittanning September 
8, 1755, was a severe blow to the Indians. The English had 
never before that time assailed them in their own towns, and 
they were led to believe they would not venture to approach 
them. While they desired to retaliate the blow, they feared 
another such attack upon their home, when they were absent 
on war parties. Such of them as had belonged to Kittanning and 
made their escape, refused to settle again east of Fort Duquesne. 

Nothing was done to annoy the French or check the Indians, until 
a change occurred in the English Ministry, and the master mind of 
William Pitt assumed the control of the mother country. He seemed 
to fully realize the situation of the English subjects in the colonies and 
immediately determined to send troops in sufficient strength to main¬ 
tain her power. 








636 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Pennsylvania, as usual, led the way and equipped 2700 men. The 
other colonies contributed large quotas. 

Three expeditions were determined upon, and the most active 
measures taken to bring them to the field. The one in which Pennsyl¬ 
vanians are more properly interested was known as the Western expe¬ 
dition. It was placed under the command of Major General John 
Forbes, an officer of great skill, energy and resolution. His army 
consisted of nearly 9000 men, embracing British regulars and provincials 
from Pennsylvania, and the Lower Counties, Virginia, Maryland and 
North Carolina. 

The troops from the other Governments rendezvoused at Win¬ 
chester, while the Pennsylvanians, under Colonel Henry Bouquet, as¬ 
sembled at Raystown, now Bedford. 

General Forbes, with his regulars, marched from Philadelphia to 
effect a junction with the provincials at Raystown, but the serious 
illness of the general compelled him to stop at Carlisle, where he re¬ 
mained until the middle of September, when he reached Bedford and 
the provincial troops under Colonel George Washington. 

At the suggestion of Colonel Bouquet and the Pennsylvania offi¬ 
cers, a new road was cut direct from Raystown to Loyalhanna, a dis¬ 
tance of forty-five miles, where Colonel Bouquet erected Fort Ligonier. 

Before the arrival of General Forbes at Loyalhanna, Colonel Bou¬ 
quet had dispatched Major William Grant, of the Highland Regi¬ 
ment, with thirty-seven officers and 800 troops, to reconnoitre the fort 
and adjacent country. His instructions were to approach not too near 
the fort, and in no event to take the risk of an attack. 

Grant camped the first day on the banks of the Nine Mile Run, 
ten miles west of the camp on the Loyalhanna. The second day he 
proceeded farther, and on the third reached to within about twelve 
miles of Fort Duquesne. 

Although the French and Indians were constantly watching 
the movements of the army, yet Grant succeeded in coming within 
sight of the fort, after marching fifty miles without being dis¬ 
covered. 

The detachment halted here until 3 o’clock in the afternoon, when 
the troops quietly marched to about two miles from the fort, where 
they left their baggage under charge of Captain Bullitt, two subalterns 
and fifty men. It was already dark, and later in the night Major 
Grant appeared with his troops at the brow of the fatal hill, which 
still bears his name, between the two rivers, about a quarter of a mile 
from the fort. 

From the apparent stillness of the enemy’s camp and not having 
met with either French or Indians on the march, Major Grant sup¬ 
posed that the forces in the fort must be comparatively small, and at 
once determined to make an attack. 


MAJOR GRANT DEFEATED 


637 


Two officers and fifty men were dispatched to approach the fort 
and fall upon the French and Indians that might be lying out, if not 
in too great number. They saw none, nor were they challenged by 
the sentinels, and as they returned they set fire to a large store house, 
but the fire was discovered and extinguished. 

At break of day, Major Lewis was sent with 200 men, prin¬ 
cipally American regulars and Virginia volunteers, to take post about 
half a mile back, and lie in ambush in the road on which they had left 
their baggage, under the pretention of fears that the enemy would make 
a bold attempt to capture it. 

But Major Grant, who was jealous of Major Lewis, wished to 
have the glory of capturing the enemy who had so signally repulsed 
General Braddock with his army. 

Four hundred men were posted along the hill facing the fort, to 
cover the retreat of Captain McDonald’s company, who marched with 
drums beating toward the enemy, in order to draw a party out of the 
fort, as Major Grant believed there were not more than 200 men, in¬ 
cluding Indians, in the fortress. 

The garrison was aroused from its slumber by the music of the 
invaders, and French and Indians sallied out in great numbers to the 
attack. Their whole force was divided into three divisions. The 
first two were sent directly under cover of the banks of the river to 
surround the main body under Major Grant. The remaining division 
was delayed while the others maneuvred, and then displayed themselves 
before the fort, as if exhibiting their whole strength. 

The attack then commenced, and Captain McDonald was imme¬ 
diately obliged to fall back upon the main body and was a moment 
later killed. 

Major Grant received and returned a most destructive fire. At 
this mofnent he suddenly found himself flanked on all sides by the 
detachments from the banks of the river. The struggle became des¬ 
perate. 

The provincials put up a good defense while concealing themselves 
behind trees, but the Highlanders who stood exposed to the enemy’s fire 
without cover, fell in great numbers, and at last gave way and fled. 
Soon the provincials, haying lost all their support, and being over¬ 
powered by numbers, were compelled to follow. 

Major Grant retreated to the baggage where Captain Bullitt was 
posted, where he again endeavored to rally his flying soldiers. His 
earnest appeals for support were unavailing, as the French and Indians 
were too close at their heels. 

As soon as the enemy came up Captain Bullitt attacked them with 
great fury for awhile, but not being supported, and most of his men 
having been killed, he was obliged to give way. 

The resistance shown by Captain Bullitt’s detail afforded many of 


638 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the retreating and a few of the wounded to escape. Major Grant and 
Captain Bullitt were the last to leave the field, but when they separated 
Major Grant was taken prisoner. 

In this conflict, which took place September 14, 1758, 270 men 
were killed, forty-two wounded and several taken prisoners. 

“It was,” says Colonel Washington, in a letter to the Governor of 
Virginia, “a very ill-concerted, or a very ill-executed plan, perhaps 
both; but it seems to be generally acknowledged that Major Grant 
exceeded his orders and that no disposition was made for engaging.” 


Madame Montour Resents Murder of Her 
Brother, September 15, 1711 

N THE provincial history of Pennsylvania the name of the 
Montours stands out among the many Indians of note, and the 
intimate story of this large family presents many interesting 
and contradictory characteristics. 

The first one of this family, which has given us its name 
for a county, town, river, creek and mountain range, was the 
celebrated Madame Montour. 

There has always been a question of doubt as to her birth. She 
claimed to be a half-breed French-Indian, her father being a Governor 
of Canada. Whether this is true or not, about 1665 a French noble¬ 
man named Montour settled in Canada, where by an Indian woman, 
probably a Huron, he became the father of a son and two daughters. 
This son of Montour grew up among those Indians, who were at that 
time in alliance with the French. 

In 1685, while in the French service, he was wounded in a fight 
with two Mohawk warriors on Lake Champlain. Subsequently he 
deserted the French cause and again lived among the Indians. In 1709 
he was killed while inducing twelve of the Western tribes to support 
the English. 

One of his sisters became a noted interpreter and friend of the 
English, and was known as Madame Montour; the other sister mar¬ 
ried a Miami Indian and her history is lost. 

Madame Montour was born previous to the year 1684. When 
about ten years old she was captured by some Iroquois warriors and 
adopted, probably by the Seneca tribe, for at maturity she married a 
Seneca named Roland Montour, by whom she had five children: 
Andrew, Henry, Robert, Lewis and Margaret. 

After the death of Roland, Madame Montour married the noted 
Oneida chief, Carondowanen, or “Big Tree,” who later took the name 






MADAME MONTOUR, INTERPRETER 639 

Robert Hunter in honor of the royal governor of the province of New 
York. 

About 1729 Robert Hunter was killed in battle with the Catawba, 
against whom he was waging war. 

Madame Montour first appeared as an official interpreter at the con¬ 
ference at Albany, September 15, 1711. At this conference the wan¬ 
ton murder of her brother, Andrew, by Vaudreuil, was bitterly re¬ 
sented by Madame Montour, and she employed her great influence 
with telling effect against the French, who tried to induce her to re¬ 
move to Canada, but she remained loyal to the English and was put 
in a position of great power with lucrative return. 

Madame Montour was the interpreter in Philadelphia in 1727 at a 
conference between Deputy Governor Patrick Gordon and the Provin¬ 
cial Council on the one hand and the Six Nations, Conestoga, Gan- 
awese and Susquehanna Indians on the other. 

It is claimed that Madame Montour was a lady in manner and 
education, was very attractive in mind and body, and that she was en¬ 
tertained by ladies of the best society on her trips to Philadelphia; but 
as her sister married an Indian and she was twice wedded to an Indian 
warrior, it is probable her education and refinement were not so marked 
as is claimed. 

Nevertheless, from the testimony of those who' saw and knew her, 
but contrary to the statement of Lord Cornbury, who knew her brother, 
it seems almost certain that she was a French-Canadian without any 
admixture of Indian blood, and that for some unaccountable reason 
she preferred the life and dress of her adopted people. 

Madame Montour was always uniformly friendly toward the pro¬ 
prietary Government, and such was the loyalty of her family that at 
least two of her sons, Henry and Andrew, received large grants of 
“donation land” from the Government. That of Henry lay upon the 
Chillisquaque Creek, in Northumberland County, and that of Andrew, 
on the Loyalsock, where Montoursville, in Lycoming County, is now 
situated. 

Madame Montour resided at the village of Ostonwackin* in 1734. 
This was some times known as Frenchtown. When Conrad Weiser 
visited there in 1737, on his way to Onondaga, he wrote of Madame 
Montour, as “a French woman by birth, of a good family, but now 
in mode of life a complete Indian.” 

When she attended the great treaty at Lancaster in 1744 she was 
accompanied by two of her daughters, and at that time related to 
Witham Marshe the story of her life. He represented her as genteel 
and of polite address and as having been attractive in her prime. 

When Count Zinzendorf, the Moravian missionary, visited Shamo- 

*Village at mouth of Loyalsock Creek, present site of Montoursville, Lycoming 

County, Pa. 



640 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


kin (now Sunbury) in 1742, he was welcomed by Madame Montour 
and her son Andrew. She had moved to that place from Ostonwackin. 

Upon learning that the Count came to preach the gospel, the truths 
of which she had almost forgotten, she burst into tears. It was learned 
that she believed that Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, was situated 
in France, and that it was the English who crucified him—a silly per¬ 
version of the truth that originated with French religious teachers. 

It is thought she died at the home of her son, Andrew, in 1752. 

Of the children of Madame Montour, Andrew became the most 
prominent and indeed he was one of the strong men during a long 
period of stirring times in the province. His Indian name was Sattelihu, 
he was a son by her first husband. 

Andrew became an interpreter at an early age and served the Pro¬ 
prietary Government faithfully and well; he also was loved by his 
Indian brethren, for he zealously guarded their interests. 

In 1745 he accompanied Conrad Weiser and Shikellamy, the vice¬ 
gerent of the Six Nations on the Susquehanna, on a mission to Onon¬ 
daga, the Federal capital of the confederation. 

He was sent on important missions to Maryland and other places 
and in 1753 the French authorities set a price of $500 on his head. In 
1755 he was living ten miles northwest from Carlisle, on land which 
had been granted to him for his services. 

During the French and Indian War he was captain of a company 
of Indians in the English service, and later rose to the rank of major. 

In 1762 he was King’s interpreter to the United Nations, and he 
served as interpreter for the Delaware Indians at Fort Augusta, at 
the time Conrad Weiser held a conference for the purpose of bringing 
about peace between the Southern Confederation and the Six Nations. 

October 29, 1768, the Proprietary Government surveyed and 
granted to Andrew Montour 880 acres of land at the mouth of the 
Loyalsock, where the borough of Montoursville now is. With this and 
other grants he was considered a man of great wealth. 


MATTHEW CAREY, EDITOR 


641 


Matthew Carey, Editor and Influential 
Writer of Philadelphia, Died There 
September 16, 1839 

B n ATTHEW CAREY came to Philadelphia in November 
I 1784, and spent the remainder of his eventful life there, 
I dying September 16, 1839. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, 
, January 28, 1760, where he spent his early life. 

He learned the business of printer and bookseller, and at 
the age of seventeen he wrote and published a pamphlet on 
duelling. This was soon followed by an address to Roman Catholics in 
Ireland on their oppression by the penal code. This was so seditious 
and inflammatory that he was compelled to fly to Paris, but returned 
in the course of a year, and was soon after prosecuted for printing 
a libel. 

In 1783, he edited the Freeman’s Journal and established the 
Volunteer’s Journal. 

In 1784, he printed a libel on the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and was 
imprisoned during the session of Parliament. He escaped on board a 
ship in woman’s dress, and arrived in Philadelphia, November 15, 1784. 

General Lafayette, then on a visit to the United States, heard his 
story, and not only procured influence for him, but advanced $400 to 
Carey, who immediately started the Pennsylvania Herald, the first 
number of which publication appeared January 25, 1785. 

The young printer, publisher, and editor attracted immediate at¬ 
tention and patronage by giving the best reports of the Assembly yet 
published. The Herald was in fact the first newspaper in America 
which gave full and accurate reports of legislative proceedings. 

Matthew Carey was most aggressive with his pen, and burning 
with hate to England, he at once became one of the most notable of 
the foreign-born editors in America. 

But the spirited temper of the enterprising young Irishman aroused 
collisions, one of which with Colonel Oswald, had serious result. 
Eleazer Oswald had been a colonel in the Continental army during the 
war, in which he appears to have served with credit; he was a kinsman 
of Elizabeth Holt, wife of John Holt, and aided her in conducting the 
Journal after the death of her husband, in 1785 and 1786. They 
sold the Journal in 1787 to Thomas Greenleaf. 

Oswald had an “unpleasantness” with Francis Child, of the New 
York Advertiser, and then succeeded in getting himself into a political 
dispute with Matthew Carey. 

21 





642 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


This latter quarrel terminated in a duel, in which Carey was shot 
above the knee, a wound that confined him to the house for nearly 
sixteen months. 

During the interval, Carey seems to have been able to continue his 
editorial labors, and, in 1786, with several partners, he started the 
Columbian Magazine, but withdrew from this enterprise the following 
December, and founded the American Museum, a monthly eclectic 
magazine, which he edited with marked ability for six years. 

After abandoning the Museum Carey entered into business 
as a bookseller and publisher, and among other works issued a 
quarto edition of the Bible, called the standing edition—as it was kept 
in type. 

He took an active part in charitable enterprises, and every fortnight 
dispensed food and other necessaries of life to hundreds of poor widows. 
He was particularly active in works of benevolence during the prev¬ 
alence of yellow fever in Philadelphia in 1793, and wrote and pub¬ 
lished a history of that epidemic. 

In 1793 Carey founded the Hibernian Society and undertook with 
Hugh Gaine a system of annual book fairs, resembling the present 
trade sales. 

He was an associate of Bishop William White and others in the 
formation of the first American Sunday School Society. 

While the War of 1812-14 was kindling he wrote much on politi¬ 
cal subjects, and in 1814 the Olive Branch appeared, in which he at¬ 
tempted to harmonize the contending parties in the United States. It 
passed through ten editions. 

In 1818 he published “Vindicia Hibernicae,” which was a refuta¬ 
tion of charges made against the Catholics of Ireland of butchering 
Protestants in the insurrection of 1640. 

In 1820 he published “The New Olive Branch,” which was in 
favor of protection to American industry; and two years later his 
“Essays on Political Economy,” were also published in favor of pro¬ 
tection. These publications were widely circulated. 

In 1830, under the title of “Miscellaneous Essays,” Carey repub¬ 
lished selections from his writings. There are fifty-eight papers, es¬ 
says, and longer compositions, and two hundred pieces collected under 
the heading of “Light Reading.” 

Carey also advocated the system of internal improvements which 
led to the construction of the great canal system in Pennsylvania. 

He was active in promoting education, and in forming associations 
for the relief of those unable to help themselves. 

As Matthew Carey advanced in years, he acquired a fair amount 
of wealth, and in consequence of ease and comfortable environment, 
he became a prolific writer, but always on subjects which were solid. 
He gave no time to the elegancies of literature or fiction. 


FIRST U. S. CONSTITUTION ADOPTED 


643 


In this field of literature he was succeeded by his son Henry Charles 
Carey, who became well known for his robust works on political 
economy. 

In 1833-34 Matthew Carey contributed his autobiography to the 
New England Magazine. 

He acquired an enviable social position as well as one of wealth. 
He died much lamented at his home in Philadelphia, September 16, 1839. 


First Constitution of United States Adopted 
in Philadelphia September 17, 1787 

HE Constitution of the United States, as is well known, was 
framed during the summer of 1787, by a convention of Dele¬ 
gates from twelve States. The convention sat in the old 
State House at Philadelphia, and after a stormy session of 
four months ended its labors on September 17, 1787. 

In the preliminary movement to form a nation, only five 
of the thirteen colonies were represented. Delegates from New York, 
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia, met at Annapolis, 
Md., September 11, 1786, and after much discussion and consideration, 
they recommended that a convention he called to meet in Philadelphia 
on the second Monday of May, 1787. 

When that day arrived the only delegates to appear at the State 
House were those of Pennsylvania and Virginia. At the end of two 
weeks no others had arrived except those from Delaware and New 
Jersey. This fact indicates how little they appreciated the importance 
of the event. 

Finally, twelve States were represented; the largest delegation was 
from Pennsylvania, and consisted of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas 
Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimmons, Jared 
Ingersoll, James Wilson and Gouverneur Morris. General George 
Washington was elected president, and William Jackson, secretary. 
The convention sat with closed doors. 

Former Governor Pennypacker, in his excellent “Pennsylvania— 
The Keystone,” says “Washington presided and the aged Franklin par¬ 
ticipated, but the most learned lawyer among them was James Wilson, 
and, perhaps, more than any other member, he affected the results 
reached.” 

On the afternoon of the day that the convention finished its labors, 
the Constitution was duly signed by thirty-nine of the members. Some 
resolutions and a letter from Washington were ordered to be sent to 
Congress and to be by it transmitted to the States. 






644 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The Constitution was adopted September 17, 1787, and by this 
action of the convention a new Nation was born in Philadelphia. 

While these things were taking place in a lower room of the State 
House, the Legislature of Pennsylvania was in session in a room above, 
and the Constitution was read to it on the morning of September 18. 

Copies were then given to the press, and the next day the people 
of Philadelphia were reading the new plan in the “Packet,” the “Jour¬ 
nal” and the “Gazetteer.” For a few days nothing but praise was 
heard, but before a week was gone, it was attacked. 

The principal supporters of the plan of the Federal Convention 
were former officers of the Revolution, many of whom had served 
throughout the entire struggle for independence, while not one promi¬ 
nent soldier of that war was included among the twenty-three Anti- 
Federalists who consistently voted against ratification. 

All was not satisfactory, and there was much trouble about, the 
adoption of the Constitution, which did not go into effect until rati¬ 
fied by nine States. 

Patrick Henry, of Virginia, and Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, 
opposed it violently. It also had many opponents in Pennsylvania. 
Particularly was this true among the partisans of the State Govern¬ 
ment. 

A draft of the instrument was reported to the Assembly, when a 
motion was made to authorize the calling of a State convention to 
deliberate upon its adoption. 

This body met November 21, and was organized by the choice of 
Frederick A. Muhlenberg as president, and James Campbell, as secre¬ 
tary. On December 12, following, the final adoption of the draft of 
the Constitution was carried by a vote of 46 to 23 against it. 

The following day the members of the convention and of the Su¬ 
preme Executive Council, with officers of the State and the City of 
Philadelphia and others, went in procession from the State House to 
the old court house, where the ratification of the instrument was 
solemnly proclaimed. Twelve cannon were fired and the bells were 
rung. 

The convention returned to the State House, where two copies 
of the ratification of the Constitution were signed. According’to Ham¬ 
ilton, a motion was made that all members should sign it as an 
acquiescence to the principle that the majority should govern, which 
was strenuously objected to by the opponents of this instrument. 

Delaware ratified the Constitution December 7, 1787, making 
Pennsylvania the second State to ratify. That is the reason that today 
in all national processions these States are given the lead. 

State after State approved the Constitution, and in several of them 
processions had taken place to celebrate, but in Pennsylvania there had 
been no celebration of this kind; but it was decided, however, that as 


FIRST U. S. CONSTITUTION ADOPTED 


645 


soon as the ninth State acceded to it, measures should be taken for 
public rejoicing. 

Following Delaware and Pennsylvania came New Jersey, which 
adopted the Constitution December 18; Georgia, January 2, 1788; 
Connecticut, January 9; Massachusetts, February 6; Maryland, April 
28; South Carolina, May 23. 

On June 21, when New Hampshire, the ninth State, ratified it, 
it was determined by the citizens of Philadelphia to celebrate the for¬ 
mation of the new Union on the evening of the Fourth of July. By 
that time Virginia had also ratified the Constitution by vote of June 26. 

This pageant was as imposing as it was possible for the authorities 
and the people of Pennsylvania in their enthusiasm to make it, and 
not only in the metropolis but in every town in the State was the occa¬ 
sion one of patriotism and splendor. 

New York ratified the Constitution July 26, 1788; North Carolina, 
November 21, 1789, and the last one of the thirteen original States to 
ratify was Rhode Island, which did not accomplish it until May 

29, 1790. 

The adoption of the Constitution rendered the institution of 
measures necessary for the election of members of Congress and 
electors of President and Vice President of the United States. 

The Anti-Federalists immediately got busy and endeavored to effect 
a plan to revise the new Constitution, but were defeated in their pur¬ 
poses. The actions of this body in Pennsylvania in their convention 
in Harrisburg, September, 1788, were denounced by the people. 

A new convention was called to meet in Lancaster, which selected 
candidates for Congress and electors for President. 

The election of members of Congress took place in November, and 
in the State six of the nominees of the Federal ticket were elected, and 
two, David Muhlenberg, of Montgomery, and Daniel Hiester, of Berks, 
who, although Federalists, had, with two others of the same politics, 
been placed as a matter of policy with the opposition ticket. 

The centennial of the adoption of the Federal Constitution was 
fittingly celebrated in Philadelphia. 

On September 15, 1887, there was a large civic and industrial pro¬ 
cession, a military display on the 16th, and fine Memorial Day cere¬ 
monies in Independence Square on the 17th. 

The occasion was celebrated with great credit to Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania and the Nation, as it illustrated the dignity and grandeur 
of the Republic. 


646 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Labor Riots Follow Civil War; Jay Cooke 
Company Failed September 18, 1873 

OLLOWING the suggestion of Governor John White Geary, 
the Legislature on June 2, 1871, adopted a resolution to sub¬ 
mit the question of calling a convention to amend the Con¬ 
stitution to a vote of the people. The delegates were elected 
October, 1872, and assembled in the Capitol November 12, 
1872. 

Hon. William M. Meredith was elected president and served until 
his death, August 17, 1873, when Hon. John H. Walker, of Erie 
County, was chosen to fill the vacancy. The convention adj'ourned 
November 27 to meet in Philadelphia on January 7, 1873. 

A new Constitution was drafted and adopted, after which it was 
submitted to the people on December 16, 1873, and approved by a 
vote of 263,560 to 109,198. 

This new Constitution contained several important changes: An 
increase in the number of Senators and Representatives in the General 
Assembly; biennial sessions of the Legislature; the election by the peo¬ 
ple of sundry officers heretofore appointed; minority representation; 
modification of the pardoning power; the term of the Governor made 
for four years, and not eligible to the office for the succeeding term; 
the office of Lieutenant-Governor created; changes in tenure and mode 
of electing Judges of the courts. The new Constitution became ef¬ 
fective January 1, 1874. 

The good times which followed the Civil War were in a few years 
followed by a financial depression that extended over the whole country 
and reduced innumerable financial establishments to ruin. 

These financial troubles began in Philadelphia with the failure of 
the banking house of Jay Cooke & Co., September 18, 1873. Mr. 
Cooke’s bank had given such help to the United States Government 
during the period of the war that he was frequently called the “Finan¬ 
cier of the Rebellion.” 

When this banking institution collapsed there followed a run on 
other banks, the effects of which soon spread throughout the United 
States. 

The excellent “Pennsylvania Colonial and Federal,” by Howard 
M. Jenkins, says: “The condition of the times was rendered more 
deplorable by a series of labor difficulties, extending from 1874-1877. 
In 1874, there was a conflict in Westmoreland County between 
Italian and resident miners, in which four of the Italians were killed. 
The same year there was a railroad strike at Susquehanna on the New 







LABOR RIOTS AFTER CIVIL WAR 


647 


York and Erie Railroad. A number of trains were seized by the mob, 
and order was not restored until after the Governor had sent the 
State militia into that region. In January, 1875, the miners of the 
Lehigh and Schuylkill regions began a strike, which lasted six months. 
There was but little violence; yet the Governor found it necessary to 
order the militia to the scene of the disturbance.” 

In 1877, the spirit of lawlessness increased, culminating in a series 
of destructive riots in different parts of the State. The cause of all 
this trouble was the railroad strike, which began on July 16, and soon 
became general throughout the United States. 

In the beginning of July, a circular was issued from the offices of the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, announcing a reduction of 10 per cent 
from the wages which the men were then receiving. A new schedule 
of wages was announced, to take effect on July 16. At all points 
along the railroad, there were demonstrations against this reduc¬ 
tion. A strike was ordered, and before midnight of the 16th the 
immense property of the Baltimore and Ohio was in the hands of the 
rioters. 

On July 19 the employes of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Pitts¬ 
burgh inaugurated a strike, and stopped the passage of all freight trains 
east and west. By the evening of the 20th, a large number of freight 
trains were tied up in the city. The striking workmen resisted all 
efforts of the railroad officials to remove these trains, and threatened 
acts of violence. At this time Governor John F. Hartranft was on a 
trip across the continent, but upon the call of the Sheriff the Adjutant 
General ordered the Sixteenth Division of the National Guard to assist 
in restoring order. 

Adjutant General James W. Latta arrived at Pittsburgh on July 
21, to take personal charge of all the troops ordered out. The First 
Division of the National Guard was also called into service, and on the 
forenoon of the 21st, the troops took position upon the hill overlooking 
the tracks at Twenty-eighth Street. 

At 2 o’clock in the afternoon the troops from Philadelphia arrived, 
and they at once proceeded to open the road. As they approached 
Twenty-eighth Street, the crowds pressed in upon them and stones were 
thrown by the mob. 

There was considerable firing on both sides, and in the melee twenty 
soldiers were wounded. In the evening the soldiers withdrew to the 
roundhouse and adjacent buildings. At midnight the rioters determined 
to drive them out by burning the freight cars in the vicinity. The 
result was a great conflagration, in which vast quantities of freight were 
consumed and all the rolling stock and buildings of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad at Pittsburgh were destroyed. 

Hastening from his trip, Governor Hartranft reached Pittsburgh 
on July 24. After a consultation with the leading citizens he went to 


648 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Philadelphia to confer with Generals Hancock and Schofield, of the 
United States Army. 

Arrangements were made to forward a detachment of the regular 
army to Pittsburgh, there to join the State troops which the Governor 
collected on the way. 

A large force was soon gathered at the scene of the disturbance, 
and, with Governor Hartranft in personal command, order was re¬ 
stored in a few days and railroad communications were opened with 
all parts of the country. In the meantime there were serious riots in 
other parts of the State. 

The lawless spirit in Philadelphia and Harrisburg was quelled by 
the prompt action of the officials, but in Reading the work of destruction 
was almost equal to that in Pittsburgh. The railroad bridge over the 
Schuylkill was burned, and the mob virtually controlled the city. 

As the authorities of Berks County were unable to suppress the riot, 
General Reeder was sent there with a division of the National Guard. 
On the evening of July 23 there was a severe street fight between the 
mob and the soldiers, in which some of the latter were wounded, while 
eleven of the crowd were killed. The next day a detachment of the 
United States troops arrived and the railroad was opened to traffic. 

The contagion of lawlessness affected the miners of Luzerne County, 
and on July 25 they began a general strike. All railroad traffic was 
suspended in that region, and at Scranton the rioters attempted to 
drive the workmen from the shops. The Sheriff with a number of 
aides dispersed the crowd, but he was seriously wounded and three of 
the mob were killed. 

As the conditions became more threatening, it was necessary to 
forward a division of the National Guard to the coal regions. Early 
in August all disorder was suppressed, and in a few weeks all the rail¬ 
roads in the State were running on schedule time. 


Indians Defrauded by Deceptive Walking 
Land Measure, September 19, 1737 

ROM the time of William Penn’s arrival, in 1682, while 
he was a lowly Christian himself, he had followers who did 
not have the same fear of God in their hearts, and who did 
not hesitate to excite the cupidity of the unsophisticated chil¬ 
dren of the forest, and by any and all means take advantage 
of them. 

William Penn formed many treaties with the Indians and concluded 
many purchases, no one of which was well and accurately defined as 
to its actual boundary. 






WALKING PURCHASE 


649 


Penn and his agents were ignorant of the topography of the wilder¬ 
ness in the interior of “Penn’s Woods,” and in their earlier purchases 
had been in the habit of defining the boundaries of land by well-known 
streams or highlands, or well-known natural objects. 

They often indicated their extension into the unknown region by 
such vague terms as: “To run two days’ journey with a horse up 
into the country as the river doth go,” or “Northeasterly back into the 
woods to make up two full days’ journey,” or “far as a man can go in 
two days from said station,” etc. 

The first purchase of land from the Indians above the Neshaminy, 
in Bucks County, made by William Markham, the agent of William 
Penn, was in 1682. This purchase was to be bounded by the River 
Delaware on the northeast, and the Neshaminy on the northwest, and 
was to extend as far back as a man could walk in three days. 

It is stated that Penn and the Indians began to walk out this land, 
commencing at the mouth of the Neshaminy, and walking up the 
Delaware; in one day and a half they got to a spruce tree, near Baker’s 
Creek, when Penn concluded this would be as much land as he would 
want at present. A line was drawn and marked from the spruce tree 
to the Neshaminy. 

This was the only boundary which was ever settled by Penn in 
person, and Penn wrote of this trip, saying that they frequently halted 
to converse, smoke and eat. 

Lines measured in that manner would often have extended far 
beyond the expectations of the contracting parties, so more definite 
terms were soon employed to define limits of land grants. But about 
1718 the settlers, maintaining the authority of the original lines, pushed 
their improvements beyond the designated lines, much to the dissatisfac¬ 
tion of the Indians. 

That act nearly precipitated war, had^not wiser counsels prevailed, 
but encroachments continued until a general meeting of the Iroquois 
was held and their chiefs determined to put an end to the bickerings, 
and sent their chief sachems to Philadelphia. There they renewed old 
treaties, by the signatures of twenty-three of their chiefs, and deed to 
Penn’s heirs “all the said river Susquehanna, with lands lying on both 
sides thereof, to extend eastward as far as the heads of the branch or 
springs which run into the said Susquehanna, and all lands lying on 
the west side of the said river, northward, up the same to the hills or 
mountains.” 

That did not even stop the unscrupulous land seeker and much ad¬ 
ditional land was taken from the natives, which in consequence pro¬ 
voked trouble. 

After the death of William Penn a copy of one of those walk-deeds 
was found by Thomas and John Penn, who, at a council in 1733, fifty 
years after it had been executed, presented it to the Indians and re- 


650 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


ceived from them an acknowledgment of its validity, and under that 
an arrangement was made for a walk of one day and a half to settle 
the boundaries. 

The Penns, although strict Quakers, did not shrink from using 
means about the honesty of which there could be some question, and 
they advertised far and wide for the fastest walkers, offering five hun¬ 
dred acres of land and five pounds in money to the man who would 
walk the greatest distance in the allotted time. 

Every facility was furnished them, a direct line was run, under¬ 
brush was cleared away, refreshments were placed at convenient dis¬ 
tances, all arranged so that there might be little or no delay. Indeed, 
the preparations for a modern marathon race could hardly be more 
carefully made. 

The persons selected by the Governor were Edward Marshall, 
James Yeates and Solomon Jennings. One of the Indians was called 
Combush, another Neepaheilomon, also known as Joe Tuneam, and 
his brother-in-law, Tom. 

The time appointed for the walk was the morning of September 
19, 1737, when the days and nights were equal. The walk was to 
commence at a chestnut tree just above the present site of Wrights- 
town Meeting House, under the supervision of Timothy Smith, sheriff 
of Bucks County, and Benjamin Eastburn, surveyor general. 

Marshall was a noted hunter, chain carrier, etc.; Yeates was a tall, 
slim fellow, very agile and fleet of foot; Jennings was remarkable for 
his strength, but was of very stout build. 

A great crowd of spectators gathered at the starting point. The 
walkers were accompanied by a number of persons who carried re¬ 
freshments and otherwise encouraged the walkers to greater efforts. 

They walked moderately at first, but soon quickened their pace, 
so that the Indians frequently called to them to walk and not to run. 
Those remonstrances produced no effect, and most of the Indians left 
them in anger, saying they were being cheated. A number of persons 
had collected about twenty miles from the starting point to see them 
pass. 

First came Yeates, stepping as lightly as a feather. After him, 
but yet out of sight came Jennings, with a strong steady step, then far 
behind him came Marshall, apparently careless, swinging a hatchet and 
eating a biscuit. Bets ran in favor of Yeates. 

In two and a half hours they arrived at Red Hill, in Bedminister, 
but the pace by this time was too hot for Jennings and two of the 
Indians and they gave up the contest. The other Indian, Combush, 
continued with Marshall and Yeates, and when they arrived at the 
fork of the road, near what is now Bethlehem, Combush laid down to 
rest a moment, but on attempting to rise was unable to proceed farther. 

Marshall and Yeates continued alone and by sunset arrived on the 


PAOLI MASSACRE 


651 


north of Blue Mountain. At sunrise the next morning they started 
again, but when crossing a stream at the foot of the mountain near 
Lehigh Water Gap, Yeates became faint and fell. Marshall turned 
back and supported him until some of the attendants came up, and 
then continued to walk on by himself. At noon, the hour when 
the walk was to terminate, he had reached a spur on the Second 
or Broad Mountain, estimated to be eighty-six miles from the starting 
point. 

Having thus reached the fartherest possible point to the northwest¬ 
ward, a line was drawn from the end of the “walk” to the Delaware 
River. 

Not being described in the deed of purchase, the agent of the Pro¬ 
prietaries, instead of running by the nearest course to the river, ran 
northeastward across the country about sixty-six miles, so as to strike 
the Delaware near the mouth of the Lackawaxen, thus extending far 
up the river, taking in all the Minisink territory, and many thousand 
acres more than they should have included had the line been run by 
the direct course to the Delaware. 

This walk gained for the Penn’s territory which now constitutes 
the northern part of Bucks, virtually the whole of Northampton and 
a portion of Pike, Carbon and Monroe counties. 


British Surprise and Slaughter Americans 
at Paoli, September 20, 1777 

OLLOWING the defeat of the Continental Army at Brandy¬ 
wine, a detachment of the British Army under Major Gen¬ 
eral Grant marched to Concord Meeting House, where it 
was joined by Lord Cornwallis and moved to near Chester. 

The Americans retreated toward Chester. On the arrival 
of Washington, about midnight, he sent an account of the 
disaster to Congress. The next day the army marched by way of 
Darby to Philadelphia. The main body was encamped near German¬ 
town for two or three days to rest. 

Washington deemed it so important to save Philadelphia from fall¬ 
ing into the hands of the enemy that he resolved to risk another en¬ 
gagement. 

On September 15 he crossed the Schuykill and marched up the 
Lancaster road, with the intention of meeting the enemy. The British 
commander learned of Washington’s plan to attack him, and disposed 
his troops to meet the attack. 

On the morning of the 16th Washington received information that 
the enemy was approaching by way of the Goshen Meeting House, and 







652 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


was already in that vicinity. The two armies prepared for action. 
Washington dispatched an advance guard to keep the enemy in check 
until his army was properly arrayed. 

General Anthony Wayne in command of the advance, was to open 
the battle. Skirmishing began, but suddenly a rain storm of great 
violence stopped its progress. A hurried consultation was had as to 
whether the British should be fought on ground so soft there was dan¬ 
ger of losing the artillery in cast of defeat. 

Washington gave the order to reform east of the White Horse and 
north of the Lancaster road. 

The Americans discovered their ammunition was damaged by the 
rain and continued to Warwick Furnace. The storm continued for 
some time. 

On the evening of the 18th, Cornwallis advanced to the Lancaster 
road, and the following day the entire army joined at the White Horse, 
and moved down the Lancaster and Swedes’ Ford road, where they 
encamped near the present village of Howellville. 

On the 17th General Wayne’s division was sent to French Creek to 
annoy the enemy and endeavor to cut off the baggage train, and by this 
means arrest his march toward the Schuylkill until the Americans could 
cross the river higher up and pass down on the east side and intercept 
the passage of the river by the British. 

General Wayne proceeded to the duty assigned him, and on the 
eighteenth encamped in the rear of the enemy, securely concealed from 
the knowledge of General Howe. Wayne’s home being in the neigh¬ 
borhood, he was acquainted with the locality. 

On the nineteenth General Wayne watched the enemy with a 
view of attacking him should he move. On the twentieth, he be¬ 
lieved the British Commander intended to take up the march, and it 
was his intention to advance upon the enemy’s rear and attack while 
in the operation of moving. 

General Wayne had carefully guarded himself against surprise, 
planted pickets and sentinels, and threw forward patrols upon the 
roads leading to the enemy’s camp. 

During the night a neighbor visited his quarters and advised him 
that the Tritish intended to attack him during the night. Wayne took 
additional precautions, and awaited General Smallwood’s arrival with 
re-enforcements to enable him to take the offensive. 

Although the British commander did not know where the forces 
of General Wayne lay, there were Tories residing in the neighborhood 
who did, and by these he was advised of the precise locality and of 
the nature of the approaches to it. 

Howe sent General Grey to surprise and cut him off, and moved 
Colonel Musgrave with the Fortieth and Fifty-fifth Regiments up the 
Lancaster road, near to the Paoli Tavern, to intercept any attempt to 


PAOLI MASSACRE 


653 


retreat over that route. The watchword of the Americans for that 
night, through some treachery was communicated to the enemy. 

General Grey, guided by his Tory aides, marched up the Swedes’ 
Ford road, and massed his troops as near Wayne’s camp as possible. 
General Grey cautiously moved through the woods up the ravine, and 
near the present Malvern station of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 

General Wayne received intelligence of the enemy’s advances, im¬ 
mediately ordered the troops under arms, many were awakened by the 
cry, “Up, men, the British are on you!” 

The night was dark, and the surrounding woodland made it un¬ 
certain as to the point of attack. General Wayne ascertained, however, 
that the enemy was advancing upon his right, where the artillery was 
placed, and ordered Colonel Humpton to wheel the division by sub¬ 
platoon to the right, and march off by the left, and thus gain the road 
leading to the summit of the hill. 

The artillery moved off, but owing to a misapprehension the troops 
failed to move, although in a position to do so. In addition to this 
blunder, part of the force took the wrong road, which brought the 
men within the light of their fires, and thus gave the enemy an advantage 
which should have been avoided. 

General Wayne took the light infantry and First regiment and 
formed them on the right, to receive the enemy and cover the retreat 
of the artillery. 

General Grey had gained Wayne’s left about 1 o’clock in the 
morning. The troops under Wayne met the enemy with spirit, gave 
them several well-directed fires, which did considerable execution. They 
were, however, soon compelled to give way before superior numbers. 

General Wayne with the Fourth regiment received the shock of the 
enemy’s charge, and covered the retreat of the rest of his line. He 
rallied such of Colonel Humpton’s troops as had taken the proper 
course^ in their retreat, where they were again formed to renew the 
conflict. 

Both parties, however drew off without further contest, and General 
Wayne retreated to the White Horse, carrying with him his artillery 
and ammunition. 

The British attack was made by twice the number of the troops 
commanded by Wayne., The enemy advanced with only bayonets and 
light horseman’s swords in a most ferocious .and merciless spirit. Gen¬ 
eral Grey ordered his men to remove the flints from their guns, that 
not a single shot should be fired. 

The British dashed into the woods, guided by the straggling fire 
of the picket, and rushed into the camp yelling. 

The Americans were completely surprised, some with arms, others 
without, running in all directions in the greatest confusion. 

The light infantry bayoneted every man they met. The camp was 


654 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


soon in flames, and this with the cries of the wounded formed a scene 
terrible to behold. , 

In the slaughter even the sick and wounded were not spared. This 
conduct of the British commander has stigmatized it as “British bar¬ 
barity” and has given to the action the title of the Paoli Massacre. 

The loss of the Americans was about 150 killed and wounded. The 
British reported their loss as eight killed, but this is probably an in¬ 
accurate record. 

The next morning the people in the neighborhood visited the scene 
and decently buried fifty-three mangled dead whose bodies were found 
upon the field. 


Unholy Alliance with Delaware Indians 
Concluded at Fort Pitt, 

September 21, 1778 

EN General Lachlan McIntosh was sent to relieve General 
Edward Hand at Fort Pitt it was expected that the frontiers 
would be made safe, as General Washington ordered the 
Eighth Pennsylvania and the Thirteenth Virginia detached 
from Valley Forge and marched to the Western post. 

The plan of General McIntosh was to attack Detroit, 
which involved a march of 300 miles through a wilderness inhabited 
by savages, most of whom were hostile to the American cause. This 
army must be carried far from its base of supplies, and Fort Pitt was 
never strong. This was a stupendous enterprise. 

The Delaware tribe, who had removed from the central part of 
Pennsylvania, were now living on the Tuscarawas and the Muskingum, 
and were the only Indians who had maintained neutrality between the 
Colonists and the British. 

White Eyes, the head sachem and the greatest chieftain ever pro¬ 
duced by this remarkable Indian nation, was devoted to the American 
cause. He revealed a spirit of intelligent sympathy with the struggle 
for liberty and even hoped that a Delaware Indian State might form 
a fourteenth star in the American Union. 

Preparations were made for a formal treaty of alliance, and June, 
1778, Congress ordered it to be held at Fort Pitt July 23 following, and 
requested Virginia to name two Commissioners and Pennsylvania one. 

On account of the Continental troops being too far distant the 
treaty was postponed until September. 

Colonel Brodhead and the Eighth Pennsylvania, which had been 
recruited in Western Pennsylvania, reached Fort Pitt September 10, 
1778. Already the Delaware Indians were encamped near the shore 









UNHOLY ALLIANCE WITH INDIANS 


655 


of the river a short distance above the fort. Two days later the con¬ 
ference began. 

This was probably the most remarkable treaty ever made in the in¬ 
terest of the United States. 

By this treaty, the United States entered into an offensive and 
defensive alliance with a tribe of savage Indians, recognizing them as an 
independent nation, guaranteeing its integrity and territory. Each 
party bound itself to assist the other against enemies. 

The treaty even contained a provision for the admission of an 
Indian State into the American Union. The Commissioners certainly 
knew this was impossible, yet they deliberately provided for it in 
solemn treaty, taking care, however, to subject the scheme to the ap¬ 
proval of Congress. 

In present day parlance it was a “gold brick,” the white men handed 
to their red brethren. 

On the other hand, it was a most courageous act upon the part of 
the Delaware tribe to form this alliance with the Americans, as all 
the other Indian tribes of the West were in league with the British, 
and had for months been trying to persuade the Delaware to join them. 

In that alliance White Eyes exposed his people to absolute destruc¬ 
tion by the British and their red allies. He fully realized his danger, 
yet he had the courage to do what he believed to be the right thing, 
and he fell a martyr to his convictions. 

The Shawnee were invited into the alliance, but made no response. 
At the treaty the Delaware deputies were White Eyes, the chief sachem; 
Killbuck, a famous medicine man and war chief, and Pipe, the chief 
warrior of the Wolf clan. All were attired in holiday regalia, paint, 
feathers and beads. 

On the part of the Americans were General McIntosh and his 
colonels and staff officers. The interpreter was Job Chilloway, the 
noted Delaware Indian, who resided on the West Branch of the Sus¬ 
quehanna, and who was ever the true friend of the whites. Soldiers 
patrolled the parade ground or stood about watching the unusual 
scene. 

General Andrew Lewis, one of the Virginia Commissioners, opened 
the conference on Saturday morning by presenting a belt of white 
wampum, and praising the Delaware tribesmen because they alone re¬ 
mained faithful to their treaties. He then presented a broad belt which 
had the wampum so arranged that it depicted a red man and a white 
man connected by a black line, denoting a road or path. He then 
proposed a formal alliance, giving a third belt, showing a white man 
and an Indian clasping hands. 

General Lewis stated the intention of sending an army against 
Detroit and asked permission of the Delaware Indians for passage 
through their country. 


656 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Chief White Eyes gave thanks for the offer of friendship and al¬ 
liance. He told them it was to form such an alliance that he and his 
comrades had come to the council. He promised a prompt consultation 
and an answer in the afternoon. He was the only Indian who spoke 
at the conference. 

The arrival of another delegation of Indians consumed much time. 
The new arrivals were led by Wingenund, the Delaware wise man, 
and Nimwha, chief of the small band of the Shawnee, who lived with 
the Delaware at Coshocton. 

The conference was resumed in the morning, when White Eyes an¬ 
nounced the readiness of the Indians to accept the alliance. The Commis¬ 
sioners announced they would submit copy of the treaty in writing. 

White Eyes then said: “Brothers, we are become one people. 
The enemy Indians, as soon as they hear it, will strike us. We desire 
that our brethren would build some place for our old men, women 
and children to remain in safety whilst our warriors go with you.” 

On Monday the articles of confederation between a civilized and a 
savage nation were interpreted and explained to the Indians. On 
Wednesday White Eyes accepted the treaty on behalf of the Delaware 
and the Shawnee. 

On the following day the articles of confederation were signed in 
triplicate, one copy for Congress, one for the Delaware, and one for 
General McIntosh. There were six articles: 

First, all offenses were to be mutually forgiven; second, a perpetual 
peace was pledged; third, the Delaware assented to passages through 
their country for American Army and agreed to sell corn, meat and 
horses to the army and to furnish guides, while the Americans agreed 
to erect a garrison, within the Delaware country, a fort for the pro¬ 
tection of the old men, women and children; fourth, related to punish¬ 
ment for offenses only by trial by judges of both parties, etc.; fifth, the 
United States pledged the establishment of a fair trade under the con* 
trol of an honest agent. 

The sixth article was the most remarkable of all. It guaranteed 
the integrity of the Delaware territory so long as the nation should 
keep peace with the United States, promised the Delaware nation 
should have a representative in Congress, etc. All these articles were 
contingent upon the proviso that “it meets with the approval of Con¬ 
gress.” 

On the succeeding day, September 21, presents were given to the 
Delaware on behalf of Congress and the Indians then departed for 
Coshocton, to make preparations for joining the expedition against 
Detroit. 

Chief White Eyes was treacherously killed; the soldiers spent the 
winter in the wilderness, where many hardships were endured, and the 
expedition proved a failure. 


FRANKLIN AT INDIAN COUNCIL 


657 


Franklin Attends Conference of Indians in 
Carlisle, September 22, 1753 

URING the summer of 1753 the Six Nations, Shawnee, Dela¬ 
ware and Twightwee held a great treaty in Virginia, where 
they were called by Governor Dinwiddie, but who much of¬ 
fended them by his failure to attend the conference in person. 

On their return the Indians sent word to Governor James 
Hamilton, at Philadelphia, that they desired to negotiate a 
new treaty at Carlisle. The Governor learned that Dinwiddie had 
not met them in Virginia and he thought Carlisle too far distant 
to travel on such a mission, so Isaac Norris, Speaker of the Provincial 
Assembly, Richard Peters, the secretary, and Dr. Benjamin Franklin 
were commissioned September 22, 1753, to meet and treat with the 
Indians. 

Those who today wander through the streets of historic old Car¬ 
lisle cannot realize that Franklin and his companions found little more 
than a frontier fort. John O’Neal, in a letter to Governor Hamilton, 
dated May 27, 1753, says there were only five houses in the town and 
but twelve men in the garrison. 

Fort Lowther, on High street, near the Public Square, was a harbor 
of refuge for pioneer families so frequently exposed to Indian attack. 
Court was held in a log building on the northeast corner of Center 
Square. 

Franklin never forgot his experience at Carlisle and referred to it 
frequently. His visit to help make a new treaty with the Ohio Indians 
was a mission of much importance. Through daring wiles of the 
French, England’s position in the New World was being imperiled 
more and more. 

What attitude the Indians would take in a contest between English 
and French was of vital importance, not only to the King, but more 
especially to Pennsylvania settlers, who well knew the terror of Indian 
massacres and wars. 

The Indians attending the Carlisle pow-wow wanted fire water 
as soon as the .commissioners arrived, but Franklin and the other mem¬ 
bers were shrewd enough to promise rum only when the conference 
had been completed. 

Scarouady, an Oneida chief, sometimes called Half King, who was 
a person of great weight in their councils, went into caucus with the 
commissioners before formal sessions began. 

He regretfully advised that deliberations could not proceed until 
belts, strings and goods sent by the Pennsylvania Assembly as condo- 







658 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


lences arrived “to cover the graves of braves killed by the French and 
their Indians, and were spread out on the ground” before the as¬ 
sembled red men. 

The commissioners wanted to begin work at once and offered to 
furnish a list and inventory of the delayed presents. It was then agreed 
to confer with the chiefs of the “Shawnee and Delaware on the state 
of affairs in Ohio,” pending arrival of the condolences. 

Conrad Weiser and Andrew Montour acted as interpreters be¬ 
tween the commissioners and Indians, while several magistrates and 
freeholders attended the conference, which was formally opened on the 
morning of October 1, after the gifts costing £800, which had arrived 
that morning, had been laid out on the ground. 

During the three days following, when Indians and commissioners 
were not passing presents to one another, speeches were delivered ac¬ 
cording to the customary procedure of such gatherings. 

At the closing of the first day, as is briefly mentioned in the re¬ 
port, “the goods allotted for each nation as a present of condolence 
were taken away by each.” 

The forms of the condolences depended entirely on Indian custom 
and were settled in conference with $carouady and Cayanguileguoa, a 
sensible Indian of the Mohawk Nation, and accordingly the proper 
belts and strings were made ready. 

But the commissioners had been compelled to await until the con¬ 
dolences had arrived before they were able to assuage the Indian grief. 

After the Oneida chieftain had offered the suggestion, “We dig a 
grave for your warriors killed in your country and we bury their bones, 
decently wrapping them in these blankets, and with these presents we 
cover their graves,” the Indians aired their complaints and protesta¬ 
tions of loyalty to the English. 

In return for all the delicate niceties of Indian procedure, which 
the wise Franklin had been careful to observe the red men covered 
graves of the English with a beaver skin blanket and offered as oc¬ 
casion required a string or two of wampum, belts and bundles of skins. 

A shell, painted green on the concave side, with a string of wampum 
attached, was given the commissioners as evidence that the assembled 
Indians had but a single heart and that “green and good and sound.” 

The calumet, a pipe decorated with fine feathers, was offered in 
proof that the Indians cherished no resentment against the English be¬ 
cause of French inroads. 

They made Andrew Montour a counselor for the Six Nations, pre¬ 
sented him with a belt in token of their confidence and gave notice in 
a speech that a horn had been set upon his head as evidence of Indian 
respect for one of their number who served the English. 

Franklin thus speaks of this treaty in his autobiography: “Being 
commissioned, we went to Carlisle and met the Indians accordingly. 


VIRGINIA BOUNDARY DISPUTE ENDED 659 


As these people are extremely apt to get drunk, and when so are very 
quarrelsome and disorderly, we strictly forbade the selling of any liquor 
to them; and when they complained of this restriction, we told them, 
if they would continue sober during the treaty, we would give them 
plenty of rum when the business was over. They promised this, and 
they kept their promise, because they could get no rum, and the treaty 
was conducted very orderly and concluded to mutual satisfaction. 
They then claimed and received the rum; this was in the afternoon. 

“They were near one hundred men, women and children, some 
were lodged in temporary cabins, built in the form of a square, just 
without the town. In the evening, hearing a great noise among them, 
the commissioners walked out to see what was the matter. 

“We found they had made a great bonfire in the middle of the 
square; they were all drunk, men and women quarreling and fighting. 
Their dark-colored bodies, seen only by the gloomy light of the bonfire, 
running after and beating one another with firebrands, accompanied by 
their horrid yellings, formed a scene the most resembling our ideas of 
an inferno that could be well imagined. 

“There was no appeasing the tumult, and we retired to our lodgings. 
At midnight a number of them came thundering at our door, demand¬ 
ing more rum, of which we took no notice. The next day, sensible 
they had misbehaved themselves in giving us that disturbance, they 
sent three of their old counselors to make their apology.” 

He concludes: “That if it be the design of Providence to extirpate 
these savages in order to make room for the cultivators of the earth, 
it seems not impossible that rum may be the appointed means. It has 
already annihilated all the tribes who formerly inhabited the seacoast.” 


Boundary Dispute with Virginia Ended 
When Assembly Ratified Agreement, 
September 23, 1780 

“HIESIDES the Connecticut claims, which took in almost the en¬ 
tire half of the Province of Pennsylvania, Virginia laid claim 
to a large portion of the western part. The origin of this 
claim dates very far back in the history of the country. 

The charter of 1607 granted to the London Company all 
the territory in America lying between the 34th and 38th 
degrees of north latitude. 

In 1609 the charter was amended and enlarged, so that it comprised 
a region stretching two hundred miles north and the same distance south 
of Point Comfort, and extending “up into the land throughout, from sea 
to sea, west and northwest.” 







660 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


In 1623 the London Company was dissolved, and their territory, 
except where grants had been made to private individuals, reverted to 
the Crown. 

The Virginians never fully accepted this decision. Penn’s grant was 
respected; but any other territory within the limits of their charter they 
continued to claim, notwithstanding the action of the King’s Bench. 

To explore and occupy his vast domain was one of the most fasci¬ 
nating objects of the early Virginians. 

It was to vindicate their claim to the region about the forks of the 
Ohio that the youthful Major George Washington was sent to the 
French posts in 1753. 

The authorities of Pennsylvania, however, now began to contend 
that the claims of Virginia overlapped the charter granted to William 
Penn, and some correspondence took place between Governor Dinwiddie, 
of Virginia, and Governor Hamilton, of Pennsylvania, in the years 1752 
and 1753. 

Early in 1753 the Virginians undertook to secure possession of the 
country about the Forks of the Ohio against the common enemy, the 
French, by building a fort, where Pittsburgh now stands. The French, 
under Contrecoeur, descended the Allegheny, drove the Virginians away, 
and themselves built a stronghold at the same place, which they called 
Fort Duquesne. 

This disputed territory remained in the hands of the French until 
General Forbes invested Fort Duquesne, November 24, 1758. The fort 
was rebuilt and named Fort Pitt. 

No revival of the dispute took place until January, 1774, when one 
Dr. John Conolly, a native of Lancaster, and one whom Bancroft de¬ 
scribes as “a physician, land-jobber and subservient political intrig¬ 
uer,” appeared with authority from Lord Dunmore, the governor 
of Virginia, and took possession of Fort Pitt, and renamed it Fort 
Dunmore. 

Conolly issued a call to the public to assemble as a militia, and for 
this conduct he was apprehended by Arthur (afterwards General) St. 
Clair, a magistrate of Westmoreland County, and thrown into jail at 
Hannastown. 

He was released on bail and returned to Virginia. Here he was 
appointed a justice of Augusta County, which the Virginians contended 
embraced the territory in debate, and shortly returned to Pittsburgh 
with a strong force. 

He captured the court at Hannastown, and at Pittsburgh, April 9, 
1774, he arrested Justices Mackey, Smith, and McFarlane, and sent 
them prisoners to Staunton, Virginia. 

Conolly’s high-handed proceedings called for action by Governor 
John Penn, who wrote to Governor Dunmore, complaining of Conolly’s 
actions, and describing the boundaries of Pennsylvania. 


VIRGINIA BOUNDARY DISPUTE ENDED 661 


Governor Penn gave a careful delineation of the several surveys and 
closed his letter by suggesting a temporary line of jurisdiction until the 
affair could be settled by King George III in Council. 

Lord Dunmore replied March 3, 1774, in which he contravened the 
opinions of Governor Penn and refused to comply with his suggestions. 
He furthermore resented the arrest of Conolly and demanded the dis¬ 
missal of St. Clair. 

Governor Penn replied, March 31, when he recapitulated 
the history of the claim, and declined to dismiss St. Clair from 
his office. 

On May 7, James Tilghman and Andrew Allen were appointed com¬ 
missioners on the part of Pennsylvania to settle the question in dispute. 
They reached Williamsburg, the capital of Virginia, May 19. 

Governor Dunmore demanded their proposition in writing, and they 
gave it to him on the 23 rd. 

The substance of the paper was that the Mason and Dixon’s line 
should be continued to the end of the five degrees from the Delaware 
River, and from the end of that line a line should be run correspond¬ 
ing in direction to the courses of the Delaware, and drawn at every 
point at the distance of five degrees of longitude from that river. This 
proposition would have the western boundary of Pennsylvania of the 
same form as the eastern. 

Lord Dunmore replied that he did not believe- the Crown intended 
such an irregular western boundary. He then proceeded to explain 
the boundary as he understood it. 

It is a fact worthy of remark that Governor Penn’s proposition gave 
to Virginia nearly all that she claimed, while Dunmore’s gave to Penn¬ 
sylvania far more than she demanded; the boundary lines as he defined 
them being almost identical with those at present established. 

No agreement was reached and Lord Dunmore refused to relinquish 
his authority over Fort Pitt. 

Meanwhile Conolly’s conduct was outrageous. He not only 
oppressed the people, but stirred up a war with the Indians, who com¬ 
mitted great barbarities. 

Governor Penn could not save the situation, nor could the law fur¬ 
nish any protection. 

The war with the mother country developed and Dunmore and 
Conolly took sides against the colonists. 

On the night of June 7, 1775, Dunmore was compelled to seek 
safety on board the “Fowney,” an English man-of-war, at York, Va., 
and Conolly soon joined Dunmore in his place of refuge. 

In December, 1776, the legislature of Virginia proposed a line of 
demarcation, which was slightly different from those already suggested, 
but Pennsylvania could not accept it. 

In the meantime matters remained in a chaotic condition, especially 


662 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


as to Westmoreland inhabitants. But the time came when it was nec¬ 
essary to do something. 

Finally George Bryan, John Ewing, and David Rittenhouse, on the 
part of Pennsylvania, and Dr. James Madison and Robert Andrews, on 
the part of Virginia, met as commissioners at Baltimore, August 31, 
1779, and after thorough consideration of the subject agreed as follows: 

“To extend Mason and Dixon’s line due west five degrees of longi¬ 
tude, to be computed from the river Delaware, for the southern bound¬ 
ary of Pennsylvania, and that a meridian, drawn from the western ex¬ 
tremity thereof to the northern limit of said state, be the western 
boundary of said state forever.” 

This agreement was ratified and confirmed by the legislature of Vir¬ 
ginia, June 23, 1780, and by that of Pennsylvania, September 23, 1780. 

In 1782 commissioners appointed by the two states ran the lines, but 
these were only temporary. In 1783, David Rittenhouse, John Lukens, 
John Ewing, and Captain Hutchins, on the part of Pennsylvania, and 
Dr. James Madison, Andrew Ellicott, Robert Andrews, and T. Page, 
on the part of Virginia, again ran the lines, and set up stone pillars at 
regular intervals. 

This work was accomplished in 1784, and ended further dispute in 
the matter. 


Two Brothers of Doan Family of Outlaw 
Sons Hanged September 24, 1788 

URING the Revolutionary War a number of young men either 
to escape from serving in army or paying fines, or for the 
reason that they may have sympathized with the element which 
opposed the independence of the young colonies, and did not 
choose to enlist openly with the enemy, found a more profitable 
employment in secret acts of treachery and piracy among their 
neighbors. 

For that service they were amply compensated by the British, 
especially during their occupancy of Philadelphia and New York 
City. 

There were not a few such outlaws, and they did not reside in any 
one quarter of the State, but the most notorious of them all were several 
brothers by the name of Doan. 

The Doans lived in Plumstead Township, near Doylestown, Bucks 
County. The father, Israel Doan, was a worthy man, but his six sons 
as they grew to manhood abandoned all the noble principles of the re¬ 
ligious sect with which they had been reared,. and retaining only so 
much of the outward forms as suited their nefarious schemes, they be¬ 
came a gang of most desperate outlaws. 








DOAN BROTHERS HANGED 


663 


The sons were professedly Tories and pursued for a time a very 
profitable trade in stealing the horses and cattle of their Whig 
neighbors, and disposing of them to the British Army, then in 
Philadelphia. 

The brothers lived in the highways and hedges and waged a preda¬ 
tory and retaliatory war upon their persecutors. They were men of fine 
figures and addresses, elegant horsemen, great runners and excellent at 
stratagems and escapes. 

The Doans were distinguished from their youth for great muscular 
activity. They could run and jump beyond all competitors, and it is said 
one of them could jump over a Conestoga wagon. 

They delighted to injure public property, but did no injury to the 
weak, the poor, or the peaceful. 

One of the brothers, Joseph, was a school teacher in Plumstead 
Township. Two of the brothers had joined the British in Philadelphia, 
and through them the stolen horses were disposed of and the proceeds 
shared. 

The Doans at school were often displaying their pockets full of 
guineas, which at first were believed to be counterfeit; but subsequent 
events proved their genuineness, and disclosed the source from which 
they had procured so considerable an amount of gold. 

Suspicion had long fastened upon the family; they were closely 
watched and eventually, about the year 1782, the stealing of a horse 
belonging to John Shaw, of Plumstead, was positively traced to them. 
This brought upon Mr. Shaw and a few others, who were active in their 
detection, the combined malignity of the whole banditti and it was not 
long before they obtained their revenge. 

The Doans added to their band another villain of kindred spirit by 
the name of Robert Steele. Under the leadership of Moses Doan and 
Joseph, the schoolmaster, the seven outlaws fell upon Mr. Shaw in the 
dead of the night, in his own house, bruised and lacerated him most 
cruelly, and decamped with all his horses and everything of value they 
could take from the house. 

A son of Mr. Shaw was dispatched to the nearest neighbors for 
assistance and to raise the hue and cry after the robbers. But these 
neighbors being Mennonites, conscientiously opposed to bearing arms 
and having besides an instinctive dread of personal danger, declined 
interfering in the matter. Such was the timidity and cautiousness mani¬ 
fested in those times between the nearest neighbors, when of different 
religions and political sentiments. 

Young Shaw, however, soon raised a number of the inhabitants, part 
of whom responded to his father’s call for assistance, and part of whom 
armed themselves and went in pursuit of the robbers. 

When the Doans finished with Mr. Shaw, they proceeded to the 
house of Joseph Grier, and robbed him, and then went to a tavern kept 
by Colonel Robert Robinson, a very corpulent man, whom they dragged 


664 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


out of bed, bound him' in a most excruciating position, and placed him 
naked in the midst of them; then they whipped him until their ferocity 
was satisfied. 

They robbed and abused several other persons the same night, and 
then fled into Montgomery County. Here they were overtaken, some¬ 
where on Skippack, and so hotly pursued that they were glad to abandon 
the five horses on which they rode, and seek safer refuge in the thicket. 
Joseph was shot through the cheeks, and captured when he fell from his 
horse. The others escaped. 

The prisoner was confined in jail at Newtown, then the county town 
of Bucks, but while awaiting trial effected his escape. He fled into New 
Jersey, where he taught school, under an assumed name, for nearly a 
year. 

The Federal Government offered a reward of $800 for him or his 
brothers, dead or alive. While Joseph was in a saloon one evening a 
man was heard to say that he would shoot any one of the Doans on sight 
for the sake of the reward. Joseph took the hint and made his way 
into Canada. 

Moses, the captain of the gang, with two of his brothers, had taken 
refuge in a cabin occupied by a drunken man, near the mouth 
of Tohickon Creek. Mr. Shaw learned of the place of their con¬ 
cealment, rallied a party with Colonel Hart as leader, and surrounded 
them. 

Instead of shooting them down at once, Colonel Hart opened the 
door, and cried out, “Ah! You’re here, are you?” 

. The Doans seized their guns and shot down Mr. Kennedy, one of 
the party. Two of the outlaws crawled through a window unseen, and 
escaped in the woods. Moses, the most respectable of all the brothers, 
surrendered. Immediately after he gave himself up he was shot down by 
one of the attacking party. It was discovered that the man who killed 
Moses was a former member of his outlaw band and killed him to close 
his mouth forever. 

Two others of the Doan brothers, Abraham and Levi, were later 
captured in Chester County, and afterward hanged on September 24, 
1788, in Philadelphia. Their bodies were taken back to Plumstead 
Township for burial. 

Their valor and generosity made them respected above ordinary rob¬ 
bers, and many temperate people in the county expressed or felt great 
commiseration for them. 

The Doans made a desperate fight to obtain pardons and their case 
caused intense excitement throughout the entire State, but they paid the 
price their lawlessness deserved. 

Many years after the Shaw robbery, young Shaw became a magis¬ 
trate in Doylestown. One day Joseph Doan, the robber and school- 


DUTCH CONTROL DELAWARE RIVER 


665 


master, now a refugee from prison, entered his office. The Squire gave 
him a cool reception but inquired of his errand. 

The old scoundrel had returned from Canada to bring suit against 
a Quaker for a small legacy of $40. He had the impudence to require 
Squire Shaw’s services, although he had robbed and nearly killed his 
father. Squire Shaw performed his professional duties, but treated his 
unwelcome client with cool disdain and hatred. 


Dutch Gain Control of the Delaware River 
September 25, 1655 

FTER the arrival of John Claudius Rysingh, as the successor 
of John Printz, Governor of New Sweden, May 20, 1654, he 
became a very aggressive officer. He began his administra¬ 
tion by capturing the Dutch Fort Casimer, thus destroying 
the authority of the Dutch on the Delaware River. 

On June 17, he held a great convocation of Indians at 
Printz Hall, on Tinicum Island, now Essington, on the Delaware 
River near Chester, at which a new treaty was successfully consum¬ 
mated. 

The triumph of Rysingh was regarded as a reconquest of usurped 
territory and no other means to reclaim it by the Dutch were appre¬ 
hended. That was a fatal delusion, for at the close of 1654, while 
estimates were being made in Sweden for the support of their colony 
during the ensuing year, on a peace basis, an armament was being fitted 
out in Holland not only sufficient “to replace matters on the Delaware 
in their former position,” but “to drive out the Swedes from every side 
of the river.” 

In the spring of 1655 five armed vessels, well equipped and with 
600 men, were forwarded by Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch Governor at 
Manhattan. This expedition was commanded by Stuyvesant in person 
and arrived in Delaware Bay Monday afternoon, September 5, 1655. 

By Friday the fleet reached Fort Casimer, now in control of the 
Swedes, and renamed Fort Trinity. The garrison was in command of 
Sven Schute, while Governor Rysingh, in person, had charge of 
Christina, in what is now Wilmington, Del. 

To prevent a communication of the two forts Stuyvesant had landed 
fifty men. The demand made by the Dutch was a “direct restitution 
of their own property,” to which Commander Schute, after having had 
an interview with Stuyvesant, reluctantly yielded on the following day 
upon very favorable terms of capitulation. 

The nine guns of the fort were to be reserved for the Swedish 
“crown” and removed when convenient. The Swedes were to march 










666 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


out, twelve fully equipped, the rest with their side-arms. Stuyvesant 
proclaimed that Swedes who would take the oath of allegiance to him 
might remain unmolested, and twenty did so. 

The surrender of Schute was unknown to Governor Rysingh, and 
his position was virtually untenable. He had placed some of his best 
men in the captured fort, and an additional party, sent the very day of 
the surrender. He prepared for resistance, collected all the people for 
the defense of Fort Christina, and strengthened the ramparts. 

On September 12, the Dutch appeared on the opposite side of Chris¬ 
tina Creek, and the siege began, which was continued uninterruptedly 
for fourteen days. 

On the 16th, Stuyvesant sent a letter “claiming the whole river.” 
Rysingh replied asserting the rights of the Swedes on the Delaware and 
protesting against the Dutch invasion. Stuyvesant renewed his demand, 
and Rysingh next urged that the boundaries between the Swedish and 
Dutch colonies be settled by the Governments at home, or by commis¬ 
sioners to be agreed upon. 

Only delay resulted. Stuyvesant was cocksure of his ability to cap¬ 
ture the fort, and was satisfied to wait. It would have been folly in 
Rysingh, with his thirty men to have begun to fight. During the long 
siege no one was killed or wounded. September 25, Rysingh surren¬ 
dered. A formal capitulation was drawn up and signed by the two 
commanders on the parade-ground outside the fort. 

The soldiers were to march out with the honors of war. The guns 
and everything to remain the property of the Swedes. The Swedish 
settlers might stay or go, as they chose, and for a year and six weeks, 
if they stayed, need not take the Dutch oath of allegiance. 

Swedes who remained should enjoy the Lutheran faith, and have a 
minister to instruct them. Rysingh and the commissary, Elswick, were 
to be taken to Manhattan, and thence provided with passage to Europe. 
Thus ended the short but exciting career of Governor Rysingh, and with 
him fell the whole Swedish Colony. 

Soon thereafter, Rysingh with other Swedish officials, proceeded to 
Manhattan. Rysingh, Lindstrom, the engineer; Elswick, the commis¬ 
sary, and the two clergymen, Hjort and Nertunius, sailed on a Dutch 
merchant vessel early in November, and were landed in Plymouth, Eng¬ 
land, where a report of the Dutch conquest was made to Lyderberg, 
the Swedish Ambassador to England. 

Had not internal troubles arisen in Sweden at this time, their claim 
might have been pressed with effect, but in 1664 the whole of New 
Netherlands was seized by the English, and both Sweden and Holland 
had lost their colonies. Neither was likely to obtain much satisfaction 
from the other, and the controversy faded away. 

Many improvements had been made by the Swedes, from Henlopen 
to the Falls of Alumingh. They laid the foundation of Upland, the 


DUTCH CONTROL DELAWARE RIVER 


667 


present Chester; Korsholm Fort was built at Passyunk; Manayunk 
Fort was placed at the mouth of the Schuylkill; they marked the sites 
of Nya Wasa and Gripsholm, somewhere near the confluence of the 
Delaware and Schuylkill, Straus Mijk, Nieu Causeland, the present 
New Castle; and forts were erected at Kingsessing, Wicacoa, Finland 
and other places. 

The Swedes lived at peace with the Indians. The Government of 
the Dutch was established by the appointment of John Paul Jaequet as 
vice director and commander-in-chief, and Andreas Hudde as secretary 
and surveyor, keeper of the keys of the fort, etc. 

The overthrow of the Swedish authority on the Delaware was com¬ 
plete and final, and for a period of nine years the white settlements on 
the river, on both sides, remained wholly under control of the Dutch. 
The Swedes lived together, mostly north of Christina, and the Dutch 
gathered about Fort Casimer, where a little hamlet sprang up, which 
became known as New Amstel, the New Castle of the English and of 
the present. 

The authority centered at New Amstel. Christina was eclipsed, 
and Tinicum ceased to have importance except as the residence of 
Madam Popegoja and the location of a church. The log forts at both 
places rotted down and were not rebuilt. 

In April, 1657, Jacob Alricks assumed the governorship of the col¬ 
ony for the Dutch, when Hudde was appointed to command at Fort 
Christina, the name of which was changed to Altona. 

Stuyvesant again visited the Delaware in May, 1658. At Tinicum 
he conferred with Sheriff Van Dyck, Magistrate Olaf Stille, Mathys 
Hansson, Peter Rambo and Peter Cock. These and Sven Schute and 
others took the oath of allegiance to the Dutch authority and were 
granted a number of requests. 

In July, 1658, William Beekman was appointed by Stuyvesant to 
represent the Dutch West India Company on the Delaware. 

But Pennsylvania was soon to be wrested from the Dutch and Eng¬ 
land gained possession October 1, 1664. 


668 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


British Under General Howe Invest City of 
Philadelphia, September 26, 1777 

FTER the defeat of the American Army in the battle of 
Brandywine, September 11, 1777, the British did not pursue 
Washington’s Army, which marched to Chester and then to 
Germantown. Here provisions and ammunition, both much 
needed, were obtained. 

The British advanced toward Philadelphia, which was 
unprepared to make an adequate defense, and General Mifflin, who was 
to take command, was too ill to do so. 

When the news reached the city, early on the morning of Septem¬ 
ber 19, that the British had crossed the Schuylkill, all was in confusion. 

Congress and the Supreme Executive Council of the State, which 
had remained in Philadelphia during the exciting events transpiring be¬ 
fore the city, now adjourned to meet elsewhere, the former, on the 18th, 
to meet in Lancaster. After a flight to Bethlehem and then via Read¬ 
ing it reached Lancaster, where it convened on the 27th, but three days 
later removed to York, which became the capital of the United States. 

The State Government remained until the 24th, when it also went 
to Lancaster, the archives, etc., having previously been removed to 
Easton. The first meeting of Wharton and his councilors was held in 
Lancaster September 29. 

On the 19th Washington passed the Schuylkill at Parkers Ford, 
leaving Wayne with 2000 men on the west side to fall upon any detach¬ 
ment of the enemy or destroy his baggage. That night occurred the 
Paoli massacre. 

The British crossed the Schuylkill at Fatland Ford on the 22d. Gen¬ 
eral Howe established headquarters at Norristown on the 23d and 24th. 

Washington had marched his army in the direction of Reading. On 
the 25th the British began an encampment at Germantown, Howe 
making Stenton his headquarters. 

Lord Cornwallis entered Philadelphia on September 26 at the head 
of a detachment of British and Hessian grenadiers. 

An American flotilla held the channel of the Delaware River below 
the city, but the British immediately constructed batteries which re¬ 
pulsed an attack the following day. 

The main army of the enemy remained in camp at Germantown. 
Thus the richest and most populous capital of the whole confederation 
fell into the enemy’s hands, after a sanguinary battle, and a series of 
maneuvers no less masterly than painful to the two armies. 

Washington, descending along the left bank of the Schuylkill, ap- 







BRITISH INVEST PHILADELPHIA 


669 


proached to within sixteen miles of Germantown, where he encamped 
at Skippack Creek. 

General Howe, having occupied Philadelphia, at once took measures 
to secure the unobstructed passage of his fleet up the Delaware. Colonel 
Sterling was sent with a detachment to attack the American fort at Bil- 
lingsport, on the Jersey side of the Delaware River, as its capture would 
place it in their power to make a passage through the obstructions in 
the channel and enable their vessels to approach within striking dis¬ 
tance of Fort Mifflin. 

Colonel Sterling’s attack was successful October 2, as no resistance 
was offered by the small garrison under Colonel Bradford. They had 
taken off all the ammunition and some of the cannon, spiking those 
that remained and burned the barracks. 

While this action was in progress, General Washington regarded 
it as a favorable opportunity for making an attack on the British force 
encamped at Germantown, and with between eight and nine thousand 
Continentals, besides some militia marched toward that place on the 
night of October 3. 

When Washington gave the order to retire the Americans executed 
their retreat in good order, followed by the British for about nine miles. 

The American Army gathered at the back of Perkiomen Creek with 
a post formed on the hillside of the road near White Marsh Church, 
and Washington at Pennypacker’s mill. 

The Congress expressed its approbation, both of the plan of enter¬ 
prise and the courage with which it was executed, for which votes of 
thanks w^ere given to General Washington and the army. 

On October 13 the Assembly at Lancaster established a Council of 
Safety consisting of the members of the Supreme Executive Council and 
John Bayard, Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, Jonathan B. Smith, David 
Rittenhouse, Joseph Gardner, Robert Whitehill, Christopher Marshall, 
James Smith, of York; Jacob Arndt, Curtis Grubb, James Cannon and 
William Henry with power to punish even capitally in a summary man¬ 
ner, and to take at their appraisement any necessaries for the army. 

A rule also was made against profiteers, and any person who should 
buy up more bar-iron, leather, salt, wheat, cattle or other merchan¬ 
dise, or victuals, than proper for his own need and supply should be 
punished severely. 

During the British occupation there were as many as 20,000 troops 
in and about Philadelphia. General Howe lived for a time in Stenton, 
the home built by James Logan, and later in the Samuel Morris house; 
he also lived for a time in the Perot mansion, which in 1793, was the 
residence of General Washington, while President of the United States. 
During the time he stayed in Philadephia he seized and kept for his 
own use Mary Pemberton’s coach and horses, with which he rode 
about town. 


670 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


General Knyphausen lived in General Cadwallader’s mansion, on 
Second Street; Lord Cornwallis dwelt in David Lewis’ house, Second, 
above Spruce Street; Major Andre dwelt in Benjamin Franklin’s man¬ 
sion. Other officers occupied fine residences and it was a season of 
much social gayety. 

On October 19 the main body of the British Army left German¬ 
town and encamped behind the line of redoubts in the Northern Lib¬ 
erties. 

Philadelphia was now walled in from river to river by lines of 
British troops, but yet the British men-of-war commanded by General 
Howe’s brother, Lord Howe, could not freely pass the obstructions in 
the Delaware River. 

The artillery were quartered in Chestnut Street, between Third and 
Sixth Streets, the State House yard being used as a park. The Forty- 
second Highlanders occupied Chestnut Street below Third, and the Fif¬ 
teenth Regiment was quartered in Market Street, in and about Fifth 
Street. 

Later in October General Washington sent General McDougall to 
attack 1500 British at Gray’s Ferry. Generals Sullivan and Greene 
were to make a feint along the Germantown road. Greene got as far 
as Three Mile Run, where he united with Sullivan and waited for the 
signal that McDougall had begun the attack. The enemy had called 
in his troops at Gray’s Ferry and the Americans were obliged to return. 

The English forced the evacuation of Fort Mifflin, November 15, 
and Fort Mercer was abandoned the 20th, but, in spite of this handicap, 
the American fleet successfully passed Philadelphia and took refuge above 
Bristol. 


British Open Hostilities in Long Siege on 
Fort Mifflin, September 27, 1777 

HE British Army was in possession of Philadelphia, but the 
communication was not open with their fleet, and General 
Washington in evacuating the city had placed a garrison in 
Fort Mifflin, not as strong as the importance and exigencies 
of the place required, but such as the situation of his army 
could afford. 

Fort Mifflin was nothing more than a wooden fort with an inclosure 
of palisades. It was situated on Mud Island, on the Pennsylvania side 
of the Delaware River. The small Pennsylvania fleet was in command 
of Commodore John Hazlewood. 

The British were not unacquainted with the miserable situation of 
the fort and knew its weaknesses and the best means to reduce it. 

On September 27 the enemy on Providence Island opened two mor- 








SIEGE OF FORT MIFFLIN 


671 


tars and three heavy guns against the southeast blockhouse. That left 
these batteries unsupported, which gave an opportunity for Colonel 
Smith to order a sally above and below. 

Two parties supported by the galleys under Commodore Hazlewood 
landed on the beach of Providence Island and stormed the battery, which 
was defended by two officers and sixty British, who surrendered them¬ 
selves. They were carried into the fort before the enemy’s guards could 
attack the Americans, but not before the guns were spiked. 

From October 10 to the 21st a severe fire was kept up; the two west 
blockhouses were ruined and the north one blown up by the fall of sev¬ 
eral shells. 

The enemy, seeing the breaches made to the palisades, hoped to gain 
possession of the fort, and as it was very important for their remaining 
in Philadelphia that the communication be open, they determined a 
general storm on Mud Island October 22. 

Previous to it, in the evening of the 21st, the Hessian brigade 
crossed at Cooper’s Ferry to storm Fort Mercer, on the Jersey shore 
about 1500 yards northeast of Fort Mifflin and up the river. The 
attack was so rash that even success could not justify its temerity. 

Before the storm of the fort was attempted Colonel Donop sent a 
flag to Colonel Christopher Green, who commanded the fort, threat¬ 
ening to put the garrison to the sword if he did not surrender it imme¬ 
diately. Colonel Green answered with disdain, saying he would defend 
it till the last drop of his blood. About an hour before night the attack 
was begun on the north and south side. 

Both the British attacks were expected. The artillery and mus¬ 
ketry of the fort and the heavy guns of the galleys poured grapeshot and 
cannon balls upon them and made great slaughter. They advanced as 
far as the abattis, and being repulsed with great loss, they left their 
commanding officer dying and retreated with hurry and confusion. 
They rallied in the woods, and leaving their wounded and dead, about 
300, in the hands of the victors, retired to Philadelphia the same night. 

Colonel Green and the officers who had displayed so much courage 
in repulsing the enemy, treated the wounded with much humanity. 
Colonel Donop was attended with the greatest care, but he died a few 
days after the action, and was buried with the honors of war. 

The morning after the attack on Fort Mercer it became Fort Mif¬ 
flin’s turn. On the 22d, about 9 o’clock, the ships Eagle, Somerset, 
Isis, Augusta, Pearl, Liverpool and several frigates, with a galley, came 
up to the chevaux de frise, 500 yards from the fort. At the same 
time the land batteries, the fort batteries and the American galleys and 
the British squadron engaged. 

The firing continued until noon with relentless fury; the fort fre¬ 
quently fired red-hot balls, one of which struck the Augusta, a sixty- 
four-gun ship, she took fire, and in a moment was ablaze, and soon 


672 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


after blew up with a thundering noise, before the enemy could take out 
all their hands. 

A moment after, the Merlin, a twenty-two-gun frigate, ran ashore 
below the Augusta, and as she could not be removed before the explo¬ 
sion, took fire and also blew up. 

The other ships, frightened by the fate of these two, retired below 
Hog Island; and the' land batteries, which had hoisted the bloody flag, 
to warn the garrison that they were not to expect any quarter, con¬ 
tinued their fighting until evening. 

The weakened garrison had been re-inforced by Pennsylvania and 
Virginia troops, but Colonel Smith found the garrison in great danger 
from fatigue and salt provisions, the water they had to wade through, 
the cold nights and constant firing by the enemy turned many men to 
the hospital. 

The enemy suffered also from the inclemency of the weather, and the 
overflowing of the island. The water was two feet deep in their fort. 

The British, believing they must evacuate Philadelphia or take the 
fort, made new batteries, and on November 8 kept up an incessant fire. 

All the palisades were broken down and the block houses ruined. 
The ditch filled up with mud. Captain Treat and his lieutenant were 
killed. Colonel Smith was wounded and the garrison nearly exhausted. 

Major Thayer with some New England troops relieved the gar¬ 
rison. Major Fleury would not be relieved and remained with the 
garrison. 

On November 15 the enemy made a furious attack by the river and 
land and floating batteries on the fort. 

The ships came as near the fort as possible in the main channel, and 
the Vigilant, carrying 24-pounders, came up under the protection of the 
land batteries, behind Hog Island, and anchored forty yards from the 
angle of the battery. 

Fort Mifflin had been so much exposed on that side that on it did 
not remain a single gun. Major Thayer ordered the 32-pounder to be 
carried there. Before the Vigilant began to fire that single gun put four¬ 
teen shots in her board. But as soon as she was at anchor and began to 
play all resistance became impossible. 

In three or four broadsides not only the parapet and the carriages 
but even the irons of the guns themselves were broken, and in half an 
hour not a gun in the fort was able to fire. 

Another sloop of war joined the Vigilant and played against the fort 
all the afternoon. 

The garrison was buried in ruins, unable to retreat during the day 
and unwilling to do it as long as they could expect re-enforcements, had 
not any expectation but to sell their lives dearly as they could. 

It was impossible to defend the fort with so small a force, and Major 
Thayer called for re-enforcements from Fort Mercer or he must evac- 


PLUNKET DEFEATS YANKEES 


673 


uate the fort. At that moment Major Fleury and Major Talbot were 
wounded and another officer of artillery killed. 

At 10 o’clock at night, as no re-enforcements had arrived from New 
Jersey, it was impossible to defend the fort any longer. 

Major Thayer evacuated the fort with a degree of firmness equal to 
the bravery of his defense. He set fire to the remains, and with less 
than 200 men, having carried off all the wounded, he arrived at Fort 
Mercer about 1 o’clock in the morning, being the last man to march 
out of the fort. 

The British took possession of Fort Mifflin half an hour after the 
Americans left it. 


Colonel William Plunket Defeats Yankees 
in Pennamite War, September 28, 1775 

HERE had been four years of tranquil enjoyment among the 
Yankee settlers at Wyoming following the conclusion, in 1771, 
of the first Pennamite War. The Proprietaries had been de¬ 
feated and driven out, and for four years they made no attempt 
to retake their property. 

With the defeat of Dick and Ogden, August, 1771, the 
Penns were actually driven out of Wyoming and the Yankee settlers 
poured into the valley in such numbers that it was considered advisable 
to erect five new townships, each five miles square, along the West 
Branch of the Susquehanna River, on the lands of the Susquehanna 
Company. 

Accordingly, in 1771 the township of Charlestown was erected at the 
mouth of Muncy Creek, now Lycoming County; the township of 
Judea was erected above the mouth of Limestone Run, which is in the 
center of the present borough of Milton. 

In May, 1773, the township of Westminster was erected above the 
mouth of Buffalo Creek, in what is now Union County. 

It was intended that another township, to be called New Sims- 
burg, should be erected on the south side of the West Branch, opposite 
the mouth of Pine Creek. This survey was never made, but the site 
selected was opposite the present borough of Jersey Shore, and included 
the beautiful island at that place. 

The fifth town, called Salem, was erected on the North Branch, May, 
1773, below the mouth of Shickshinny Creek. 

Northumberland County was erected March 21, 1772, and its ter¬ 
ritory, which embraced 462 square miles, included the entire Wyoming 
Valley, which was placed in the seventh and last township, called 
Wyoming. 

During that summer a number of settlers arrived in Turbot Town- 



22 











674 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


ship from the State of New Jersey, among whom were John, Cornelius 
and Peter Vincent and their families. John and Peter were brothers 
and Cornelius was the son of John. They settled on a plantation one 
mile below the mouth of Warrior Run, which is two miles north of the 
present borough of Milton. 

John immediately became the leader of this pioneer settlement and 
dominant factor and partisan of the Connecticut interest. In May, 
1775, the Governor of Connecticut appointed him a justice of the peace 
for Litchfield County. Accompanied by his son and several others, he 
went to Wyoming in August and requested a number of people to go to 
the West Branch and make settlements. 

Major William Judd, Joseph Sluman, Esq., and about eighty others 
arrived at Vincent’s September 23, and two days later Judd and Sluman 
wrote a jointly signed letter to Judge William Plunket, in which they 
acknowledged they had come with a view of settling, and stated that as 
this might be a “matter of much conversation among the inhabitants, we 
are willing to acquaint you with the principles on which we are come. 
In the first place, we intend no hostilities; we will not disturb, molest or 
endeavor to dispossess any person of his property, or in any ways abuse 
his person by threats or any action that shall tend thereto. And, as we 
are commissioners of the peace from the Colony of Connecticut, we mean 
to be governed by the laws of that colony, and shall not refuse the exer¬ 
cise of the law to those of the inhabitants that are now dwellers here on 
their request, as the Colony of Connecticut extended last May their 
jurisdiction over the land. Finally, as we are determined to govern 
ourselves as above mentioned, we expect that those who think the title 
of this land is not in this colony will give us no uneasiness or disturbance 
in our proposed settlement.” 

If Major Judd and his. party really supposed that their movements 
would meet with no opposition, they were egregiously mistaken. It is 
also quite evident they prepared for defense. 

According to the deposition of Peter Smith, one detachment was on 
guard at a schoolhouse at Freeland’s Mills, three miles above the mouth 
of Warrior Run, and another at John Vincent’s house. 

The report reached the county seat at Sunbury that the settlers had 
brought along entrenching tools, also swivels to be used in the entrench¬ 
ments. 

A petition was immediately prepared and sent to Governor John 
Penn, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, 
which was signed by William Cooke, Sheriff; James Murray, Coroner; 
William Plunket, President Judge; Samuel Hunter, County Lieuten¬ 
ant and Justice; Benjamin Alison, Robert Moodie, Michael Troy, Ellis 
Hughes and William Maclay, Associate Justices. 

The petitioners set forth that their utmost efforts had failed to halt 
the “ambitious designs and enterprises of the intruders from the 


PLUNKET DEFEATS YANKEES 


675 


Colony of Connecticut. That they had been re-enforced with fresh 
numbers: Officers, civil and military. Swarms of emissaries are seduc¬ 
ing the ignorant, frightening the timorous, and denouncing the utmost 
vengeance against any who may be hardy enough to oppose them—In 
fine, to such a situation we are already reduced as to be under the hard 
necessity of keeping constant guards, not only to prevent the destruction 
of our jail, but for the security of our houses and persons, all of which 
are violently threatened.” 

Without waiting for action on the above petition the militia of 
Northumberland County was called out, and September 25 a company 
of fifty men left Fort Augusta to join companies from other points, to 
demand the reason for “this intrusion and hostile appearance.” 

On September 28 the Yankees at their encampment at John Vin¬ 
cent’s were attacked by the Provincial forces under Colonel Plunket. 
Just how much resistance was offered is not a matter of record, but that 
there was a battle fought is evidenced by the fact that one Yankee was 
killed and eight wounded. 

Plunket’s militiamen collected all the movable property, which was 
then and there divided among the victors. The torch was applied and 
all the buildings burned. They then marched the men, as prisoners, to 
Sunbury, where they were confined in jail. The women and children 
had been sent back to their friends and relatives at Wyoming. 

At the hearing of the prisoners, Major Judd and Joseph Sluman, 
the leaders, were sent to Philadelphia, where they were confined in gaol, 
until December 20, when they were released by resolution of Congress. 
Three others were detained ten days in the gaol at Sunbury, and the 
remainder were dismissed. 

This action of the county authorities and militia was approved by 
the Provincial Assembly in a resolution which was passed October 27, 
1775: 

“Resolved, That the inhabitants of the County of Northumberland, 
settled under the jurisdiction of this Province, were justifiable and did 
their duty in repelling the said intruders and preventing the further ex¬ 
tension of the settlements.” 

No doubt this expedition resulted in breaking up the Connecticut 
settlements on the West Branch, and the Pennsylvania claimants re¬ 
mained undisturbed in full possession of the territory. 


676 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Captain John Smith Who First Meets Native 
Pennsylvanians Sailed for England, 
September 29, 1609 

HERE seems to be no doubt but that the first European to 
meet the Indians who resided in what is now Pennsylvania was 
Captain John Smith. 

This adventurer explored the Chesapeake Bay and its tribu¬ 
taries in 1608, and made a map of his observations, which with 
the one he made at a later date, of his explorations along the 
New England coast, were for many years recognized as the authority for 
this hemisphere. 

The Dutch who first came to these shores formed an acquaintance 
with the Indians in 1615, and the Swedes first met them in 1638. 

It seems, therefore, that a story about this intrepid navigator, states¬ 
man, soldier, and writer is timely. 

Captain John Smith, founder of the Virginia Colony, was an Eng¬ 
lish soldier, a native of Willoughby, in Lincolnshire, where he was born 
January, 1579; he died in London, June 21, 1631. 

From early youth he was a soldier, enlisting in 1596, in the French 
Army to fight against Spain, but after the peace of 1598, he transferred 
his services to the insurgents in the Netherlands, and there remained 
until about 1600. 

Returning home he almost immediately started on a career of 
marvelous adventure. 

He sailed from France to Italy, where he was thrown overboard 
because it was learned he was a Protestant, but he was rescued by a 
pirate and landed on Italian soil. 

He traveled through Italy and Dalmatia to Styria and fought with 
the Austrian Army against the Turks, distinguished himself in Hun¬ 
gary and Transylvania, for which service he was ennobled and pen¬ 
sioned. 

Taken prisoner by the Turks, Smith was sent a slave to Constanti¬ 
nople, where he won the affections of his young mistress. He was sent 
by her to her brother in the Crimea, with a letter avowing her attach¬ 
ment. The indignant Turk cruelly maltreated Smith, when the latter 
one day slew his taskmaster, put on the Ottoman’s clothes, mounted a 
horse and escaped to a Russian port. 

On his return to England, in 1605, Bartholomew Gosnold persuaded 
Smith to engage in founding a colony in Virginia, and at the age of 
twenty-seven years, already greatly renowned, he sailed from Blackwell 
for America, December 16, 1606, with Captain C. Newport, who com¬ 
manded three vessels that bore one hundred and five emigrants. 






CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH 


677 


Smith was accompanied by men of property, and the voyage being by 
the southern route was long and tedious. They landed, May 13, 1607, 
about fifty miles from the mouth of the river they called the James, 
where they built Jamestown, and chose that for the seat of the new 
empire. 

Captain Smith, with Newport and twenty men, explored the James 
River as far as the falls, the site of Richmond, and made the acquaint¬ 
ance of Powhatan, emperor of thirty Indian tribes. 

On the voyage to Virginia, Smith had become boastful and arro¬ 
gant, causing him to be much disliked by Wingfield, of the London Com¬ 
pany. 

On his return from the first exploration trip Smith found Wingfield 
had set himself up as president, and that he was under arrest, but was 
acquitted at the trial and took his seat in the council, when that body 
demanded that the president should pay Smith £200 for false imprison¬ 
ment. 

All of Wingfield’s property was seized to pay it, when Smith 
generously placed it in the public store for the use of the colony. 

Sickness prostrated the colony before the close of the summer. 

Smith was soon made the leader of the colony, and brought order 
out of chaos, made the Indians bring in stores of corn, and had the 
colony well supplied with food for the ensuing winter. 

After erecting fortifications Smith began a series of excursions into 
the surrounding region. He proved an excellent leader and became in 
fact the principal head of the colony. 

He went up the Chickahominy in an open boat. Leaving the craft, 
he with two others and two Indian guides penetrated the forest, when 
Smith was seized by savages under Opechancanough, King of Pumunky, 
an elder brother of Powhatan, and conducted to the presence of the 
emperor. 

At a great council presided over by Powhatan, Smith was doomed 
to die. Matoa, or Pocahontas, a daughter of Powhatan, begged her 
father to spare the prisoner’s life, but in vain. 

Smith’s head was laid upon two stones, and two warriors had 
raised heavy clubs to crush it, when Pocahontas sprang from her 
father’s side, clasped Smith’s head with her arms, and laid her own 
on his. 

The emperor yielded, and Smith was released and returned to 
Jamestown, where only forty persons were left, the little church burned 
to the ground, and the inhabitants on the point of abandoning the set¬ 
tlement. 

On September 10, 1608, Smith was elected president of the colony; 
and, upon assuming this office, he enforced discipline, strove to convert 
their unthrifty methods, had them rebuild the church, strengthen the de¬ 
fenses, and make provision for agriculture and fishery. 


678 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Smith made two voyages, covering hundreds of miles, about the 
coast of the Chesapeake and its tributaries. 

When his successor was elected Smith refused to surrender the gov¬ 
ernment and served until September 29, 1609, when he sailed for Eng¬ 
land, and never again returned to Jamestown. 

This was unfortunate for the colony, as his better leadership was 
necessary at that time to save it from frequent and serious disturbance. 

In 1614 he made a voyage of exploration to New England and pre¬ 
pared a map of the coast from the Penobscot to Cape Cod. 

When Captain Smith sailed his barge up the Chesapeake, entered 
the Susquehanna River and pushed as far up that stream as was pos¬ 
sible, he made the first exploration of that great river from its mouth 
for several miles, and if he did not actually enter Pennsylvania, he was 
very close and certainly did meet some of the Susquehanna Indians, who 
resided in what is now called Lancaster County. 


Washington Started March Through Penn¬ 
sylvania During Whisky Rebellion, 
September 30, 1794 

IRGINIA claims George Washington as her native son, but 
most of the deeds which made Washington famous and the 
greater part of both his military and official life were passed 
in this State. 

While Philadelphia and the counties of the East have 
stories, legends and traditions innumerable of the great Father 
of His Country, while Western Pennsylvania was the scene of his early 
military training, Central Pennsylvania, and the Cumberland Valley 
especially, have also their Washington traditions. 

A Lancaster County almanac, published in the latter part of 1778, is 
credited by many with first having called Washington “Father of His 
Country,” while Lebanon, Hummelstown, Harrisburg, New Cumber¬ 
land, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Chambersburg and many other valley 
towns and places have Washington traditions as part of their historic 
past, because of Washington’s trip to Bedford during the “Whisky In¬ 
surrection” of 1794. 

A force of 12,900 men was to be raised against the rebellion, and 
Carlisle was the rendezvous for the Pennsylvania contingent of 5200. 
Cumberland County furnished 363 men, including officers. These, with 
similar quotas from York, Lancaster and Franklin Counties, were under 
command of Brigadier General James Chambers, of Franklin County. 

The President set out from his home on Market Street, Philadelphia, 





WASHINGTON IN PENNSYLVANIA 


679 


September 30, 1794, accompanied by Secretary Hamilton, his own 
private secretary and a colored servant. 

Accounts of the trip say that Washington was much interested in 
the canals and locks between Myerstown and Lebanon; that he lodged 
at Lebanon for the night, breakfasted at Hummelstown, the next morn¬ 
ing and reached Harrisburg in time for dinner October 3. 

Washington’s diary mentions the First Regiment of New Jersey, 
about 560 strong, which he found drawn up to receive him. 

He spent the rest of that day in Harrisburg, received an address de¬ 
livered to him by the burgesses* in behalf of the citizens, and departed 
the morning of October 4 for Carlisle, fording the Susquehanna in his 
carriage, which he drove himself. 

Washington’s diary says: “On the Cumberland side I found a de¬ 
tachment of the Philadelphia Light Horse, ready to receive and escort 
me to Carlisle, seventeen miles distant, where I arrived about 11 o’clock. 

The President remained seven days in Carlisle, the guest of Colonel 
Ephraim Blaine. With him, according to one account, were “the mem¬ 
bers of his Cabinet and Governor Miffiin, many Senators and Repre¬ 
sentatives from Pennsylvania, and those, together with the New Jersey 
troops, formed a brilliant and numerous assemblage.” 

The day after his arrival General Washington attended public wor¬ 
ship. Before his departure a number of the principal inhabitants pre¬ 
sented him with an address. 

Sunday morning, October 12, Washington set out from Carlisle on 
the Walnut Bottom road. Near what is now Jacksonville stood the 
residence of Colonel Arthur Buchanan, relative of the later President 
James Buchanan, a large land owner and proprietor of Pine Grove 
furnace. 

Verification of Washington having accepted Buchanan’s hospitality, 
for a short time at least, is said to have been founded on the story of 
“Polly” Buchanan, a daughter of the host. She died in Shippensburg in 
1884 at the age of 104. 

As Washington and his party came down Shippensburg’s one long 
street the citizens were at their doors. One account says: 

“He was treated with great courtesy and respect by a majority of 
those who came to see him. Yet there were those who sympathized with 
the insurgents and did not join in the general rejoicing. This class, in 
order to manifest their disapproval of the employment of the military 
force for suppression of the rebellion, collected secretively a few nights 
after the visit of Washington and erected a liberty pole on the corner 
upon which the council house now stands. This was the cause of much 
ill feeling and many a black eye and bloody nose. The pole was cut 
down at night.” 

After dining at Shippensburg the party set out for Chambersburg, 


*Conrad Bombaugh and Alexander Berryhill. 



680 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


entering that town by the Harper’s Ferry road the same evening. Many 
of the citizens paid their respects to him and the night was spent at 
Colonel William Morrow’s stone tavern. 

At daylight on Monday morning, October 13, Washington left 
Chambersburg. The people were at their doors and the President 
acknowledged their salutations as he rode through the streets on 
horseback, followed by his black servant carrying a large port¬ 
manteau. 

After ten miles’ travel they reached Greencastle. While Wash¬ 
ington was breakfasting at Robert McCullough’s tavern, Tom McCul¬ 
lough, the landlord’s ten-year-old son, who later represented the dis¬ 
trict in Congress and became the first president of the Cumberland Val¬ 
ley Railroad, was discovered under the table. Washington intervened 
as the tavern keeper was about to send his son from the room for pun¬ 
ishment, and patted the young fellow on the head. 

Leaving Greencastle, General Washington and his party went on 
to Bedford, from which place the return journey was started on Octo¬ 
ber 21. 

The journey of thirty-seven miles to Burnt Cabins is said to have 
been the longest of the entire trip. Leaving there the morning of 
October 22, Washington crossed Tuscarora Mountain, passing through 
Fannetsburg, where earlier a liberty pole had been erected. 

The feeling of opposition had largely passed away by the time Wash¬ 
ington reached the town. After a hearty welcome, he proceeded to 
Strasburg and then through Pleasant Hill. 

On the west side of Herron’s Branch Washington and his party 
halted at a tavern called the Black Horse. Here Washington inquired 
if dinner could be served the retinue. “We have nothing but an old- 
fashioned potpie ready, to which you are welcome,” replied the maid. 
The great general partook and thus rescued one more hostelry from 
oblivion. 

Four miles farther he reached Shippensburg again, coming back into 
the town he had left ten days before. 

After spending the night at Captain William Ripley’s Black Horse 
tavern in Shippensburg, where much entertainment was provided, the 
President set out early the next morning and by evening had reached 
New Cumberland, then called Simpson’s Ferry, in honor of Gen. 
Michael Simpson, who as a boy of fifteen had marched with Colonel 
Bouquet’s forces. 

Washington spent the night of October 23 with his friend, General 
Simpson, and the next day journeyed to York. The next afternoon, it 
is said, he rode through the rain from York to Wright’s Ferry, now 
Columbia, where he remained over night. 

On Sunday, October 26, he proceeded to Lancaster, and on Tues¬ 
day October 28, it was noted in Philadelphia that the “President of the 


WASHINGTON IN PENNSYLVANIA 


681 


United States with his suite arrived in Philadelphia from Bedford and 
resumed his duties at the seat of government.” 

Commenting on his trip, Washington wrote to Alexander Hamil¬ 
ton from Wright’s Ferry on Sunday, October 26: 

“Thus far I have proceeded without accident to man, horse or car¬ 
riage, although the latter has had wherewith to try its goodness, es¬ 
pecially in ascending the North Mountain from Skinners by a wrong 
road, that is, by the old road, which never was good, and is rendered 
next to impassable by neglect.” 


Sailors Cause of Bloody Election in 
Philadelphia October 1,1742 

NE of the early Mayors of Philadelphia was the distinguished 
Quaker, Isaac Norris, who had been a member of the Provin¬ 
cial Assembly and the President Judge of the Court of Com¬ 
mon Pleas. He had also served as a member of the Governor’s 
Council for more than thirty years, and was named by Wil¬ 
liam Penn in his will as one of the trustees of the Province. 
He died June 4, 1735, and was succeeded by his son of the same name, 
known in the history of Pennsylvania as “The Speaker.” 

Isaac Norris, “The Speaker,” married one of the daughters of 
James Logan, and soon retired from commercial life. He was a mem¬ 
ber of the Assembly for thirty years and for the latter half of that time 
its Speaker. 

Notwithstanding his connection with Logan, and the further fact 
that he was a grandson of Hon. Thomas Lloyd, one of the Commis¬ 
sioners of the Province from December, 1686, to December, 1688, and 
Deputy Governor from March, 1691, to April 26, 1693, he was a 
leader of the strict Friends in the Assembly who differed in politics 
from Logan, “who represented the Proprietary, or Governor’s party,” on 
all questions relating to the Province. 

So persistently did Speaker Norris oppose the Proprietaries in the 
various disputes between the Governor and the Quakers, or “Norris 
Party,” that there resulted such bitter contests for office as would be 
fashionable in modern times. 

The re-election of Norris to the Assembly in 1741 could not be pre¬ 
vented, and the Quakers gained much ground with Norris in that body, 
and with his brother-in-law, Griffiths, and uncle, Preston, who were 
aldermen of the city of Philadelphia. 

The corporation was too important a political factor to submit to 
his influence and the Proprietary Party succeeded in electing four new 
aldermen and five new members of the City Council who would fur¬ 
ther the Governor’s plans, but it was no easy matter to defeat Norris at 
a popular election. 

In 1742 a most important session of the Assembly had been held, 
the Speaker was the head of every committee, and he worked indefatig- 
ably in superintending the completion of portions of the State House and 
in purchasing a site and devising plans for a public pest house or munici¬ 
pal hospital, and in these activities gave some reason to believe he could 
be defeated. The wealthy Recorder of the City, William Allen, con¬ 
tended for his seat in the Assembly. 

Then ensued what is since known as “The Bloody Election,” 

682 





SAILORS CAUSE “BLOODY ELECTION” 


683 


but Norris proved himself an astute politician and won the sup¬ 
port of the German settlers, who constituted a large part of the elec¬ 
torate. 

The Germans had invariably voted with the Quakers, and it was 
charged that the “Norris party” would take possession of the polls, 
crowd out their opponents, and thus elect their candidate with the aid of 
unnaturalized voters. 

The Governor’s friends cried “fraud” but they were not in posses¬ 
sion of any evidence of it. 

On October 1, 1742, the day of the “Bloody Election,” a party of 
sailors, coopers, and others, strong enough in numbers to make havoc 
in the little city, marched uptown from the wharves, armed with clubs, 
and, when they arrived at the Court House, a fight took place in which 
several were wounded, and the disciples of peace and order were driven 
from the historic building. 

The affair made a great stir, and is well perpetuated in the cari¬ 
catures made at the time which were drawn with the intention to 
traduce and stigmatize the political leaders in those days. 

In the appendix to the “Votes of the Assembly” is published the 
interesting testimony relating to this “Bloody Election.” 

The witnesses were “examined in a solemn manner,” and it ap¬ 
peared that some fifty to seventy sailors, armed with clubs, made their 
appearance at the Court House, at Second and High Streets, in support 
of the Proprietary Party. 

William Till, Mayor of the city, was called upon to interfere against 
the sailors, but he declined to do so, saying, as was testified: “They 
had as much right at the election as the Dutchmen.” 

It appears by the statement of the time, that a wagonload of hop- 
poles, easy to cut into clubs, made its appearance at a point so con¬ 
venient that the other party availed itself of the boon. 

Among the witnesses, Robert Hopkins testified that, “when the 
sailors were moving off, and came by William Allen one among them 
being a squat full-faced, pock-fretten man, with a light wig and red 
breeches, as he supposes, said, ‘Let’s give Mr. Allen a whorrah! And 
said Allen reply’d: ‘Ye villians begone: I’ll have nothing to do with 
you’.” 

After this we are not surprised at that staunch Friend, Israel Pem¬ 
berton, the last witness examined, being able to testify that upward of 
fifty sailors were arrested and secured in prison, “and then,” he goes on 
to say, “the Freeholders proceeded to the choice of the Representatives 
to serve in the Assembly, and the other officers, which was carried on 
very peaceably the remainder of the day.” 

A petition was read in the Provincial Council, November 5, 1742, 
which was addressed to Lieutenant Governor George Thomas, and 
among other statements the petitioners stated that the rioters attacked 


684 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the constables and broke their staves and beat them up and grievously 
wounded divers citizens, among whom was one of the Aldermen. 

They claimed many were knocked down with stones without regard 
to age or station. Sure enough a bloody election; especially must it 
have seemed so to the staid Quakers of the City of Brotherly Love. 

In September, 1759, Speaker Isaac Norris resolved to relinquish his 
public duties and declined a re-election which was sure to be in his 
favor. He made his announcement in the House, and among other 
things said: 

“You were pleased to make choice of me to succeed my father in 
the Assembly at the election of the year, 1735. I never sought emolu¬ 
ment for myself or family, and I remained at disadvantage to my private 
interest only to oppose the measures of unreasonable men. No man shall 
ever stamp his foot on my grave and say, Curse him! or Here lies he 
who so basely betrayed the liberties of his country.” 

A true patriot in motive surely. 

He was succeeded as speaker by Benjamin Franklin. 



Massacre in Vicinity of Patterson’s 
Fort, October 2, 1755 

N OCTOBER 2, 1755, the savages suddenly appeared in Tus- 
carora Valley, in the vicinity of Patterson’s Fort, on the north 
side of the Mahantango Creek, in Snyder County, and killed 
and captured forty persons. 

This fort was situated immediately beyond the dividing 
line of Juniata and Snyder Counties, and in the vicinity of 
Pomfret Castle, which seems to be often mistaken for Fort Patterson. 

There were two Fort Pattersons and two Captain Pattersons, which 
has also caused much confusion. The two captains were father and son, 
and their places near each other, and both stockaded, although Captain 
William Patterson’s fort was not built until 1763. 

Benjamin Franklin gave the following directions, to George Croghan 
in a letter dated December 17, 1755: “You are desired to proceed to 
Cumberland County and fix on proper places for erecting three stock¬ 
ades; namely, one back of Patterson’s—each of them fifty feet square, 
with a blockhouse on two of the corners and a barracks within, capable 
of lodging fifty men.” 

The one “back of Patterson’s” was to be on the Mahantango Creek, 
where Richfield, Snyder County, now is situated, and was to be built 
by Colonel James Burd and Captain James Patterson. 

Captain James Patterson commanded a company of rangers in Brad- 







PATTERSON’S FORT MASSACRE 


685 


dock’s campaign, under Colonel James Burd, and assisted in cutting 
the way through the forests. 

In the year 1751 James Patterson, with five or six other settlers, 
settled in the Juniata Valley at the present town of Mexico. 

Patterson cleared his land, engaged in farming and erected a large 
and strong log house, which afterward became known as Fort Patterson. 
It became the haven of refuge and defense for the settlers in the attack 
made upon them by the Indians. 

Patterson was a man of daring and considered by the Indians to 
be a crack marksman. Whenever Indians appeared at his plantation he 
delighted to shoot at a mark, when his unerring aim impressed his visi¬ 
tors that he would be a dangerous foe. 

His son, William, was called to Fort Augusta for the purpose of 
getting instructions to settle difficulties on the path through the valley. 
While on this mission he fell in with some Indians at Middle Creek, 
one of whom was killed and scalped and the rest put to flight. 

One of Captain Patterson’s men was wounded. He advised the com¬ 
mander of Fort Augusta that the woods were full of Indians; that they 
found many houses burned, some still burning, and that he feared all 
the grain would be destroyed by the savages, who are known to be 
Delaware. 

Fort Patterson was attacked at this time and one Hugh Mitcheltree 
carried off. 

October 5, 1755, the savages made an incursion near Fort Patterson. 
Jennie McClain, a young girl, mounted a horse and hurriedly fled to¬ 
ward the fort, when, but a short distance from it, an Indian shot the 
horse through the body, when Jennie fell off the horse and was cap¬ 
tured. The Indians surrounded the fort, but the Pattersons defended 
it so bravely that the savages were driven off. 

In the summer of 1756 Captain Patterson marched to Shamokin 
(now Sunbury) with Colonel Clapham’s “Augusta Regiment” and as¬ 
sisted in building and defending that fort. 

In 1757 Captain Patterson was detailed and placed in command of 
Fort Hunter, above Harrisburg, and at this post he was constantly oc¬ 
cupied in sending out ranging parties, and had charge of the bateau men 
who transported provisions from Harris’ Ferry to Fort Augusta. 

In July, 1758, Captain Patterson left Fort Augusta on the march to 
Raystown (Fort Bedford), where he joined in the Forbes expedition 
against Fort Duquesne. After the Indians were finally subdued Cap¬ 
tain Patterson returned to his plantation and followed farming. 

When the Indians again became violent in Pontiac’s War in 1763, 
Captain Patterson and his son, William, then a lieutenant, were again 
on guard. 

Captain James Patterson died at his fort and is buried near it. 

William, son of Captain James, was born in Donegal Township, 


686 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Lancaster County, in 1737, and went with his father to the Juniata in 
1751. Like his brave father, William was a keen marksman and a 
most daring and valuable aid to his father. He was with his father’s 
company, which was part of Braddock’s army. Later he was an ensign 
at Fort Augusta. 

For many months he and his father, with details of privates, ranged 
the mountains and streams in search of Indians. 

William Patterson not only displayed great capacity as a partisan sol¬ 
dier, but was equally conspicuous in civil life. He marched in advance 
of General Forbes’ army to Fort Duquesne in 1758. He also served 
under Colonel Burd in conveying livestock and subsistence from Fort 
Cumberland to Fort Burd and Fort Pitt in 1759. 

After his return from the army Captain Patterson seems to have 
devoted his time to land surveying. His fine presence and dashing 
character won the admiration and esteem of the pioneer settlers, es¬ 
pecially of the young men, who followed the chase and provided game 
for the large and growing settlements in Tuscarora Valley and around 
Patterson’s Fort. 

Following the Pontiac War, as late as 1767, when fort after fort 
were destroyed and the feeble garrison put to the hatchet, Captain Wil¬ 
liam Patterson called his young hunters and defied the Indians. 

Pontiac had boasted that no wooden fort or stockade could escape 
destruction if he desired to destroy them. 

When they could induce the garrison by cunning and lying to sur¬ 
render, they would load a wagon with straw and hay and set it on fire 
and back it against the timbers and let the demon fire to do the work. 

Although Patterson’s Fort was surrounded by savages repeatedly, 
they were driven away and kept at a safe distance by the expert rifle¬ 
men under the command of Captain Patterson. 

William Patterson, in 1768, arrested and safely lodged in the jail 
at Carlisle Frederick Stump and his accomplice John Ironcutter for 
committing an unprovoked massacre, the victims being Indians. This 
action required the greatest heroism. 

The Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania at that period was 
so highly pleased with the prompt action of Captain Patterson that he 
gave him a commission as Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Cum¬ 
berland County. He also was appointed a Commissioner to lay out 
Northumberland County in March, 1772. 

Captain William Patterson is described in the Shippen papers as 
“a gentleman of limited education, a very good soldier and does his 
duty well.” He is often mentioned in Colonel Burd’s journal. 

A fine bronze tablet mounted on a large boulder recently has been 
unveiled at the site of Fort Patterson, which will mark for this and 
future generations the spot made famous by the progenitors of this great 
Patterson family in Pennsylvania. 


THE WHISKY INSURRECTION 


687 


Washington Joins Troops in Whisky 
Insurrection October 3, 1794 

HE year 1794 is distinguished in American history by a re¬ 
markable revolt among a portion of the inhabitants of Penn¬ 
sylvania, known as the Whisky Insurrection. 

In 1791 Congress enacted a law laying excise duties upon 
spirits distilled within the United States. This tax excited 
general opposition, but nowhere else was such violence ex¬ 
hibited in resisting the execution of the law as in the western counties 
of Pennsylvania, where the crops of grain were so over-abundant that, 
in the absence of adequate market for its sale, an immense quantity of 
the cereals was distilled into whisky, the far-famed “Monongahela,” 
called from the name of the principal river in that region. 

The inhabitants insisted that an article, produced almost exclusively 
by an isolated people as their sole and necessary support, ought not to 
be taxed for the support of the Federal Government, and to this opinion 
they adhered with a tenacity worthy of a better cause. 

Public meetings were held in all the chief towns, at which the action 
of Congress was loudly denounced as oppression to be battled against to 
the very last extremity; declaring, too, that any person who had ac- 
accepted or might accept an office under the Government in order to 
carry the law into effect should be regarded as an enemy of his country, 
to be treated with contempt and officially and personally shunned. 

The Federal Government was scoffed at, its coercive authority ridi¬ 
culed, and with the motto, “Liberty and No Excise!” the ball of the 
rebellion rolled on. 

One day preceding the assembling of an important meeting of mal¬ 
contents in Pittsburgh, the tax collector for the counties of Allegheny 
and Washington made his appearance. Aware of his business, a party 
of men, armed and disguised, waylaid him at a place on Pigeon Creek, 
in Washington County, seized, tarred and feathered him, cut off his 
hair and deprived him of his horse, obliging him to decamp on foot in 
that painful condition. 

In attempting to serve legal processes upon the perpetrators of this 
outrage, the marshal’s deputy was also seized, whipped, tarred and 
feathered; and, after having his money taken from him, he was blind¬ 
folded and led into the depths of the forest, where he was tied to a 
sapling and left to his fate. He was fortunately discovered and rescued 
by friends. 

Another man was similarly handled who remarked that they could 
not reasonably expect protection from a Government whose laws they so 
strenuously opposed. Two witnesses of this assault were seized by an 





688 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


armed banditti and carried off so they could not give testimony against 
the perpetrators of the assault. 

President Washington feared such open defiance of the laws, and 
issued a proclamation condemning the lawless acts and warned all to 
return at once to their allegiance. Bills of indictment were found 
against the leaders of some of the outrages, and, at the same time, 
process was also issued against a great number of noncomplying dis¬ 
tillers. 

The proclamation and warning did not produce the desired effect. 
Washington then ordered the seizure of the spirits distilled in the 
counties opposing the law. 

Contractors for the army were forbidden to purchase spirits on 
which duties had not been paid. The distillers were caught between 
two millstones. They feared the wrath of the infuriated populace if 
they paid the excise tax or lost their best customers. 

The factionists were encouraged by the leniency of the Executive. 
By violent threats they kept the marshal from serving precepts, com¬ 
mitted numerous outrages upon the friends of the Government and per¬ 
fected their organization into military bands, to resist any force that 
might be sent to subject them to the laws. They styled their acts, 
“mending the still.” 

It is not to be doubted that this inflamed state of the public mind 
was greatly aggravated by the ambitious designs and intemperate 
speeches of a few leading men. Conspicuous among the malcontents 
were David Bradford, Colonel John Marshall, Robert Smiley, Hugh 
Brackenridge, William Findley and Albert Gallatin. The first named 
was the chief agitator. 

Hostilities broke out early in 1794, when those who paid the excise 
tax were punished as well as those who attempted to collect the tax. 
Even the Government officials were attacked by armed men. 

General John Neville, inspector for the county, was compelled to 
defend his home by force of arms, and Major Abraham Kirkpatrick, 
with a detail of eleven soldiers, was compelled to surrender to a mob, 
under the leadership of a desperado named John Holcroft. 

After brisk fighting continued for nearly an hour, the insurgents set 
fire to eight buildings, which finally compelled brave Kirkpatrick to 
yield. 

David Bradford assembled meetings to ascertain their secret enemies 
as well as to learn their own strength. Mail was searched and the Gov¬ 
ernment stores attacked. There was even a plan developed which had 
the capture of Fort Pitt and the United States Arsenal at Pittsburgh as 
its objectives. 

The greatest popular demonstration was at Parkinson’s Ferry, where 
16,000 men were pledged to follow the leadership of Bradford. 

President Washington called a cabinet meeting and had General 


BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN 


689 


Thomas Mifflin, Governor of Pennsylvania, in attendance. Commis¬ 
sioners were sent to apprise the insurgents of their grave danger. 

A proclamation was broadcast August 7, which warned of the im¬ 
pending war, if all did not quietly return to their home by September 1. 

The same day of the proclamation a requisition was made on the 
Governor of New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania for 
their several quotas of militia. 

During the recruiting of this force Judge Jasper Yeates, James Ross 
and William Bradford were sent as commissioners to the western coun¬ 
ties to extinguish the insurrection. 

David Bradford laughed at the proclamations of the President and 
Governors of New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania for 
the Committee of Safety was held at Parkinson’s Ferry and ap¬ 
pointed commissioners to wait upon his Excellency and assure him 
that submission and order could be restored without the aid of mili* 
tary force. 

In the meantime, the troops responded to the call, and, in response 
to a second proclamation of President Washington, they rendezvoued at 
Bedford, Pa., and Cumberland, Md. The command of the entire army 
was given to General Henry Lee, of Virginia. Governor Mifflin took 
command of the Pennsylvania troops in person. 

The President departed for the front in a drenching rain. He ar¬ 
rived at Harrisburg Friday, October 3. The same day a meeting of 
the Committee of Safety was held at Parkinson’s Ferry and appointed 
commissioners to wait upon his Excellency and assure him that submis¬ 
sion and order could be restored without the aid of military force. 

The insurgents by this time had come to their senses, and intimidated 
by the greatness of the force, fled in every direction. Those arrested 
were pardoned. Bradford escaped to Spanish territory. The Whisky 
Insurrection came to an end. As Washington said, “the contest decided 
that a small portion of the United States could not dictate to the whole 
Union.” 


Americans Defeated in Battle of Ger¬ 
mantown, October 4, 1777 

HE Battle of Germantown was one of the most spirited actions 
of the Revolution. It was a contest for the possession of a 
widely extended and strongly posted line, between the two 
armies, and at a time when the British had but a week earlier 
invested Philadelphia, driving the Continental Congress to 
Lancaster. 

Howe’s army had crossed the Schuylkill, and was encamped near 
Germantown. 






690 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Washington was at Pennypacker’s Mill, between the Perkiomen and 
the Skippack Creeks, thirty miles from the city, where he awaited re¬ 
enforcements from the Northern Department. His army, which was 
mainly composed of Continental troops from Pennsylvania, Maryland 
and New Jersey, had suffered severe punishment at Brandywine and 
Paoli. It was poorly equipped and poorly fed. 

Washington learned, through two intercepted letters, that General 
Howe had detached a part of his force to reduce Billingsport and the 
forts on the Delaware. 

He believed that a favorable opportunity was offered to make an 
attack upon the troops which were encamped at Germantown, and fixed 
the attack for the morning of October 4, 1777. 

General Howe’s army was encamped upon the general line of School 
and Church lanes. 

On the 2d General Washington advanced his army to Worcester 
Township. The British did not expect an attack as General Howe 
fully understood the drubbing the Americans had recently received, but 
he did not know the fighting temper of the Colonists. 

Washington was well informed of the enemy’s position and prepared 
his order of battle with great care. The divisions of Sullivan and 
Wayne, flanked by Conway’s Brigade, were to enter the town by way 
of Chestnut Hill. 

General Armstrong, with the Pennsylvania Militia, was to go down 
Manatawny road and get in the enemy’s left and rear. The divisions 
of Greene and Stephen, flanked by McDougall’s Brigade, were to enter 
by a circuitous route at the Market House, and attack the right wing, 
and the militia of Maryland and New Jersey, under Generals Small¬ 
wood and Forman, were to march by the Old York road and fall upon 
the rear of their right. Lord Stirling, and Nash’s and Maxwell’s bri¬ 
gades were to form the reserve. 

General McDougall was to attack the right wing of the enemy in 
front and rear; General Conway to attack the enemy’s left flank, and 
General Armstrong to attack their left wing in flank and rear. 

Each column was to move into position, two miles from the enemy’s 
pickets by 2 o’clock, then halt until 4, and advance and attack the pickets 
precisely at 5 o’clock, “with charge bayonets and without firing, and the 
column to move to the attack as soon as possible.” 

On the evening of October 3 the army left its encampment on 
Metuchen Hills. It was a hard march through the darkness, over 
rough roads and in a dense fog. 

When the action opened the Americans soon gained much ground 
and General Howe, who had hurried to the front, met his troop re¬ 
treating. He quickly galloped back to camp and prepared for the at¬ 
tack. Sullivan and Wayne pressed forward, and Washington followed 
with the reserve. 


BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN 


691 


While the advance was in progress, General Greene had made the 
circuit of the Limekiln road, and engaged the enemy’s right. The in¬ 
competent General Stephens became entangled with Wayne’s troops, 
which confusion ended the efforts of General Sullivan’s columns upon 
the east side of the town. 

General Greene continued to advance, maintaining a line of battle 
as long as practicable. McDougall was marching over ground so nearly 
impassable that he was quite out of the action and failed to assist 
Greene, leaving his flank exposed. 

The morning was well advanced when the two wings of the army 
had approached the central objective point, the Market House. But 
the lines were broken and disordered, by the innumerable obstacles 
and by the impenetrable fog, that the British had opportunity to 
reform their own shattered line. Howe sent strong forces to oppose 
each attack. 

When Sullivan’s division had pushed forward nearly to School Lane, 
while Greene was entering the town on the east, these generals found 
themselves unsupported by other troops, their cartridges expended, the 
force of the enemy on the right collecting to oppose them, and seeing 
many of the American troops flying in retreat, they retired with all pos¬ 
sible haste. 

When General Grey came from his camp at School Lane and ad¬ 
vanced to the attack, the few Americans there could not resist him, and 
were soon repulsed. Grey advanced across lots and pushed on toward 
the Chew house. 

General Agnew, following in the rear of Grey, ascended the hill 
and received a sudden volley from a party of citizens who were con¬ 
cealed behind the Mennonite meeting house and he fell mortally 
wounded. 

Wayne’s division on the east of the town had already withdrawn 
when General Grant moved up his Forty-ninth British regiment. 

General Washington, who had remained at the head of the hill above 
Chew’s house, saw the failure of his well-laid plans, and issued orders 
for the retreat. 

The American army had gone forward to gain full possession of the 
enemy’s camp, which was on fire in many places. Dead and wounded 
were strewn about everywhere. The troops were in much disorder. 
Those in front had been driven back by the enemy and fell upon those 
in the rear, which increased the confusion and rendered it impossible to 
again form and oppose an advancing foe. 

A general retreat was inevitably necessary to save the American army 
from a general rout. 

Lord Cornwallis, who was in Philadelphia, learned of the attack and 
put in motion two battalions of British and one Hessian grenadiers, 
with a squadron of dragoons, to Howe’s support. 


692 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


They arrived at Germantown just as the Americans were being 
forced from the village. Cornwallis joined with General Grey, and, 
placing himself in command, took up pursuit. 

General Greene effected the withdrawal of his forces with consider¬ 
able difficulty and no slight loss, as Colonel Matthew’s gallant regi¬ 
ment, or what remained of it, fell into the enemy’s hands, its heroic com¬ 
mander and many of his officers being severely wounded by the enemy’s 
bayonets. 

General Greene also had much trouble in saving his cannon, when 
Count Pulaski’s cavalry being hard-driven by the pursuing British, rode 
into and scattered Greene’s division. 

For two hours and forty minutes the battle waged at the very doors 
of the inhabitants of Germantown, in their gardens, orchards and fields. 

The entire loss sustained by two armies was never accurately de¬ 
termined. 

The British did not gain much satisfaction in their victory for they 
soon abandoned their well-earned fields, and moved within the en¬ 
trenchments directly north of Philadelphia. 


Riotous Mob Attacks “Fort Wilson” in 
Philadelphia, October 5, 1779 

N THE year 1779 the lives of Mr. James Wilson, the signer 
of the Declaration of Independence, and one of the foremost 
practitioners of that day, and many of his friends, were put 
in extreme hazard by a band of frenzied partisans, under the 
pretext of his holding sentiments inimical to popular insti¬ 
tutions. 

At that time party spirit in Pennsylvania had taken definite shape, 
and the politicians were divided into Constitutionalists and Republicans. 
The former rallied around the Constitution of 1776, recently formed, 
which was reprobated by the Republicans, who believed it tended toward 
rash, precipitate and oppressive proceedings. 

The term Republicans was embraced, as recognizing the principles 
of the Revolution. 

Mr. Wilson was among the leading men of the Republican Party 
who had agreed that they would not accept of any office or appoint¬ 
ment under the Constitution, which, in that case, they would be bound 
by oath, to support. 

This circumstance offended and inflamed the Constitutional 
Party, and as Mr. Wilson had become counsel for the defense of 
some suspected traitors, and had succeeded in winning their acquittal, 





MOB ATTACKS “FORT WILSON” 693 

it angered the militiamen of Philadelphia and led to a most serious 
outrage. 

The consequences of a rapidly depreciating currency were distressing 
to many who were incapable of tracing them to their causes. For ex¬ 
ample, every tradesman who had engaged in a piece of work felt, when 
paid for it, that he did not receive, except in name, the amount he had 
contracted to receive. 

Artful and designing incendiaries persuaded many of the sufferers 
that the evil was owing to the merchants, who monopolized the goods, 
and to certain lawyers who rescued the tories from punishment, by 
pleading for them in Court. 

Mr. Wilson had become particularly obnoxious. He was in fact 
a most decided friend of the popular government. He was a native of 
Scotland, and a Presbyterian, which should certainly stamp him as a 
friend of those opposed to the British authority. 

The affair of “Fort Wilson,” as his house was thereafter known; 
flowed from this mistaken opinion, of which those who concocted the 
disgraceful transaction took advantage for party purposes. 

September 13, 1779, a committee appointed at a town meeting, 
regulated the prices of rum, salt, sugar, coffee, flour, etc., a measure 
which was strongly opposed by the importers. 

Robert Morris, Blair McClenochan and John Willcocks and a num¬ 
ber of stanch Whigs had a quantity of these articles in their stores 
which they refused to dispose of at the regulated prices. 

About the last of the month, a great number of the lower class col¬ 
lected and marched through the streets, threatening to break open the 
stores, distribute the goods and punish those who refused to open their 
warehouses. 

On the morning of October 4, placards were posted menacing Robert 
Morris, Blair McClenochan and many other merchants. 

Mr. Wilson was proscribed by the mob for having exercised his pro¬ 
fessional duty as a lawyer, and the punishment decreed for his crime 
was banishment to the enemy, yet in New York. But this was not the 
real cause which produced so lamentable an instance of popular delu¬ 
sion. That was to be found in the superior talents and respectability of 
the Republican Party. 

The gentlemen threatened determined to defend themselves, and 
with a great number of their friends, to the amount of thirty or forty, 
took post at the southwest corner of Walnut and Third streets, in a 
house belonging to and occupied by James Wilson. It was a large old- 
fashioned brick building, with extensive gardens. 

In the house were James Wilson, Robert Morris, Edward Burd, 
George Clymer, John T. Mifflin, Allen McLane, Sharp Delaney, 
George Campbell, Paul Beck, Thomas Lawrence, Andrew Robinson, 
John Potts, Samuel C. Morris, Captain Robert Campbell, General 


694 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Thomas Mifflin, General Nichols and General Thompson. 1 hey 
were provided with arms but their supply of ammunition was very 
limited. 

While the mob was marching down town, General Nichols and 
Daniel Clymer proceeded hastily to the arsenal at Carpenters’ Hall and 
filled their pockets with cartridges, this constituting their entire supply. 

In the meantime the mob and militia assembled on the commons, 
while a meeting of the principal citizens took place at the coffee house. 
A deputation was sent to prevail on them to disperse, but without effect. 

The First Troop of City Cavalry being apprised of what was going 
forward and anxious for the safety of their fellow citizens, quickly as¬ 
sembled at their stables, a fixed place of rendezvous. 

For a time a deceitful calm prevailed; at the hour of noon the mem¬ 
bers of the troop retired to their respective homes for dinner, and the 
rebels seized the opportunity to march into the city. 

• The armed men in the mob amounted to 200, and were commanded 
by Captain Mills, a North Carolinian; one Falkner, a shipjoiner; Pick¬ 
ering, a tailor, and John Bonham. They marched to the home of Mr. 
Wilson, with drums beating, and two pieces of cannon. They im¬ 
mediately commenced firing on the house, which was warmly returned 
by the garrison. 

Finding they could make no impression, the mob procured crowbars, 
sledges and bars, and with them proceeded to force the door. At the 
critical moment when the door yielded to their efforts, the First City 
Troop appeared and saved the lives of those in the house. 

Many of the mob were arrested and committed to prison, and as 
the troopers used the sword very freely, many were severely wounded. 
One man and one boy were killed in the streets. In “Fort Wilson,” 
Captain Campbell was killed, and General Mifflin and Mr. Samuel C. 
Morris were wounded. 

The Troop patrolled the streets the greater part of the night. The 
citizens turned out in great numbers and formed a volunteer guard at 
the powder magazine and the arsenal. 

It was some days before order was restored and the First Troop, on 
account of the active part they had taken in the affair, found it neces¬ 
sary to keep together in small groups, and be on the alert to support 
each other. 

The gentlemen who had comprised the garrison were advised to leave 
the city where their lives were endangered. 

General Mifflin, and about thirty others, accordingly met at Mr. 
Gray’s home about five miles below Gray’s Ferry, where a council was 
called, and it was resolved to return to town without any appearance of 
intimidation. 

But it was deemed expedient that Mr. Wilson should absent him¬ 
self for a time. The others continued to walk as usual in public and 


IMMIGRANTS SETTLE GERMANTOWN 


695 


attended the funeral of the unfortunate Captain Campbell. For some 
time each of them, however, was in danger of his life from the 
sympathizers with the killed and wounded assailants. 

Thus ended the disgraceful affair known as the “Mob of 1779” and 
the “Attack on Fort Wilson.” 

Had it not been for the spirited conduct of the First Troop, the lives 
of many valuable citizens, and genuine Whigs, would have been sacri¬ 
ficed, and an indelible disgrace entailed upon the City of Philadelphia. 


First German Immigrants Settle Ger¬ 
mantown October 6, 1683 

HE Germans have played a most important part in the history 
of Pennsylvania, much more conspicuous than has been ac¬ 
corded them. They are the progressive farmers, and leaders 
in politics, literature and science. 

The first great teacher was Pastorius; the first paper mill 
was established in 1690, on a branch of Wissahickon Creek, by 
William Rittinghuysen; the Bible was first printed in German, by 
Christopher Saur, thirty-nine years before it appeared in English; the 
same enterprising Germans, in 1735, established the first type foundry 
in America in Germantown and so on, but it is of the establishment of 
German Town or Germantown which this story is to relate. 

The first German emigration was from Crefeld, a city of the lower 
Rhine. William Penn conveyed 5000 acres in Pennsylvania to each of 
three merchants of that city, March 10, 1682, one of whom, Jacob 
Telner, had made a trip to America in 1678-81. 

Francis Daniel Pastorius first heard of the Pennsylvania plan in 
1682, and became a purchaser of land while in London between the 8th 
of May and 6th of June, 1683. 

Eight original purchasers, November 12, 1686, formed themselves 
into a company which was called the Frankford Company. Up to June 
8, 1683, these persons had purchased 15,000 acres, and they mostly lived 
in Frankfort, but Pastorius was the only one of the original company 
who ever came to Pennsylvania. 

Thirteen families, comprising thirty-three persons, set out for Lon¬ 
don, from which city, after many delays, they embarked, July 24, 1683, 
aboard the Concord. 

Of the original purchasers three were Mennonites, and many of the 
remainder of the party belonged to that sect, so it must be stated that 
this emigration was also the beginning of that great church in America. 

The pioneers had a pleasant voyage and reached Philadelphia Oc¬ 
tober 6. On the 10th of the same month a warrant was issued to Pas¬ 
torius for 6000 acres “on behalf of the German and Dutch purchasers.” 












696 


DAILY STORIES' OF PENNSYLVANIA 


On the 24th, Thomas Fairman measured off fourteen divisions of land, 
and the next day, meeting together in the cave of Pastorius they drew 
lots for choice of location. 

Under a warrant, 5350 acres were laid out, May 2, 1684, for Pas¬ 
torius, as trustee for them and future purchasers; in addition 200 acres 
were laid out for Pastorius in his own right, and 150 acres to Jurian 
Hartsfelder, a stray Dutchman, who had been a deputy sheriff under 
Andros in 1676 and who now cast in his lot with the settlers at Ger¬ 
mantown. 

Immediately after the division in the cave of Pastorius they began to 
dig cellars and build the huts in which, not without much hardship, 
they spent the following winter. Thus commenced the settlement of 
Germantown. 

Other emigrants began to appear in the little town, and soon we 
catch a glimpse of the home life of the early dwellers of Germantown. 

Pastorius had no glass, so he made windows of oiled paper. 

Bom wrote to Rotterdam October 12, 1684: “I have here a shop of 
many kinds of goods and edibles. Sometimes I ride out with mer¬ 
chandise, and sometimes, bring something back, mostly from Indians, 
and deal with them in many things. I have no regular servants except 
one Negro, whom I bought. I have no rent or tax or excise to pay. 
I have a cow which gives plenty of milk, a horse to ride around, my 
pigs increase rapidly, so that in the summer I had seventeen when at 
first I had only two. I have many chickens and geese, and a garden, 
and shall next year have an orchard if I remain well, so that my wife 
and I are in good spirits.” 

Bom died before 1689, and his daughter, Agnes, married Anthony 
Morris, the ancestor of the distinguished family of that name. 

The first person to die in the new settlement was Jan Seimens. The 
first time that fire caused a loss in the village was in 1686. A small 
church was built that year. It is strange but true, that this was a 
Quaker meeting house, and also that before 1692 all the original thir¬ 
teen, except Jan Lensen, had in one way or another been associated with 
the Quakers. 

An event of importance was the arrival of William Rittinghuysen, 
a Mennonite minister, who with his two sons, Gerhard and Claus, and 
a daughter, came from Holland. In 1690 he built the first paper mill 
in America on a branch of the Wissahickon Creek. 

On April 18, 1688, Gerhard Hendricks, Dirck Opden Graeff, Fran¬ 
cis Daniel Pastorius and Abraham Opden Graeff sent to the Friends’ 
Meeting the first public protest ever made on this continent against the 
holding of slaves. There was then started something which became the 
greatest question of all time in America. 

On January 14, 1690, 2950 acres, north of Germantown, were 
divided into three districts, called Krishelm, Sommerhausen and Crefeld. 


COLONEL RICHARD McALLISTER 


697. 


The village had now become populous enough to warrant a separate 
existence, and on May 31, 1691, a charter of incorporation was issued 
to Francis Daniel Pastorius, bailiff, and four burgesses and six com¬ 
mitteemen, with power to hold a court and a market, to admit citizens, 
to impose fines, and to make ordinances. 

It was ordered that “on the 19th of one month in each year the 
people shall be called together and the laws and ordinances read aloud 
to them.” 

The seal was devised by Pastorius and he honored the weavers by 
selecting a clover, on one of the leaves being a vine, on another 
a stalk of flax, and on the third a weaver’s spool. 

The corporation continued until January 11, 1707. Newcomers 
were required to pay £1 for the right of citizenship. 

On June 28, 1701, a tax was laid for the building of a 
prison, erection of a market, and other objects for the public 
good. The prison preceded the school house, but the interval was 
not long. 

December 30, following, “it was found good to start a school here 
in Germantown. Pastorius was the first pedagogue. 

As early as January 25, 1694, stocks were erected for the punish¬ 
ment of evildoers. 

February 10, 1702, three square perches of land were given to the 
Mennonites for a church, which edifice was built 1708. 

Little did the industrious German of that day think, as he tilled 
the soil, or worked at his trade, that in after years the countrymen of 
Penn would be fighting the Quakers and others in that very town, that 
the streets of Germantown would be reddened by English blood, as it 
was on that eventful day, October 4, 1777. 

The government of Germantown lasted fifteen years. Today this 
old town is one of the most delightful sections of the old city of 
Philadelphia. 


Colonel Richard McAllister, Soldier, States¬ 
man and Citizen of York County, 

Died October 7,1795 

OLONEL RICHARD McALLISTER, a hero of the Revo- 
lution, died at his home in Hanover, York County, October 

7, 1795. 

During that great struggle for the independence of the 
colonies York County gave many of her loyal sons, and none 
rendered more signal service or. has been held in fonder 
patriotic reverence than Colonel McAllister. 







698 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


He was the son of Archibald McAllister, who came to this 
country from Scotland in 1732. Richard was born in Scotland 
in 1724. 

About 1745 Richard moved from Cumberland County to the pres¬ 
ent site of Hanover, where he purchased a large tract of land, and 
made a settlement. 

On February 23, 1748, he married Mary Dill, daughter of Colonel 
Matthew Dill, who commanded a regiment in the French and Indian 
War, and whose son, Matthew, founded Dillsburg. 

In 1750 Richard McAllister was a candidate for sheriff of York 
County against Colonel Hance Hamilton, who resided near the present 
site of Gettysburg. The result of the vote was so close that the election 
was contested and the Provincial Assembly decided in favor of Ham¬ 
ilton. 

In 1763 Richard McAllister founded the town of Hanover and 
soon became one of the leading citizens of York County. 

At the outbreak of the Revolution he was elected a member of the 
Committee of Safety for York County, and in June of the same year, 
1775, he served as a delegate in the Provincial Conference, which met 
in Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia. He again served as a member of 
the same body in January, 1776. 

When the Fourth Battalion of York County militia was organized, 
1775, Richard McAllister was commissioned colonel. And during the 
fall of the same year, he was made colonel of a battalion of Minute 
Men, formed out of the militia of York County. 

In July, 1776, when Congress called for ten thousand troops, 
Colonel McAllister marched his battalion through Lancaster and Phil¬ 
adelphia to Perth Amboy, N. J. 

General Hugh Mercer organized the Flying Camp, and selected 
Colonel McAllister to command the Second Pennsylvania Regiment. 

This command was soon engaged in and about New York City 
and Staten Island. A short time later Colonel McAllister led the 
regiment in the defense of Fort Washington, where a large num¬ 
ber of them were taken prisoners, among them being two of 
his captains. 

In the campaign of 1776 Colonel McAllister was present with his 
regiment, under General James Ewing, when Washington captured the 
Hessians in Trenton on Christmas night. 

After the expiration of his term of service in the Flying Camp, in 
1777, Colonel McAllister returned to his home at Hanover, and in 
March of this year he was elected by the General Assembly, county 
lieutenant. 

In the discharge of this commission he recruited six different bat¬ 
talions of militia in York . County, which then included the present 
Adams County. 


COLONEL RICHARD McALLISTER 


699 


He drilled and disciplined the troops and made them ready for 
the service in the field when they were required to defend the State 
against the invasion of the British foe. 

On August 28, 1777, Colonel McAllister wrote to President 
Wharton that there were dissensions among the Associators in the Ger¬ 
man townships near Hanover. Two hundred freemen had assembled at 
one place for the purpose of opposing the draft of the militia for serv¬ 
ice in the field. 

He continued by saying that he had lived in peace among these 
people for twenty years or more, and knew well their customs and 
habits, but it was very difficult to induce them to take up arms against 
the country to which they had sworn allegiance. 

He said that notwithstanding the difficulties he had encountered in 
the prosecution of his duties as lieutenant of York County, he had 
marched five companies to the front fully armed and equipped, and 
would soon have three more ready to take up the march for the main 
army. 

Nearly every man recruited was a substitute, which had obtained 
by Colonel McAllister. 

During the years 1783 to 1786, Colonel McAllister was a member 
of the Supreme Executive Council, and also served as a member of the 
Council of Censors. In the latter position he was engaged in the dis¬ 
position of the confiscated estates of Pennsylvania Tories. 

Like such a great number of the soldiers of the Revolution, Colonel 
McAllister also took a deep interest in legal affairs. He served as a 
justice of the peace, and then as justice of the court of common pleas 
in March, 1771. 

He was a member of the First Constitutional Convention, in 1776, 
and on February 17, 1784, he became the presiding justice of the York 
County Courts. 

When General Washington passed through Hanover, June 30, 
1791, on his way to Philadelphia, he spent several hours the guest of 
Colonel McAllister. 

He died at his home in Hanover, October 7, 1795. 

His remains were first buried in the graveyard belonging to 
Emanuel’s Reformed Church of Hanover, of which he was a member 
and one of the leading supporters. 

About 1870 the remains of this distinguished patriot were removed 
to Mount Olivet Cemetery, in the suburbs of Hanover, where they 
now repose. 

On every succeeding Memorial Day commemoration services are 
held at the tomb of this hero and patriot, by the veterans of the Grand 
Army of the Republic and allied organizations. 

Colonel McAllister had eleven children. His eldest son, Abdiel, 
commanded a company in Arnold’s expedition to Quebec; another son, 


700 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Archibald, commanded a company in the battles of Germantown and 
Monmouth. 

A younger son, Matthew, became first United States district 
attorney of Georgia, judge of the Superior Court of that State, and 
was Mayor of Savannah during War of 1812. 

A son of Matthew, named Julian McAllister, commanded a regi¬ 
ment in the Union Army during the Civil War. 


King Tedyuskung Questioned at Great 
Indian Conference in Easton, 

October 8, 1758 

OVERNOR DENNY informed the Assembly September 12, 
1758, that a general meeting of Indians has been agreed upon, 
to take place in Easton. 

Tedyuskung and some of- his retinue arrived early in 
Easton, and started on a debauch while awaiting the important 
event. Whereupon Reverend Richard Peters, the Provincial 
secretary, was requested to go to Easton immediately to keep the Indians 
in order. 

This conference was opened Sunday, October 8, 1758, with 500 
Indians in attendance. Governor Denny, members of Council and the 
Assembly, Commissioners for Indian Affairs in New Jersey, Conrad 
Weiser, George Croghan and a large number of Quakers from Phila¬ 
delphia made up the attendance of the whites. 

Governor Bernard, of New Jersey, joined the conference when it 
had been in session three days, and promptly demanded that the Mun- 
see deliver up captives taken from that Province. 

All the tribes of the Six Nations took part in the treaty; but the 
Mohawk had only one deputy, Nikes Carigiatatie, in attendance, and 
the Cayuga were represented by a single chief, Kandt, alias “Last 
Night.” 

Unlike the several previous conferences, Tedyuskung was not the 
principal speaker at this treaty, but that proud position was assumed by 
Takeghsatu, a Seneca. He early addressed the Governor and others in 
these words: 

“Brethren—I now speak at the request of Tedyuskung and our 
cousins the Delawares, living at Wyoming and on the waters of the 
River Susquehanna. We now remove the hatchet out of your heads 
that was struck into them by our cousins, the Delawares. It was a 
French hatchet that they unfortunately made use of, by the instigation 
of the French. We take it out of your heads and bury it under the 
ground, where it shall always rest and never be taken up again. Our 









GREAT INDIAN CONFERENCE IN EASTON 701 


cousins, the Delawares, have assured us they will never think of war 
against their brethren, the English, any more, but will employ their 
thoughts about peace and cultivating friendship with them, and never 
suffer enmity against them to enter their minds again.” 

Two days later, Nikes, the Mohawk, stood up and, addressing him¬ 
self to Governors Denny and Bernard, said: 

“We thought proper to meet you here to have some discourse about 
our nephew, Tedyuskung. You all know that he gives out that he is a 
great man and chief of ten nations. This is his constant discourse. 
Now I, on behalf of the Mohawks, say that we do not know he is such 
a great man, if he is such a great man, we desire to know who made him 
so. Perhaps you have; and if this be the case, tell us so. It may be the 
French have made him so. We want to inquire and know whence the 
greatness arose.” 

Takeghsatu, on behalf of the Seneca, said his nation “say the same 
as Nikes has done.” 

Then Assarandongnas spoke on behalf of the Onondaga and said: 
“I am here to represent the Onondagas, and I say for them that I never 
heard before now that Tedyuskung was such a great man, and much 
less can I tell who made him so.. No such thing was ever said in our 
town as that Tedyuskung was such a great man.” 

Then followed, in the same strain, Thomas King, chief of Oneida, 
in behalf of the Oneida, Cayuga, Tuscarora, Nanticoke, Conoy and 
Tutelo. 

Under this concerted attack upon his kingly pretensions Tedyuskung 
sat like a stoic and never said a word in reply; but Governor Denny 
arose and denied that he had made Tedyuskung “a great man,” but said 
in explanation that he had represented the Delaware at appointed places 
and had acted for the other Six Nations only as a messenger, who were 
his uncles and superiors. The Governor of New Jersey indorsed Gov¬ 
ernor Denny’s speech. 

Five days after this discussion Tedyuskung arose in the public con¬ 
ference and addressing himself to the deputies of the Six Nations, said: 

“Uncles, you may remember that you have placed us at Wyoming 
and Shamokin—places where Indians have lived before. Now I hear 
that you have since sold that land to our brethren, the English. Let the 
matter now be cleared Up in the presence of our brethren the English. 
I sit here as a bird on a bough. I look about and do not know where to 
go. Let me, therefore, come down upon the ground and make that my 
own by a good deed, and I shall have a home forever. For if you, my 
uncles, or I, die, our brethren, the English, will say they have bought it 
from you, and so wrong my posterity out of it.” 

Thomas King, speaking for the Six Nations the following day, ad¬ 
dressed himself to the Delaware in these words: 

“By this belt Tedyuskung desired us to make you, the Delawares, 


702 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the owners of the lands at Wyoming, Shamokin and other places on 
the Susquehanna River. In answer to which, we, who are present, say 
that we have no power to convey lands to any one; but we will take 
your request to the Great Council fire for their sentiments, as we never 
sell or convey lands before it is agreed upon in the Great Council of 
the Six Nations. In the meantime, you may make use of those lands 
in conjunction with our people.” 

Later in the open conference Thomas King presented Tedyuskung 
with a string of wampum and said: “This serves to put Tedyuskung 
in mind of his promises to return prisoners. You ought to have per¬ 
formed it before. It is a shame for one who calls himself a great man 
to tell lies.” 

Last Night and Nikes, in behalf of the Six Nations, promised to sat¬ 
isfy the English as to the return of captives, adding: “If any of them 
are gone down our throats, we will heave them up again.” 

Then Takeghsatu told Tedyuskung, the Six Nations having prom¬ 
ised to return all captives, the Delaware and Munsee must do 
likewise. 

Thus King Tedyuskung was humiliated in the conference, but never 
to the point where he ceased to be a most potent factor on the frontiers 
of Pennsylvania, and in the eyes of the English he was the king he pro¬ 
fessed himself to be. 

One of the most important matters disposed of at this treaty related 
to the lands purchased by the Pennsylvania Proprietaries at Albany, 
July 6, 1754. 

During the progress of this conference one of the Seneca chiefs in 
attendance died. He was interred with public ceremony; all the Indians 
and many of the inhabitants attended the obsequies. 

On October 26, the business of the treaty having been finished 
after eighteen days of speech-making, “some wine and punch were 
ordered, and the conferences were concluded, with great joy and mutual 
satisfaction.” 

The Indians were supplied with hats, caps, knives, jewsharps, pow¬ 
der, lead paints and walking-sticks (the term by which the Indians 
referred to rum). In addition, Tedyuskung and other chiefs each re¬ 
ceived a military hat trimmed with gold lace, a regimental coat and a 
ruffled shirt. 


GOVERNOR JAMES HAMILTON 


703 


Governor William Denny Removed and 
Superseded by James Hamilton, Native 
of Pennsylvania, October 9, 1759 

OLLOWING the destruction of the Indian town at Kittan¬ 
ning, September 8, 1756, by Lieutenant Colonel John Arm¬ 
strong, and the Indian incursions which reached to every sec¬ 
tion of the frontier, a chain of forts was built the following 
year which extended from the Delaware River to the Mary¬ 
land line. These were garrisoned by troops in the pay of the 

Province. 

This defense was made possible only when the Assembly finally 
awakened to the serious danger and distress, concerted to pass a bill for 
raising by tax £100,000, with the exemption of the proprietary estates. 
They also sent Dr. Benjamin Franklin, as provincial agent, to London, 
to lay their grievance before the King. 

Despite the wartime attitude of England, nothing was done to annoy 
the French or to check the depredations of the savages, until Dr. Frank¬ 
lin’s presence in London, and the fortunate change in the ministry, 
which brought the master mind of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, to 
assume control of the government. 

Pitt was endowed with a high order of intellect, eloquent, profound 
and patriotic. He seemed to possess in an eminent degree the full con¬ 
fidence of the nation and the command of its resources. 

Franklin’s exertions resulted in gaining the influence of Pitt’s com¬ 
prehensive mind, and soon his attention was directed to America, when 
the affairs in the colonies assumed an entirely different aspect. 

Pitt’s plans of operation were grand, his policy bold, liberal and en¬ 
lightened, all of which seemed greatly to animate the colonists and in¬ 
spire them with new hopes. 

The colonists resolved to make every effort and sacrifice which the 
occasion might require. A circular from Pitt assured the Colonial gov¬ 
ernments that he was determined to repair past losses, and would im¬ 
mediately send to America a force sufficiently large to accomplish the 
purpose. He called upon the different Governments to raise as many 
men as possible, promising to send over all the necessary munitions of 
war, and pledging himself to pay liberally all soldiers who enlisted. 

Pennsylvania equipped two thousand seven hundred men, while the 
neighboring provinces contributed large quotas. Three expeditions 
were determined upon, and most active measures taken to bring them 
to the field of action. 

General James Abercrombie was appointed commander-in-chief and 








704 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


General Jeffrey Amherst second in command, aided by Brigadier Gen¬ 
erals Wolfe and Forbes. 

The French were vigorously attacked on the northern frontiers 
of New York. General Forbes was charged with an expedition 
against Fort Duquesne, to be aided by the provincial troops of 
Pennsylvania and Virginia, under Colonel Henry Bouquet and Col¬ 
onel George Washington. These troops rendezvoused at Raystown, 
now Bedford. 

General Forbes, with regulars, marched from Philadelphia to effect 
a junction with the force at Raystown, but in consequence of severe in¬ 
disposition he did not get farther than Carlisle, when he was compelled 
to stop. He marched to Bedford about the middle of September (1758), 
where he met the provincial troops under Washington. 

The march and investment of Fort Duquesne are told in another 
story and the details will not be repeated here, except to state that 
Washington strongly urged that General Forbes should use the road 
cut by General Braddock three years earlier, as it was the most favor¬ 
able route. But the Pennsylvanians were bent upon the policy of se¬ 
curing a new road exclusively through their .province, and they suc¬ 
ceeded. 

Many weeks were consumed in cutting this road; but at length the 
army, consisting of 7859 men, penetrated the thick forest, and on 
reaching the Ohio River found Fort Duquesne abandoned by the 
French after they had blown up a large magazine and burned the build¬ 
ings. 

The French had retreated down the river, relinquishing forever 
their dominion in Pennsylvania. The fort was rebuilt, and received 
the immortal name of Pitt. 

The posts on French Creek still remained in French possession, but 
it was deemed unnecessary to proceed against them, as the character of 
the war in the north left very little doubt that the contest would soon 
cease by complete overthrow of the French. 

In 1759 Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Niagara and Quebec yielded to 
British arms and on September 8, 1760, Montreal, Detroit and all of 
Canada were surrendered by the French. The treaty of Fontainbleau, 
in November, 1762, put an end to the war. 

But in our own province, our troubles were not as easily solved as 
were England’s under the great Sir William Pitt. A second great 
Indian conference was convened at Easton in October, 1758. 

Tedyuskung, the great Delaware King, at this treaty received one 
of those insulting taunts from the Six Nations by which they, too often, 
exhibited their national superiority; taunts, however, that were deeply 
revenged upon the whites in after years, when the Delaware had thrown 
off the galling yoke. 

Tedyuskung again supported his station with dignity and firmness, 


FIRST OF THREE CONFEDERATE RAIDS 705 


and refused to succumb and the different Indian tribes at length became 
reconciled to each other. 

October 9, 1759, Governor William Denny was superseded by James 
Hamilton. Governor Denny was removed by the Proprietary on ac¬ 
count of having yielded to the demands of the Assembly in giving his 
approval to their money bill. 

Governor Hamilton, son of Andrew Hamilton, was the first native 
of Pennsylvania to serve as Lieutenant Governor. At the death of his 
father, in 1741, he was left in possession of a handsome fortune, and 
in the appointment of Prothonotary, then the most lucrative office in 
the province. 

He was first appointed Lieutenant Governor in 1748, serving until 
October, 1754, then again called to this executive position, which he 
filled until 1763. He held several other offices of distinction in the 
province, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the people, but his 
loyal feelings to the Crown caused him to be unfriendly to the Revolu¬ 
tion. 

The continued victories of the English put new inspiration into the 
people, who now returned in great number to the plantations from 
which they had been driven by the French and their Indian allies. 


First of Three Confederate Raids into 
Pennsylvania Began October 10, 1862 

HE part of our great Commonwealth which lies between the 
South and Blue Mountains, in the fertile and beautiful Cum¬ 
berland Valley, since March 11, 1809, known as Franklin 
County, was from the very earliest recorded history of Pennsyl¬ 
vania the scene of many stirring events. 

Being on the southern border of the State, it shared in the 
land and animated border fight between the proprietary Governments 
of Maryland and Pennsylvania. 

It was in a valley loved as the home of the Indians and on the great 
pathway through the Tuscarora Mountains and was the scene of many 
terrible Indian incursions both before and after the French and Indian 
War. 

As the County of Franklin was not erected at the time of the 
Revolutionary War its activities were not written into the martial story 
of Pennsylvania as a division of the great State. 

In the War of 1812 the county played an active role and sent to the 
front eight companies organized within its limits. 

But it is of a latter period that this county suffered at the hands 
of an invading host and on three occasions had its homes raided, stores 



23 








706 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

plundered and part of Chambersburg, the county seat, destroyed by 
firebrand. 

The Civil War was hardly begun when it became potent to every 
one that the Cumberland Valley would be the objective of any Con¬ 
federate raid into Pennsylvania. 

Easy of access from the Potomac and with the fertile fields as fresh 
foraging grounds for guerilla cavalry, the people realized that they were 
uncomfortably situated. This fear was well grounded from the fact that 
our southern border was virtually unprotected. 

The first Confederate raid into Pennsylvania was planned and suc¬ 
cessfully executed October 10, 1862, by Generals J. E. B. Stuart and 
Wade Hampton with about two thousand troops. 

This force crossed the Potomac River and by hurried marches pushed 
into Pennsylvania, reaching Chambersburg on the evening of that day. 
With the fall of night came a drizzling rain, in the midst of which 
the sound of fife and drum was heard, heralding the approach of a squad 
of officers and men under a flag of truce, who rode to the public square 
and there demanded the surrender of the town in the name of the 
Confederate States of America. 

There was no military authority in the town to treat with the 
invaders, so the civil authorities, represented by the Chief Burgess, 
formally delivered up the town into their custody, and in a few moments 
the streets of the borough were filled with gray-uniformed soldiers, the 
tramp of horses, the rattling of sabers and spurs, and the dull thud of 
axes busied in demolishing store doors and in felling telegraph poles, 
which made sad music for the frightened inhabitants. 

Chambersburg could hardly have been in worse condition for a raid. 
No soldiers were stationed there, and an enormous quantity of military 
stores was within its confines. 

During the night the business houses were ransacked and the office 
and shops of the Cumberland Valley Railroad and the office of the 
Western Union Telegraph Company demolished. 

The next morning their attention was turned to the attack on the 
military stores in the large brick warehouse of Messrs. Wunderlich & 
Nead, in the northern section of the town. These stores consisted of 
ammunition, shells, signal rockets and small arms, which only a short 
time previous had been captured from General Longstreet, and sufficient 
new equipment added for two full companies of cavalry, then being 
mustered in Franklin County. 

Soon as every article of value to an army had been removed, the 
torch was applied to the building, and when the flames reached the 
powder an explosion took place which completed the entire destruction 
of the property. The rebels then beat a hasty retreat toward the 
Southland, leaving the inhabitants of Chambersburg in a terrified 
condition. 


FIRST OF THREE CONFEDERATE RAIDS 707 


The following summer found the star of secession at its greatest 
height. Lee’s army was never in better spirits and every soldier looked 
with covetous eyes on the rich fields of Pennsylvania. 

Lee succumbed to the temptation, and in the face of his better 
judgment, planned his northern campaign, and by a military movement, 
seldom equaled, marched his entire army across the border line of 
Pennsylvania, only to meet his Waterloo at Gettysburg. The approach 
of this great invading horde caused a mighty panic which shook with 
fear the very capital city of the old Keystone State, and every town 
and hamlet felt the alarm. 

The fight at Winchester on June 13, 1863, forced the retreat of 
General Milroy, who stood alone as a barrier to Lee’s advance. On the 
following day General Couch removed his headquarters from Chambers- 
burg to Carlisle. 

About 9 o’clock on the morning of the 15th the advance of Milroy’s 
retreating wagon train dashed into Chambersburg, closely pursued by 
the rebels. 

At the same moment General Jenkins with 1800 mounted rebel 
infantry rode into Greencastle. After a reconnoissance the town was 
occupied by the rebel horde and divested of everything movable, contra¬ 
band and otherwise. 

The rebels then pushed oti toward Chambersburg, where they reached 
the outskirts about 11 o’clock that night. 

Again the streets of Chambersburg resounded with the clatter of 
cavalry, and a second time the town fell their easy prey. 

This visit continued three days during which time everything of 
value, especially horses, were taken without pretense of compensation. 

General Jenkins on the 18th fell back to Greencastle, and then pro¬ 
ceeded to Mercersburg, whence a detachment crossed Cove Mountain 
to McConnellsburg and down the valley. The main part of the invad¬ 
ing force remained in the vicinity of Greencastle and Waynesboro, where 
plundering parties scoured that entire section. 

The third terrible visitation of the Confederates in Chambersburg 
was the deliberate sacking and burning of the town by Generals Mc- 
Causland and Johnson, on July 30, 1864. 


708 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Colonel Matthew Smith, War Veteran, 
Elected Vice President October 
11, 1779 

N OCTOBER 11, 1779, Vice President George Bryan resigned 
his office, whereupon Colonel Matthew Smith, a veteran of¬ 
ficer of the French and Indian War, and one who commanded 
a company in Arnold’s expedition to Quebec, then a citizen of 
Milton, Northumberland County, was chosen to fill the 
vacancy, which he, too, resigned on the 29th of the month. 
William Moore was elected to the position, November 12. 

On November 27, the Assembly after careful consideration, adopted 
a resolution annulling the Royal Charter, and granting the Penns, as 
a compensation for the rights of which they were deprived, £300,000. 

They retained their manors, however, and were still the largest 
landed proprietors in Pennsylvania. They subsequently received from 
the British Government an annuity of £4000 for their losses by the 
Revolution. 

The act for the gradual abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania was 
passed March 1, 1780. It provided for the registration of every Negro 
or mulatto slave, or servant for life, before November 1, following, and 
also provided, “No man or woman of any nation or color, except the 
Negroes or mulattoes who shall be registered as aforesaid, shall at any 
time hereafter be deemed, adjudged, or holden within the territory of this 
Commonwealth, as slaves or servants for life, but as free men and free 
women.” 

During the year 1780, every effort was made to keep the State up to 
par by passing several measures which brought but temporary relief. 

An agent was sent to France and Holland to borrow £200,000, 
with the faith and honor of the State pledged for its repayment, but the 
mission was unfruitful. 

The army was without clothing and short of provisions. Sub¬ 
scriptions were solicited by the ladies to relieve this distress. The “Bank 
of Pennsylvania” was established and still the Continental money con¬ 
tinued to sink in value. 

Virginia was induced to accede to Pennsylvania’s proposition to ap¬ 
point commissioners to adjust the boundary. Pennsylvania appointed 
George Bryan, the Rev. Dr. John Ewing and David Rittenhouse; Vir¬ 
ginia sent James Madison, afterward President of the United States, 
and Robert Andrews. 

These commissioners met August 31, 1779, and agreed that Mason 
and Dixon’s line should be extended due west five degrees of longitude 




MATTHEW SMITH VICE PRESIDENT 


709 


from the Delaware River for the southern' boundary of Pennsylvania, 
and that a meridian line drawn from the western extremity thereof to 
the northern limit of the State should be the western boundary. 

The Assembly of Pennsylvania ratified this on November 19, but 
Virginia proceeded to Fort Burd and occupied it. In March, 1780, the 
Assembly resolved to eject intruders under claims from other States, 
and authorized Council to raise troops for internal defense of the fron¬ 
tier; but Virginia afterward ratified the agreement and the southern line 
was run in 1784 and the western afterward. 

Toward the close of September, 1780, the Supreme Executive Coun¬ 
cil received the startling intelligence of the treason of General Benedict 
Arnold, who had been in command of the American post at West Point. 
Among the people the news of the infamy of this officer excited the 
greatest indignation. 

In Philadelphia a parade was held, three days after the arrival of 
the news, to give expression to the popular feeling. 

During this demonstration an effigy of Arnold was carried through 
the streets and finally hung upon a gallows. The Council at once 
confiscated Arnold’s estate, and his wife was ordered deported from the 
State within fourteen days. 

The arrest, trial and execution of Major Andre, and the escape of 
Arnold, his reward and price of dishonor, the sufferings and disgrace of 
his unfortunate wife Peggy are not within the scope of these stories. 

If the proceedings against Tories in Pennsylvania had been fierce 
previous to this time, the feeling aroused by the defection of Arnold 
produced the bitterest animosity and hatred against all who were not in 
full sympathy with the American Colonies. 

Many arrests were made, a number were tried and condemned, and 
one, a Quaker, of Chester County, executed for high treason. The 
property of prominent Tories was forfeited and sold, and, in fact, the 
most energetic measures taken to crush out whatever might be inimical 
to the cause of independence. 

The situation among the soldiers from Pennsylvania in the Con¬ 
tinental Army at this period was deplorable. About December 1, the 
division of General Wayne went into winter quarters in the environs 
of Norristown. The soldiers were wearied out with privations, and 
indignant at their officers, whom they accused of not properly repre¬ 
senting their situation to Congress. 

On New Year’s Day, 1781, there broke out such a mutiny in the 
Pennsylvania Line that it required the best efforts of Congress, the Gov¬ 
ernment of Pennsylvania, and the officers of the army to subdue. 

The Pennsylvania Line comprised 2500, one-third to two-thirds of 
the army, the soldiers from the other colonies having, in the main, gone 
home. Their terms of service had long since expired. They had not 
been paid for a year, and they were almost without clothes. 


710 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Then under the leadership of a brave sergeant, named William 
Bowser, they arose in arms and proceeded to settle matters for them¬ 
selves. Two emissaries from General Clinton seeking to corrupt them 
they handed over to Washington to be hanged. 

The terms of service of 1250 men had expired. They were dis¬ 
charged and the matter of indebtedness to them was arranged. The 
most of them re-enlisted. 

However unjustifiable the conduct of the Pennsylvania Line was and 
should be deemed in the first instance, it must be acknowledged that 
they conducted themselves in the business, culpable as it was, with un¬ 
expected order and regularity. 

Their refusing to accept the large offer made by the enemy, in de¬ 
livering up the spies, and in refusing the hundred guineas they had so 
justly merited, exhibits an instance of true patriotism not to be found 
among mercenary troops who bear arms for pay and subsistence only, 
uninspired by their country’s rights, or the justice of the cause which 
they have engaged to support. 


Attempted Slaughter of Indians at Wiche- 
tunk, Monroe County, October 12, 1763 

HE expedition of Colonel Henry Bouquet, during the Pontiac 
Conspiracy, to Fort Pitt, in a great measure served to check 
the depredations of the Indians for a short time and the 
frontiers of Pennsylvania were quiet, and under the protection 
and assistance of 700 Provincial recruits the settlers gathered 
their harvests. 

Had the Provincial Assembly acted promptly in the matter an ef¬ 
fective defense could have been provided. The Government was deaf 
to all entreaties, and General Jeffreys Amherst, commander of the British 
forces in America, did not hesitate to vent his feelings in emphatic ex¬ 
pression : 

“The conduct of the Pennsylvania Assembly is altogether so in¬ 
fatuated and stupidly obstinate that I want words to express my indigna¬ 
tion thereat. They tamely look on while their brethren are butchered 
by the savages.” 

The Assembly finally authorized the raising of 800 troops and voted 
£24,000 to keep that force until December 1, but declared it was both 
unjust and impracticable for the province to defend a frontier of nearly 
300 miles, which covered a greater extent than that of New Jersey and 
Maryland, without assistance from other provinces. 

In September and October outrages were committed as far east as 
the neighborhoods of Reading and Bethlehem, and it was believed that 










INDIAN SLAUGHTER AT WICHETUNK 711 

not only Fort Pitt but even Fort Augusta was destined for attack. 

The road to Fort Pitt was interrupted. A supply of provisions, 
under a convoy of sixty men, was forwarded from Fort Bedford to 
Fort Pitt, but on gaining the foot of the Allegheny Mountains was 
compelled to return. The officers learned that the passages were oc¬ 
cupied by the savages. 

Some fragments of the Delaware and Six Nations remained at their 
settlements in the interior, refusing to join their brethren in arms, pro¬ 
fessing affection for the Colonists and avowing a determination to con¬ 
tinue neutral. But the neutrality of a part, at least, of these Indians 
was very doubtful. 

The situation of the frontiers became truly deplorable, and the 
Quakers, who were in control, suffered the censure of the people. Cap¬ 
tain Lazerus Stewart, of Paxtang, expressed the views of those on the 
frontiers, when he said: “The Quakers are more solicitous for the wel¬ 
fare of the blood-thirsty Indians than for the lives of the frontiersmen.” 

Colonel John Armstrong led 300 men of Cumberland County to 
Great Island, on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, the present site 
of the borough of Lock Haven, where certain of the marauders had 
their headquarters. On their arrival they found the place evacuated, 
horses, cattle and other spoils gathered in their forays being left behind. 

With the main body of his men, Armstrong proceeded to another 
Indian village near Jersey Shore, where he found the late occupants 
had left in haste while eating a meal. So the expedition resulted in 
destroying their houses and corn fields. 

Major Asher Clayton led a party from Harris’ Ferry to remove the 
Connecticut settlers from Wyoming and destroy their provisions, which 
were likely to be seized by the red men. When the party arrived at 
Wyoming, it found that the savages had been there before them and 
had burned the town and killed more than twenty persons in horrible 
torture. 

A number of those Indians who had been converted by the Moravian 
missionaries around Bethlehem were murdered, as they were found asleep 
in a barn, by a party of Rangers, and the surprise and slaughter in turn 
of the latter increased the suspicion of the frontiersmen, who were neither 
Moravians nor Quakers, against the entire body of Christian red men, 
who professed a desire tb live at peace and friendship with the English. 

The Provincial Commissioners, indeed, reported their belief that 
those at Nain and Wichetunk (in what is now Polk Township, Monroe 
County) were secretly supplied by the Moravian brethren with arms 
and ammunition, which, in free intercourse with the hostile savages, 
were traded off to the latter. 

About October 12 a number of armed men marched toward Wiche¬ 
tunk, but, waiting to surprise it by night, were frustrated by a violent 
storm just before nightfall, which wet their powder. 


712 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The missionary, the Rev. Bernard Adam Grube, then led the Indians 
to Nazareth, but the Governor suggested that to watch their behavior 
it would be better to disarm them and bring them to the interior parts 
of the province. The Assembly, actuated more by a desire to save them, 
agreed to the proposal. 

Governor John Penn received the refugees from Nain and Wiche- 
tunk, but their arrival in the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia excited 
the lower classes nearly to a riot, and the soldiers refused to allow 
them any part of the barracks as a sheltering place, so that different ar¬ 
rangements were necessary. 

For five hours these Indians were in great peril, but escorted by 
Quakers, they were finally taken to Province Island. 

The conduct of the Assembly, in which there were twenty-one 
Quakers, failed to satisfy not only the royal and proprietary officers but 
also the Presbyterians, who were ready to take up arms, and particu¬ 
larly the Scotch-Irish on the frontier, who saw large sums of money 
lavished in the presents to Indians, while they themselves lay destitute 
from the ravages of an Indian war. 

As every now and then some of their kinsmen or neighbors fell by 
the tomahawk, they became exasperated, coupling their vengeance against 
the guilty savages with jealousy of the Assembly’s partiality, and also 
suspicion against those Indians who were treated as friends. 

A cry like the Covenanters came from their descendants in Penn¬ 
sylvania ; loud exhortations were heard on the frontier to carry out against 
the heathen red men the decrees of heaven against the Canaanites. 


Molly Pitcher, Heroine of the Battle of Mon¬ 
mouth, Born October 13, 1754 

HERE have been many stories of “Molly Pitcher,” and they 
have not always agreed even on the main facts. But on the 
occasion of the ceremonies incident to unveiling the cannon 
erected over her grave in the “Old Graveyard,” in Carlisle, by 
the Patriotic Orders Sons of America, on June 28, 1905, an 
excellent short biography of the “Heroine of the Battle of 
Monmouth” was prepared by John B. Landis, Esq., from which the fol¬ 
lowing story is taken. 

The heroine’s name was not “Pitcher,” but Ludwig, and at the 
time she earned her well-known sobriquet she was the wife of an artil¬ 
leryman. Her father, John George Ludwig, came to this country from 
the Palatinate, and settled near Trenton, in Mercer County, New Jer¬ 
sey, where he engaged in the occupation of dairyman. It was here his 
daughter Mary was born, on October 13, 1754, and here among the 






MOLLY PITCHER 


713 


surroundings of her father’s home were spent the youthful days of the 
future “Molly Pitcher.” 

The wife of Dr. William Irvine, of Carlisle, afterward General 
William Irvine, and one of the greatest patriots of the Revolution, was 
visiting friends in Trenton when she saw the youthful Mary Ludwig, 
and, being pleased with her and in need of a domestic, took the young 
girl with her on returning to Carlisle. 

Mary had hardly become accustomed to her surroundings in the fine 
home of Dr. and Mrs. Irvine until she met John Casper Hays, a barber, 
whose shop was near the Irvine residence. Their courtship was of short 
duration, for a marriage was solemnized on July 24, 1769. 

A few years of quiet wedded life, disturbed only by the warlike 
preparations centered about the patriotic town of Carlisle, and John 
Casper Hays became a soldier. He enlisted December 1, 1775, in 
Colonel Thomas Proctor’s First Pennsylvania Artillery, in which he 
served as a gunrler. His term of enlistment expired December, 1776, 
but he re-enlisted January, 1777, in the Seventh Pennsylvania Regi¬ 
ment, of the Continental Line, in the company commanded by Captain 
John Alexander, of Carlisle. 

Dr. Irvine also was one of the first patriots to respond to the cause 
of the colonists, and January 9, 1776, was commissioned Colonel of the 
Sixth Pennsylvania Regiment. He became Brigadier General May 2, 
1779. Previous to that time, however, on June 6, 1776, he was cap¬ 
tured at Three Rivers, and remained a prisoner on parole until his ex¬ 
change, April 21, 1778, when he assumed command of the Seventh 
Pennsylvania Regiment, in which John Casper Hays was a private 
soldier. 

After young Hays left Carlisle with his regiment, his wife remained 
employed at Colonel Irvine’s. Some time thereafter her parents, who 
still resided in New Jersey, sent a message with courier for her to visit 
them, and the same horseman carried a letter from her husband, begging 
her to go, as he might then get an opportunity to see her, as his regi¬ 
ment was then nearby. With Mrs. Irvine’s consent Mary set out on 
her long journey, traveling on horseback. At the time Molly Hays 
was a young woman of twenty-five years. 

To prevent the movement of the British on New York, General 
Washington marched his troops again into New Jersey, and the Battle 
of Monmouth was fought June 28, 1778. 

The battle continued from 11 o’clock in the morning until dark, 
and the day was one of the hottest of the year. Fifty soldiers are said 
to have died of thirst, and the tongues of many said to have been so 
greatly swollen as to protrude from the mouth. 

While the battle was in progress Molly carried water for the 
thirsting soldiers from a neighboring spring, which is still pointed out 
on the historic battlefield. Back and forth she went under shelter or 


714 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


under fire, supplying the much-needed water. Possibly, as is stated by 
some, it was carried in the cannoneer’s bucket. In whatever way it was 
carried the sight of Molly with her “pitcher” was a welcome sight to the 
weary and thirsty Continentals. 

Molly’s husband, having served a year in Proctor’s Artillery, and 
though now an infantryman, had been detailed as a gunner in a battery 
that was engaged. Doubtless Molly was never out of sight of that bat¬ 
tery. As she approached with water she saw a soldier lying at the gun, 
whom she thought to be her husband, and hurrying on she found her 
husband wounded, but the dead man was one of his comrades. Her 
husband recovered, but lived only a few years after the close of the war. 

It is stated that the cannon was ordered to the rear and would have 
been taken off the field had not Molly bravely sprung to her husband’s 
place, and so kept the gun in action. 

For her wonderful patriotism and self-sacrificing devotion to the 
soldiers she was dubbed “Sergeant” and by some called “Major Molly.” 

“Moll Pitcher she stood by her gun, 

And rammed the charges home, sir. 

And thus on Monmouth’s bloody field 
A sergeant did become, sir.” 

How long Molly stood by her gun, through the smoke and din of 
battle, on that hot and terrible day, is not a matter of record, but the 
water she carried to those soldiers and the service she rendered with the 
battery has been testified to by many whom she helped. 

Molly was no imaginary heroine, but a real buxom lass, a strong, 
sturdy, courageous woman. Her name belongs on the roll of the world’s 
heroines, and some years ago the State of New Jersey honored “Molly 
Pitcher” by commemorating her heroic act on one of the five tablets sur¬ 
rounding the base of the beautiful monument erected at Freehold on the 
historic field. 

Some years after the death of her first husband, Sergeant John Cas¬ 
per Hays, she married George McKolly, another soldier and a comrade 
of Hays, and she then became known as Molly McKolly. This name 
was also written “McAuley,” and “McCauley” while on her tomb¬ 
stone it was inscribed “McCauly.” 

At the entrance to the grounds where until recently was the Car¬ 
lisle Indian School, formerly for many years United States barracks, 
still stands the old stone guard house, which was built by the Hessian 
prisoners taken at the Battle of Trenton, and which escaped the fire 
when the barracks were burned by the Confederates in 1863. 

At that post Molly lived for many years after the Revolutionary 
War, cooking and washing for the soldiers. Subsequently she kept a 
small store in the town proper, but the latter years of her life were 


WILLIAM PENN 


715 


lived in a stone house, where she died on Sunday, January 22, 
1832. She attended the Lutheran Church and was respected by her 
neighbors. 

On July 4, 1876, a marble headstone was unveiled over her grave, 
which had been erected by Peter Spohr, who knew her well and was 
present at her funeral. On this occasion an eloquent and interesting 
address was delivered by Captain Joseph G. Vale, a veteran officer of the 
Civil War. 


William Penn, Born October 14, 1644—His 
Youth and Early Struggles for Religious 
Belief 

ILLIAM PENN, founder of Pennsylvania and one of the 
most distinguished members of the Society of Friends, or 
Quakers, a preacher and writer, was born in London, Octo¬ 
ber 14, 1644. 

His father was Admiral Sir William Penn, of the English 
Royal Navy, and his mother was Margaret Jasper, a remark¬ 
able Dutch lady, of Rotterdam. 

While the Admiral was off on the seas, his wife and little son re¬ 
sided on one of his estates at Wanstead in Essex. 

William Penn went to school at Chigwell, near by, where he was 
apparently under influences largely Puritan. At the age of eleven strong 
religious conviction came suddenly upon him. 

His boyhood days were lived during the Protectorate. The Ad¬ 
miral, after receiving honors and riches from Cromwell, had so timed 
his change of loyalty as to gather in a good share of the rewards dis¬ 
tributed at the time of the Restoration. 

He was in a condition to send his son to the most aristocratic of 
Oxford Colleges, and at the age of fifteen, William Penn became a 
“Gentleman Commoner of Christ Church.” 

Through the preaching of Thomas Loe he became a convert to the 
doctrine of the Quakers. The results were not exactly Quakerly, how¬ 
ever, for in company with a friend, he forcibly tore from the backs of 
fellow students the “popish rags,” as surplices were called by the zealous 
Puritans of the day. 

For this he left college, whether by the action of the authorities 
or not does not clearly appear. 

He went to his home and announced himself a Quaker. His father 
intended him for a high career in the state, and no news could have 
been more unwelcome than this. His father turned him out of the house. 
The mother reconciled them, and the youth was sent to France, with a 








716 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


hope that gay society in Paris might redeem him from his almost mor¬ 
bid soberness. 

Penn entered partially into the circle of fashion; thence he went to 
Naumur, the Protestant college, where he laid the foundation of that 
extensive knowledge of patristic literature so much in evidence in his 
future writings; thence to Italy, where he received a letter from his 
father calling him home. 

On his return, in 1664, in compliance with the wishes of his father, 
he became a student of law. 

The great fire in London, in 1665, drove him from the city and 
deepened his serious convictions. 

He was sent by his father to manage his large Irish estates. He 
joined the expedition to put down an insurrection in Carrickfergus, and 
procured for himself a suit of armor, in which he seems to have been 
painted. His martial ardor was of short duration. 

Thomas Loe again crossed his path in Cork and Penn became a 
Quaker never more to falter. He was soon imprisoned with his fel¬ 
lows, and this was the beginning of many and severe confinements 
which lasted at intervals through his life. 

His father again drove him from his house. In time they were 
reconciled and the Admiral on his deathbed endorsed the course of his 
son. 

Penn began immediately to preach and to enter into the theological 
controversy of his time. He was soon arrested and confined in the 
Tower nine months, during which he wrote his principal work, entitled 
“No Cross, No Crown.” 

Penn was again arrested for preaching in the streets of London, 
and at his trial the jury declared him not guilty, but the court deter¬ 
mined to convict him, ordered the jury to bring in a verdict of guilty. 
They refused and were fined and sent to Newgate Prison. 

On his release from prison Penn made a trip to Holland and Ger¬ 
many, preaching the gospel. 

He took advantage of a little surcease from jails to marry, in his 
28th year, Gulielma Maria Springett, daughter of Sir William 
Springett, a woman of great beauty and sweetness. 

A declaration of indulgence for dissenters issued by Charles II, in 
1672, now made his life easier, and with an ample estate, he settled at 
Rickmansworth, in Hertfordshire. He was active for a few years in 
preaching and wrote much. 

In 1675 his thoughts were first seriously turned to America. Lord 
Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, who had received from the Duke of 
York the promise of New Jersey, sold the western half to two Quakers, 
John Fenwick and Edward Byllinge. 

The new purchasers had some difficulty between themselves in the 
settlement of their respective claims and asked William Penn to arbi- 


WILLIAM PENN 


717 


trate the matter. Penn decided in favor of Byllinge, who soon after¬ 
wards became embarrassed and transferred to Penn and two others his 
interest for the benefit of his creditors. 

West New Jersey was opened for sale and the persecuted Quakers 
found there a haven of rest. 

Penn wrote to Richard Hartshorne,' a settler whom he appointed 
his agent, “We lay a foundation for after ages to understand their 
liberty as men and Christians, that they may not be brought in bondage 
but by their own consent; for we put the power in the people.” 

The colony prospered greatly under the management of Penn and 
his friends. 

In company with George Fox, Robert Barclay and others, in 1677, 
Penn paid a religious visit to Holland and Germany. Here he made 
a convert of the Princess Elizabeth Palatine, granddaughter of James 
I, a woman of great intelligence, learning and spirituality, who became 
a devoted adherent and correspondent. 

More important, historically, however, he began that acquaintance 
with the Rhine Valley which resulted in a great emigration of its in¬ 
habitants to his future province of Pennsylvania, in the following cen¬ 
tury. 

His journal of this trip is among his printed works. 

When he returned he found persecution breaking out anew, many 
of his friends in jail and their estates confiscated. 

Penn published a plea for liberty, even for Papists—a sentiment 
which, in that day, required no small courage—and gave rise to a re¬ 
port, from which he afterward suffered greatly, that he was a Jesuit 
in disguise. 

He enjoyed great favor at court, and his influence was exerted for 
the aid of his suffering brethren, and his advocacy of his favorite doc¬ 
trine of universal toleration. 

The rest of William Penn’s life belongs largely to the history of 
Pennsylvania. 


718 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


First Massacre in Wyoming Launched Dur¬ 
ing Pontiac’s War by Captain Bull, 
October 15, 1763 

HE conspiracy fomented by Pontiac, the Ottawa chieftain, was 
unmasked at Detroit on May 6, 1763, and then began the war 
which continued until late in the summer of 1764. 

Fort Sandusky was captured by the Indians May 16, 1763; 
Fort Ouatanon (now Lafayette, Ind.), May 31; Fort Presqu’ 
Isle (now Erie County, Pa.), June 17; Fort Le Boeuf (in 
Erie County), June 18; Fort Venango (in Venango County, Pa.), June 
18 and the military posts at Carlisle and Bedford, Pa., on the same day. 

On June 22 a large body of Indians surrounded Fort Pitt and 
opened fire on all sides, but were easily repulsed. The Seneca were 
the only Indians of the Six Nations in alliance with Pontiac. 

The report which reached Philadelphia the second week in July, 
1763, revealed a most alarming situation on the frontier. 

Through the efforts of the Reverend John Elder the able-bodied 
men of the Paxtang region in Lancaster County were soon organized 
into a mounted military battalion of several companies, under the name 
of the “Paxtang Rangers” or “Paxtang Boys,” with Elder as colonel in 
command. 

“Swift on foot, excellent horsemen, good shots, skillful in pursuit 
or escape, dexterous as scouts and expert in maneuvering,” the “Paxtang 
Boys” became the terror of the Indians. And yet, during the summer 
and early autumn of that year numerous depredations and murders 
were committed by Indians in the counties of Lancaster and North¬ 
ampton. 

On Sunday, August 7, Captain Andrew Montour arrived at Fort 
Augusta from up the West Branch and informed Colonel James Burd 
that Forts Pitt and Ligonier had been captured by the Indians. Later 
this news was learned to be false, but the loss of Presqu’ Isle, Le Boeuf 
and Venango was a fact. 

Colonel John Elder wrote Governor Hamilton, requesting that his 
command be allowed “to destroy the immense quantity of corn left by 
the New England men at Wyoming which, if not consumed, will be a 
considerable magazine to the enemy and enable them with more ease 
to distress the inhabitants, etc.” The Governor in his reply stated that 
he had no objection to their scouting as far as Wyoming. 

On October 13 Major Asher Clayton, with a force of eighty sol¬ 
diers from Lancaster County, arrived at Fort Augusta, en route to 
Wyoming. There he was joined by^ Lieutenant Samuel Hunter and 





FIRST WYOMING MASSACRE 


719 


twenty-four men of the garrison, and the combined force departed Sat¬ 
urday the 15th for Wyoming. 

Two companies of the Reverend Elder’s command set out from 
Fort Hunter on the 11th destined for the same place, and “to intercept 
the murdering party on their return to Northampton.” 

This “murdering party” referred to by Colonel Elder was a band 
of hostile Delaware led by Tedyuskung’s son, Captain Bull, and con¬ 
cerning whose depredations Governor Hamilton sent a message to the 
Provincial Assembly on October 15, in these words: 

“Within a few days past I have received well-attested accounts of 
many barbarous and shocking murders and other depredations having 
been committed by Indians on inhabitants of Northampton County, in 
consequence whereof great numbers of those who escaped the rage of 
the enemy have already deserted, and are daily deserting their habita¬ 
tions; so that, unless some effectual aid can be speedily granted them, 
to induce them to stand their ground, it is difficult to say where these 
desertions will stop, or to how small a distance from the capital our 
frontier may be reduced.” 

Captain Bull, who headed this war party of Western Delaware in 
these incursions, had spent ten years among these Indians west of the 
Ohio River. He was thoroughly familiar with their sentiments toward 
the English. 

The first intimation of the presence of hostile Indians was on Octo¬ 
ber 8, 1763, when before daybreak, Captain Bull attacked the house of 
John Stenton, on the road from Bethlehem to Fort Allen, where Cap¬ 
tain Wetherhold and a squad of soldiers were lodging for the night. 
Wetherhold and several others of the whites were wounded and three 
were killed. 

A day or two later Yost’s mill, about eleven miles from Bethlehem, 
was destroyed, and the people there cut off. Altogether twenty-three 
persons were killed and many wounded, and these depredations com¬ 
mitted within a few miles of Captain Bull’s ancestral home. 

On Saturday, October 15, the self-same day that Major Clayton’s 
expedition set out from Fort Augusta for Wyoming, the settlers of 
Mill Creek, in Wyoming Valley, were busily engaged in their various 
occupations at different places unaware of danger and unprepared for 
disaster. 

Captain Bull and his warriors to the number of 135 swooped down 
on the settlers and death, desperation and destruction quickly followed. 
Eighteen or more were killed, including many persons of importance. 
The scene was terrible. 

The settlers who heard the gun shots and war whoops of the 
Indians fled in great haste to the mountains. At night time the 
torch was applied and soon the homes of the settlers were masses 
of ruins. 


720 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The settlers who escaped death tramped back to Connecticut, and 
Wyoming was, in very truth, deserted and forsaken. 

Major Clayton arrived soon after this massacre, but did not remain, 
and returned to Fort Augusta. An extract from a letter written by a 
soldier says: 

“Our party under Major Asher Clayton is returned from Wyoming, 
where we met with no Indians, but found the New Englanders who had 
been killed and scalped a day or two before we got there. We buried 
the dead—nine men and a woman—who had been most cruelly 
butchered. 

“The woman was roasted, and had two hinges in her hands—sup¬ 
posed to be put in red hot—and several of the men had awls thrust in 
their eyes, and spears, arrows, pitchforks, etc., sticking in their bodies. 

“They (Clayton’s troops) burnt what houses the Indians had left, 
and destroyed a quantity of Indian corn. The enemy’s tracks were up 
the river toward Wyalusing.” 

Many writers have expressed different opinions about this mas¬ 
sacre. Some thought it to have been done by the Delaware who be¬ 
lieved the Connecticut settlers killed their king Tedyuskung; some be¬ 
lieve it to have been done by Six Nations, who thought the whites had 
assassinated the Delaware king; but others believe there is not sufficient 
ground for supposing it to have been done by friends of Tedyuskung, 
even though the hostile party was led by his son, Captain Bull. 

Whoever was to blame, or whoever committed the bloodthirsty deed, 
matters not, but the fact remains that the Delaware Indians were treach¬ 
erous and none of them more so than King Tedyuskung and his sons, 
especially Captain Bull, the perpetrator of this horrible massacre. 


First Terrible Massacre of Settlers at Penn’s 
Creek, October 16, 1755 

HE year 1755 was anything but one of promise for the Eng- 
ligh colonies in America. The French were aggressively push¬ 
ing their domain from Canada southward toward the Mis¬ 
sissippi Valley, and what was more alarming to the English 
was the effort of the French to gain a foothold in the region 
of the Allegheny Mountains, in what is now Western Penn¬ 
sylvania. 

Three great rivers virtually determined the strategic situation of 
the territory involved between these two great nations. The Hudson 
River Valley was held by the English, the Susquehanna River Valley 
by the Six Nations of the great Indian Confederation and the Alle¬ 
gheny River Valley by French, along the banks of which a chain of 






PENN’S CREEK MASSACRE 


721 


French forts had been erected. Fort Duquesne, at the forks of the 
Ohio and Monongahela Rivers, where Pittsburgh now stands, was the 
principal defense of that valley. 

In the spring of 1755 the expedition was fitted out which made the 
ill-fated march against Fort Duquesne and resulted in the defeat of 
General Edward Braddock, July 9. 

This defeat was a terrible disaster and left the frontiers of Penn¬ 
sylvania threatened with ruin by victorious French and their savage 
allies, who pressed through the passes of the Blue Mountains on the 
heels of the fleeing British regulars. 

The main body of the French encamped on the Susquehanna River 
near where the borough of Liverpool now stands, thirty miles above 
Harris’ Ferry, where they extended themselves on both sides of the 
main river. 

Braddock’s defeat was not only a fatal termination of a campaign 
which had been expected would inflict a decisive blow upon the French, 
but it gave the signal to the disaffected Indians to make the frontiers 
of the province the scene of predatory warfare in which many sections 
of the Susquehanna Valley were severely scourged. 

The Provincial Government did not act with the energy and prompt¬ 
ness which the emergency demanded. No means were adopted for the 
protection of frontier settlements and the entire wilderness from the 
Juniata River to Shamokin, now Sunbury, was filled with parties of 
hostile Indians, murdering, scalping and burning. Every post brought 
to the Provincial Council at Philadelphia heart-rending appeals for 
help. 

The Assembly and the Governor were deadlocked, no money bills 
could be passed. Troops of frontiersmen rode through the city threat¬ 
eningly brandishing their weapons. A party of Germans laid the corpses 
of the countrymen, scalped within sixty-five miles of the capital, at the 
door of the State House. The Quaker peace policy was denounced in 
unmeasured terms from the backwoods pulpits. 

The Indians had driven off the Moravian missions at Shamokin and 
burned their own town at that important place. 

Two of Colonel Weiser’s sons, Frederick and Peter, had been at 
Shamokin several days previously, then stopped at the house of George 
Gabriel, at the mouth of Penn’s Creek about the head of the Isle of 
Que, near the present town of Selinsgrove. While there a messenger 
arrived from Logan, one of Shikellamy’s sons and Lapacpicton, a 
friendly Delaware, who brought the alarming news that a large body of 
French and Indians was approaching by way of the West Branch. 

The Provincial Government had been warned that a band of Indians 
had left the West on an expedition to the forks of the Susquehanna, but 
paid no heed until too late. 

These Indians crossed the Allegheny Mountains, through the head- 


722 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


waters of the Otzinachson, now called West Branch, near Clearfield, 
thence through the “Great Plains,” now known as Penn’s Valley, Cen¬ 
ter County, through the gaps of Penn’s Creek, in Paddy Mountains, 
where they struck the white settlements along the creek, commencing 
at the present town of New Berlin and down the stream for about a 
mile in what is now Snyder County. 

October 16, 1755, occurred the terrible massacre at Penn’s Creek, 
when fifteen persons were cruelly murdered and their bodies terribly 
mangled and ten others were carried away as Indian prisoners. 

Of the twenty-five victims, one man, who was wounded, was able 
to reach Gabriel’s with the news of the massacre. 

When the party went out to bury the dead they found thirteen 
bodies of men and elderly women, and one child, two weeks old. 

The house of Jacob Le Roy, where the massacre was ended, was 
burned and his body lying just by it. He lay on his back, barbarously 
burnt and two tomahawks sticking in his forehead. 

The conditions in the immediate neighborhood of Penn’s Creek 
beggared description. Conrad Weiser wrote to Governor Morris, upon 
the arrival of his sons, advising of the massacre, and gave him the news 
of the intended invasion. But John Harris rushed to the rescue of 
those in distress, and, with a company of forty-six men from Paxtang, 
arrived at the mouth of Penn’s Creek. He found the dead had been 
buried, and proceeded to Shamokin to learn the attitude of the Indians 
there. 

In the Pennsylvania archives is to be found the examination of 
Barbara Leininger and Mary Le Roy, taken after their return from 
captivity. They testified that the others carried away captives at Penn’s 
Creek were Jacob Le Roy, Rachel Leininger, brother and sister 
of the testators; Marian Wheeler; Hannah, wife of Jacob Breylinger 
and two of their children, one of whom died of starvation, while 
they were being held at Kittanning; Peter Lick and two sons, John 
and William. 

They named the principal Indians and gave a detailed narrative of 
their journey and captivity. 

They were carried to Kittanning, where they were held prisoners 
until Colonel John Armstrong destroyed the town, September 8, 1756, 
when the Indians who had these prisoners in charge made their escape. 

They were carried to Fort Duquesne and were then led twenty-five 
miles lower down the river to the mouth of Big Beaver Creek. In the 
spring of 1757 they were taken to Kuskusky, twenty-five miles up Big 
Beaver Creek, where they remained until the Indians learned that the 
English were marching against Fort Duquesne, when the Indians 
evacuated Kuskusky and hurried their prisoners on a forced march to the 
Muskingum, in the present State of Ohio. 

March 16, 1759, the testators made their escape and were able to 


SUNBURY AND ERIE RAILROAD 


723 


reach Fort Pitt fifteen days later. They reached their relatives subse¬ 
quently, and were in Philadelphia, May 6, 1759, when they gave their 
testimony. 

Ann M. LeRoy was residing in Lancaster in 1764, when she again 
made an affidavit in regards to the details of her capture and the visits of 
the supposed friendly Conestoga Indians at Kittanning. 

A beautiful boulder with bronze tablet was unveiled at the site of 
this massacre, October, 1915. This can be seen above the bridge over 
Penn’s Creek, on the Susquehanna Trail, leading from Selinsgrove to 
Sunbury. It marks the scene of one of the most horrible of the Indian 
massacres in Pennsylvania. 


Railroad from Williamsport to Lake Erie 
Completed October 17, 1864 

URING the administration of Governor James Pollock the 
Main Line of public works had been sold by virtue of the act 
of Assembly of May 16, 1857. Governor Pollock had very 
strongly urged the sale of the public works, as they had become 
a running sore of corruption, including political debauchery 
and the systematic plunder of the treasury. 

On June 25 following the Governor closed the transaction by 
which the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, July 31, assumed owner¬ 
ship of the whole line of public works between Philadelphia and Pitts¬ 
burgh, the consideration being $7,500,000. 

Following that sale measures were taken for the disposal of the re¬ 
mainder of the public improvement. They had failed to be a source 
of revenue to the State, and the application of the proceeds to the pay¬ 
ment of the debt of the Commonwealth soon led to the removal of 
taxation by the State. 

With the disposal of the Main Line of public works, there were 
left not a few local canals, such as the North Branch, West Branch and 
others, to be managed by the Board of Canal Commissioners. This was 
a sore point, and there was a very general desire that these should also 
be disposed of and the: State entirely divested of its interests in trans¬ 
portation lines. 

The Sunbury and Erie Railroad Company was chartered April 3, 
1837. The road was opened between Williamsport and Milton, De¬ 
cember 18, 1854, and between Milton and Northumberland, September 
24, 1855. 

The railroad bridges over the North Branch at Northumberland 
were completed for traffic January 7, 1856, which opened the road from 
Williamsport to Sunbury. From this time it became a long struggle 









724 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


to complete the line from Williamsport to Erie, which was to be the 
western terminus. 

Borough councils and prominent citizens subscribed for stock, and 
various attempts were made to construct the road, but each new organi¬ 
zation only repeated the story of failure. 

A number of very able and experienced railway men and the di¬ 
rectors conceived the idea of virtually borrowing the credit of the State, 
without imposing any liability upon the Commonwealth, to aid in the 
construction of this road. 

Their proposition was that the various canals remaining in the 
ownership of the State should be sold to the Sunbury and Erie Rail¬ 
way Company for $3,000,000, giving the railway company the right to 
sell or mortgage the several canals as might be deemed best, the pro¬ 
ceeds to be applied to the construction of the Erie line, and the State 
to accept a mortgage upon the line for the $3,000,000 to be paid for 
the canals. It was believed this would provide sufficient funds to com¬ 
plete the line, and when this was accomplished the mortgage held by the 
State would be abundant security against loss to the Commonwealth. 

A bill to enable this sale of the canals was read in place in both 
House and Senate and an earnest battle ensued as the members of the 
canal board were not willing to be shorn of their immense powers, 
which would result if the State sold the canals. 

The Republicans in the House supported the bill; the personnel of 
the canal board was entirely Democratic. No community in the State 
would benefit more by the completion of the link from Williamsport 
to Erie than would Philadelphia, and the great interests of that city soon 
brought a solid support in both House and Senate in favor of the bill. 

Many Democrats whose districts were traversed by the proposed 
road also fell into line, so that in spite of desperate opposition, the bill 
finally passed the House by a decided majority, and gained the narrow 
margin of one vote in the Senate. 

Governor William F. Packer was a resident of Williamsport, and, 
of course, was intensely interested in the measure. 

The bill reached the Governor only three days before final adjourn¬ 
ment, and when he examined it, the Governor discovered a vital error 
in phraseology which had been overlooked, but which would result in 
serious embarrassment in executing its provisions. He could not re¬ 
turn it with his objections, as it could not be passed over the veto; 
there was not time for the passage of a new bill, and the bill could be 
amended in the hands of the Governor only by the adoption of a joint 
resolution instructing such change. 

A joint resolution was required to lay over a day under the rules 
and it required two-thirds vote to suspend the rule, while the delay of 
a day would be fatal. 

The matter was submitted to Speaker Longnecker, who presided 


SUNBURY AND ERIE RAILROAD 


725 


with ability and dignity over the body, and he informed those who 
were conferring with him that a joint resolution could not be read and 
finally passed on the same day. 

Among the prominent Democratic members was George Nelson 
Smith, of Cambria County, a thorough parliamentarian and one of the 
most popular members of the House. 

It was suggested to the Speaker that he call Smith to the chair. 
The Speaker consented, Smith took the gavel and the resolution to 
amend the bill was changed from the usual form of a joint resolution 
by saying, “Resolved, If the Senate concurs, etc.,” giving the appearance 
of a House resolution requiring simply the concurrence of the Senate. 

As soon as it was read the point was raised that it was a joint reso¬ 
lution and must lie over for a day, but Smith faced the emergency 
with magnificent boldness, deciding that it was not a joint resolution 
and directing the final vote to be called. 

It was evident that a majority of the House meant to save the bill; 
tactics for delay would be defeated by previous question and by the ag¬ 
gressive action of Acting Speaker Smith the House was suddenly 
brought to a call of the yeas and nays and the bill was saved. The 
Senate had ample time for concurrence and it was given. 

Even after giving the Sunbury and Erie Railway Company the 
benefit of the loan of $3,000,000 the work was pushed forward under 
many embarrassments. It was on the verge of collapse in the general 
prostrations of 1860, but the Legislature came to its relief by an exten¬ 
sion of credit. 

The Civil War came with its quickening of business and large in¬ 
crease of circulating medium, and the great enterprise of building a 
railroad through an almost continued wilderness from Williamsport 
to Lake Erie, a distance of nearly 250 miles, was completed October 
17, 1864, and the State gained not only by the sale of its canals and the 
abolishment of the Canal Board, but the $3,000,000 was abundantly 
secured to it. 

The new railroad brought multiplied wealth to the State and the 
people that could never have been realized excepting by the construction 
of a great railway through the boundless riches of that great region. 

The name Sunbury and Erie was changed to the Philadelphia and 
Erie Railroad Company by Act of Assembly March 7, 1861. 

On January 1, 1862, it was leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad 
Company for 999 years. 


726 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


None Escaped in Massacre at Mahanoy 
Creek, October 18, 1755 

OLLOWING the defeat of General Edward Braddock, July 
9, 1755, the savages roamed at will through the frontier set¬ 
tlements of Pennsylvania. They now realized the English 
were no longer invincible and became bolder and more terrible 
in their predatory warfare. 

The first outbreak was at Penn’s Creek, in the present 
Snyder County, where on October 16, they swooped down upon the 
industrious German settlers of that neighborhood and cruelly massacred 
fifteen and carried away ten others into captivity. 

The news of the massacre struck terror in the hearts of the settlers 
and all, excepting a very few, fled down the river to the older settle¬ 
ments. 

Only two days after the Penn’s Creek massacre another occurred 
only a short distance to the eastward, at the mouth of Mahanoy Creek, 
about five miles south of the present city of Sunbury. 

On this eventful day, October 18, 1755, twenty-five of the inhabi¬ 
tants were killed or carried away into captivity, often worse than death. 
Every building of the little settlement was burned, and all the improve¬ 
ments destroyed. 

The difference in the two massacres lies in the fact that one es¬ 
caped from the murderous savages at Penn’s Creek, who was able to 
make his way to George Gabriel’s at the mouth of the creek, where he 
told the awful story in detail. It also happened that two sons of Conrad 
Weiser were there at the time, and they hastened to their home in Berks 
County. 

Soon the old provincial interpreter had messengers on the way to 
inform Governor Morris of the massacre and the threatened invasion 
of the Forks of the Susquehanna by the French and their Indian allies, 
who were approaching in great force. 

Immediately the news of the massacre at Penn’s Creek reached 
Harris’ Ferry, and without waiting for advice from the provincial 
authorities, John Harris, with forty-six inhabitants of the neighborhood, 
hastened to the scene of the disaster, where they found and buried a 
number of the mangled bodies of the victims. From this place they 
proceeded to Shamokin to see the Indians and prevail upon them, if 
possible, to remain neutral. 

Their reception at the Indian village was civil but not cordial, and 
they remained there only till the next morning. 

During the night they heard the Indians talking about the English 







MAHANOY MASSACRE 


727 


in unfavorable terms, and soOn after they sang a war song and four 
Indians went away in the darkness in two canoes. They were well 
armed. One canoe went down stream, the other across the river. 

In the morning they made a few presents to the Indians. Before 
their departure they were privately warned by Andrew Montour not 
to take a certain road on the western side of the river, but to continue 
down the eastern side. 

They, however, disregarded his warning, either relying on the good 
faith of the Indians, or suspecting that Montour intended to lead them 
into an ambuscade, and they crossed the river and started to march 
along the flats on the western shore. 

Hardly had they got started on their march until they were fired 
upon by some Indians who lay in ambush, and four were killed, four 
drowned and the rest put to flight. 

John Harris, under date of “Paxtang, ye 28th October, 1755,” 
wrote to the Governor an account of the foregoing expedition, and how 
near they all came to suffer through Indian treachery. Among other 
things, he said: 

“This is to acquaint you, that on the 24th of October, I arrived at 
Shamokin, in order to protect our frontiers up that way till they might 
make their escape from their cruel enemies, and learn the best intel¬ 
ligence I could. 

“The Indians on the West Branch certainly killed our inhabitants 
on Penn’s Creek, and there are a hatchet and two English scalps sent 
them up to North Branch, to desire them to strike with them if they are 
men.” 

He then described the situation and warned the Governor that the 
Indians entertained serious designs upon the settlers in and about the 
Forks of the Susquehanna. He then wrote: 

“Montour knew many days ago of the enemy being on their march 
against us before he informed, for which I said as much to him as I 
thought prudent, considering the place I was in. 

“On the 25th inst., on my return with about forty men, we were 
attacked by about twenty or thirty Indians, received their fire, and about 
fifteen of our men and myself took to the trees, attacked the villains, 
killed four of them on the spot and lost but three more, retreating about 
half a mile through the woods, and crossing the Susquehanna, one of 
whom was shot off a horse riding behind myself, through the river. My 
horse was wounded, and falling into the river, I was obliged to quit him 
and swim part of the way. 

“Four or five of our men were drowned crossing the river. I hope 
our journey, though with fatigue and loss of our substance and some 
of our lives, will be of service to our country by discovering our enemy, 
who will be our ruin, if not timely prevented. 

“I just now received information that there was a French officer, 


728 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


supposed captain, with a party of Shawhee, Delaware, etc., within six 
miles of Shamokin, ten days ago, and no doubt intends to take possession 
of it which will be a dreadful consequence to us, if suffered.” 

Harris then told of his knowledge of the Indians who had made 
the attack on Penn’s Creek; of an intended attack on Shamokin and 
other places. He concluded his long and informative letter: “I ex¬ 
pect Montour and Monacatootha down here this week, with the de¬ 
termination of their Shamokin council. The inhabitants are abandoning 
their plantations and we are in a dreadful situation.” 

The postscript to his interesting letter was as follows: “The night 
ensuing our attack the Indians burned all George Gabriel’s houses; 
danced around them.” 

The person who was shot off the horse, while riding behind John 
Harris in crossing the river, was a physician of Paxtang, who had ac¬ 
companied the party in his professional capacity. 

On the following day John Harris wrote a letter to Edward Ship- 
pen, at Lancaster, in which he expressed fear that the Indians would 
attack them any day. He wrote: “I have this day cut loopholes in 
my house, and am determined to hold out to the last extremity, if I 
can get some men to stand by me. But few can be had at present, 
as every one is in fear of his own family being cut off every hour.” 

Harris advised the immediate building of a fort at the Forks of the 
Susquehanna. The situation in the Province even as close to Philadel¬ 
phia as Harrisburg was truly desperate. 


General Edward Hand Starts on Expedition 
from Fort Pitt to Wheeling, October 
19,1777 

URING the winter of 1776 and the following spring the 
agents of Great Britain had been very active in organizing 
Indian uprisings along the frontiers as a part of the general 
campaign for the subjugation of the rebellious colonists. 

Continental Congress decided to take charge of the de¬ 
fense of the colonists, especially those in the western part of 
the State, where the Indians had been more active and where the set¬ 
tlers had been afforded less protection from the State and Colonial 
governments. 

The first move by Congress was a decision to take Fort Pitt under 
its care and provide an adequate garrison at the Continental expense. 
The offer was accepted by Virginia, which colony then claimed the 
western part of Pennsylvania as its territory, and Captain John Neville 








GENERAL HAND’S EXPEDITION 


729 


was directed to transfer the fort to the United States officer appointed 
to its command. 

General Washington selected Brigadier General Edward Hand, 
of Lancaster, for this important service. The brave and efficient 
work of this distinguished officer led the commander-in-chief to 
believe that he would be an able defender of the border, but 
fighting British and Hessians along the seaboard and Indians in the 
woods are two quite different propositions, as General Hand soon 
discovered. 

General Hand was no stranger at Fort Pitt, but during his former 
service there he had no experience in fighting Indians. 

He was a native of Ireland and educated to be a physician. At 
the age of twenty-three years he was commissioned as assistant 
surgeon in the Eighteenth Regiment of Foot, known as the Royal 
Irish, and in the spring of 1767 he accompanied the command to 
America. 

He was stationed for a time in the Illinois country and afterward 
at Fort Pitt. In 1774 he resigned his commission and took up the 
practice of medicine in Lancaster, Pa. 

Soon after the news of Lexington and Concord he interested him¬ 
self in raising troops for the cause of the colonists and was commis¬ 
sioned lieutenant-colonel of Thompson’s celebrated regiment of Penn¬ 
sylvania riflemen, afterward the First Regiment of the Pennsylvania 
Line. 

In March, 1776, Hand succeeded as colonel and under his com¬ 
mand the regiment did gallant work in the battles of Long Island, 
Trenton and Princeton. 

On April 1, 1777, Hand was rewarded for his really exceptional 
services by promotion to the rank of brigadier general and soon there¬ 
after General Washington further evinced his appreciation and con¬ 
fidence by assigning General Hand, then only thirty-three years old, 
to the defense of the western frontier. 

General Hand arrived at Fort Pitt Sunday, June 1, 1777, and 
took over the property from Captain Neville. He led no forces across 
the mountains, being accompanied by only a few officers. 

The garrison consisted of but two companies of the Thirteenth Vir¬ 
ginia, recruited in and about Pittsburgh, and they were shy of discipline. 
The larger part of these soldiers had been with Washington in New 
Jersey. 

General Hand, in the East, had engaged in warfare where it was 
never difficult to locate the enemy, in large bodies, ready to stand up 
and fight. In that warfare the colonists did most of the dodging and 
were the hardest to find. 

On the frontier the conditions were reversed, the enemy could not 





730 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


be found yet was ever present. The savages, in small bands, entered 
the settlements and struck quick but terrible blows, then fled by night 
into the dense forests. 

The only evidence of the presence of these savages were the dead 
bodies of the victims and ashes of their former cabins, but they left no 
trail that a white man could discover. The problem was perplexing to 
General Hand. 

Many murders had been committed before General Hand’s arrival, 
but they became more numerous. 

The British commandant, Colonel Henry Hamilton, at Detroit, 
began about June 1 to equip and send out war parties to attack 
the settlements of Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania, which 
parties consisted mostly of Indians of the Wyandotte and Miami 
tribes of Northern Ohio and Shawnee of Southern Ohio and a few 
British officers. 

At the same time parties of Seneca invaded the Pennsylvania set¬ 
tlements from Western New York. 

Beside the bodies of many victims of the raids were found copies 
of the proclamation by Hamilton, offering protection and reward to all 
settlers who would make their way to any of the British posts and join 
the cause of the King. 

General Hand soon determined that the one way to fight Indians 
was to invade their own country and destroy their towns and provisions. 
The Ohio tribes had permanent villages and grew great crops of corn, 
beans and pumpkins, which they stored in earth silos. If the Indians 
lost their crops they would be driven to hunt in the winter and could 
have no time for the warpath. 

General Hand decided to descend the Ohio with a large force of 
militiamen to the mouth of the Big Kanawha and to march thence over¬ 
land against the Shawnee towns. 

Hand appealed to all the militia commanders of Westmoreland and 
Bedford Counties in Pennsylvania, and of all the frontier counties of 
Virginia, to muster men for the expedition. 

He also appealed to the governments of both States and they di¬ 
rected their officers to respond to the calls. The project was even 
indorsed by Congress; yet in spite of all these efforts the expedition 
was a failure. 

General Hand expected 500 men from the two Pennsylvania coun¬ 
ties and 1500 men from Virginia. His expectations were unreason¬ 
able in that he did not take into consideration the drained and dis¬ 
tressed condition of the border. Already the hardiest and most useful 
men had gone to fight the British. Most of those who remained on 
the plantations believed they were needed at home to protect their 
families from the raids of the savages. 


INLAND WATERWAYS MEETING 


731 


No men responded from Bedford County and only 100 from West¬ 
moreland, under command of Colonel Lochry, reached Fort Pitt. 

On October 19, 1777, General Hand left Fort Pitt and went 
down the river to Wheeling, where he expected to meet the 
recruits from Virginia. After a week of waiting only a few poorly 
equipped squads reported to him. Hand gave up in disgust and 
returned to Fort Pitt. 

The following spring he requested to be recalled from the frontier 
service, and General Washington called him to his army May 26, 1778. 


Great Meeting in the Interest of Inland 
Waterways Held at Harrisburg, 

October 20, 1789 

URING the latter part of the year 1789, the President and 
members of the Supreme Executive Council appointed a com¬ 
mission to view the Delaware, Schuylkill and Susquehanna 
Rivers, in pursuance of an act of Assembly passed September 
28, 1789, with the object of ascertaining data whether or not 
these waters could be rendered navigable. 

This commission, composed of Timothy Matlack, Reading Howell, 
William Dean, John Adlum and Benjamin Rittenhouse, attended to the 
important duty assigned them and in their report strongly recommended 
that a commission of experienced surveyors be named for “the purpose 
of ascertaining the most convenient and practicable place for connect¬ 
ing the waters of the three rivers, with those of the Allegheny, Lake 
Ontario and Lake Erie. And in cases where portage by land will be 
necessary, to examine the face of the country and report the most suit¬ 
able places for landings and roads.” 

A great meeting was held at Paxtang, October 20, 1789, which 
was attended by citizens of eight counties, when an organization was 
affected with James Ewing, of York County, as chairman. Committees 
were named for each county to solicit subscriptions for the furtherance 
of these surveys, and a commission was appointed, consisting of 
Frederic Antes, of Northumberland County; John Brattan, of Hunt¬ 
ingdon; Andrew Galbraith, of Cumberland, and Sabastain Graff and 
John Haldeman, of Lancaster, to superintend the work of removing 
obstructions in the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers. 

A resolution was adopted which authorized the appointment of 
three surveyors, to begin at the mouth of the Juniata and proceed up 
the Susquehanna to Sunbury, thence up the West Branch to Sinnema- 
honing Creek, thence to Canoe Place, or such place “as will connect 
most easily with any practicable branch of the Allegheny, the Consua, 








732 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Toby’s Creek, or any other which may discharge itself into the Alle¬ 
gheny nearest to the mouth of French Creek, and thence examine 
French Creek up to Le Boeuf and the portage to Presqu Isle. 

Timothy Matlack, John Adlum, Samuel Maclay, Reading Howell, 
Frederick Antes, and William Dean were appointed April 6, and 
commissioned and qualified April 9, 1790. 

The three first mentioned set out on the work along the Susque¬ 
hanna and the others took up the work on the lower Susquehanna 
and Schuylkill. 

Samuel Maclay kept an interesting journal of the experiences of 
the commission, from which the following is taken. 

Messrs. Matlack and Adlum set out from Philadelphia May 6, and 
met Maclay at Lebanon. They remained there nearly a week, and 
began their work when they set out from the Swatara, having taken 
James McLaughlin, Edward Sweeney, and Matthew Gray into the 
pay of the State. 

The party reached Herold’s, below Selinsgrove, by May 17, then 
proceeded to Northumberland. Here Maclay went to visit his family 
at now Lewisburg. John Adlum visited with his friend Colonel Fred¬ 
eric Antes, and Timothy Matlack was the guest of Colonel William 
Wilson, of Northumberland. 

The party was organized during this stay at Northumberland and 
proceeded up the West Branch to the mouth of the Loyalsock. They 
next encamped on the Great Island, then reached the Sinnemahoning, 
where they built several canoes. 

The actual survey began at Canoe Place, where Adlum ran a line 
to the Allegheny. He writes in his journal of catching beaver, and of 
the large numbers of “wolves which frequently crossed their track, in 
a very indifferent manner.” 

June 14, they surveyed the West Branch of the Sinnemahoning as 
far as Boyd’s quarry, the following day reached Bennett’s. 

On July 2, the party reached the Ohio River, and went down it, 
being guided by an Indian, named Doctor Thomas. 

When the western boundary of the State was reached, Conne 
Shangom, the chief, had gone to Venango, but another chief, Captain 
John, made the commissioners a speech of welcome. At this place they 
came across a Dutchman, who had been taken prisoner by the Indians 
in the last war, but who chose to continue to live with them. 

On July 7, the commissioners had an interesting interview with the 
celebrated Indian Chieftain, Cornplanter, at Jenoshawdego. 

Maclay records that the Indians were very jealous of them until 
they were made to fully understand their mission. Cornplanter then 
welcomed them with a speech. Maclay says, “we were addressed by 
an orator, on behalf of the women,” This speech of Cornplanter’s 
was responded to by Colonel Matlack. 


BICENTENNIAL OPENS 733 

The Commissioners then went to Cornplanter’s town and “had the 
honor of his company for supper.” 

July 14, they struck the old French road to Erie. Maclay records 
that “the cart ruts are quite plain yet.” He further records, “Lake 
Erie is a fresh water sea. You can see the horizon and water meet.” 

The party was here caught in a terrible storm and thoroughly 
drenched. 

The party pushed down the Allegheny a distance of eighty miles, 
and Sunday morning, July 18, they met Mr. Adlum and his party. 
Adlum finished a survey the next day, and the entire party was again 
united at Buckaloon, or Brokenstraw, about five miles from the present 
town of Warren. 

On the 20th the party arrived at Fort Franklin, where the com¬ 
manding officer, Lieutenant Jeffries, was very polite to them. 

Two days later Maclay records, “we paired off and discharged an 
old Indian chief and a white savage.” The commissioners left Fort 
Franklin this day, and reached David Meads, at present Meadville. 
They then went to Le Boeuf, and from there back to Fort Franklin, 
where they arrived August 1. 

Maclay writes about using some oil, collected from a small oil 
spring along French Creek, on his lame back. The effect was beneficial. 

The survey of the Allegheny River began at this point, and they 
also explored the tributary streams all the way down that river to the 
Conemaugh, then to Frankstown, on the Juniata. River, where they ar¬ 
rived September 8. 

The commissioners proceeded down the Juniata to the Susquehanna. 
Samuel Maclay notes that he arrived at his home Friday, September 17, 
and found his family all well and at dinner. 

The report was made as three different surveys, and the cost 
£561, 27s. 


Bicentennial Opened in Chester and Phil¬ 
adelphia, October 21, 1882 

T THE close of Governor John F. Hartranft’s second term 
the Republicans nominated General Henry Martyn Hoyt, of 
Wilkes-Barre, while the Democrats had as their standard- 
bearer Honorable Andrew H. Dill, of Lewisburg. 

The campaign was conducted along the line of national 
issues, the leading discussion being the resumption of specie 
payments. This became the keynote of the campaign and Hoyt was 
elected by a large majority. 

An interesting historical event occurred before the end of Hart¬ 
ranft’s administration, on December 19, 1878, when Bayard Taylor 









734 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


died in the city of Berlin, Germany, while serving at his post as 
Minister to Germany. He was a native of Chester County and 
through his literary works had done much to increase the fame of 
Pennsylvania. 

After Governor Hartranft retired from the office of Governor he 
removed to Philadelphia, where he served as Postmaster of the city, 
and afterward as Collector of the Port. 

H is love for the National Guard continued and he was the com¬ 
manding general from 1879 until his death on October 17, 1889. His 
memory as a soldier is perpetuated by an equestrian statue on the plaza 
of the Capitol at Harrisburg and by a beautiful monument in the ceme¬ 
tery at Norristown. 

Governor Hoyt was inaugurated on January 21, 1879, being the 
first such ceremony held under the provisions of the new Consti¬ 
tution of 1874, and on January 7, following, the Legislature met 
in biennial session for the first time, as provided in the new Constitu¬ 
tion. 

On May 16, 1881, the Legislature adopted a joint resolution, which 
had for its purpose the reinterment of William Penn in the City of 
Philadelphia. 

George L. Harrison, Esq., of Philadelphia, at his own expense, car¬ 
ried the Governor’s request to the legal representatives of William 
Penn, and trustees of Jordan’s Meeting House, England, but after 
some deliberation they refused to grant the request. 

Had this been granted the body of the founder and former Pro¬ 
prietor of Pennsylvania would have been resting in Pennsylvania soil 
at the time the bicentennial of Penn’s arrival in the Province was ob¬ 
served with fitting ceremonies in October, 1882. 

This great celebration was held in Chester and Philadelphia, be¬ 
ginning with appropriate religious services on Sunday, October 21. 
“Landing Day” was observed at Chester on Monday, the following day 
was known as “Landing Day” in Philadelphia, when the “Welcome” 
arrived at the foot of Dock Street, where the landing scenes of the 
previous day were again re-enacted, with Quakers, Swedes and Indians 
in the large cast. 

The parade up Dock Street passed a stand, where Governor Hoyt, 
Alexander P. Colesberry, president Bi-Centennial Association Com¬ 
mittee, and other members of the committee and distinguished guests re¬ 
viewed the pageant. Here the character of William Penn made a 
speech, to which Tamanend, sachem of the Delaware Nation, made 
reply. 

The great celebration ended on Friday with a grand military pa¬ 
rade under command of General John F. Hartranft. This was a fitting 
and impressive observance in which the 200 years of history were re¬ 
called in tableaux, story, music, pageantry and parade. 


BICENTENNIAL OPENS 


735 


The Republican Party received its first setback in a State campaign 
in 1882, when Robert E. Pattison, of Philadelphia, defeated General 
James A. Beaver, of Bellefonte, in a spirited contest. 

The campaign disclosed the fact that there were too many members 
of the Republican Party dissatisfied with the conditions in their organi¬ 
zation. The disaffected united in an independent movement and nomi¬ 
nated John Stewart, of Chambersburg, afterward a Justice of the Su¬ 
preme Court, as their candidate for Governor. 

The Greenback-Labor Party also placed a candidate in the field in 
the person of Thomas A. Armstrong. The Prohibition candidate was 
Alfred C. Petit. Mr. Pattison easily overcame the normal Republican 
majority on account of the divided vote and was elected by more than 
40,000 plurality. 

Governor Pattison was inaugurated January 16, 1883, at the age 
of thirty-two years. He was of the opinion that the State should be 
redistricted in congressional, senatorial and representative districts, as 
required by the Constitution, and when the Legislature adjourned with¬ 
out passing the necessary legislation, the Governor issued a proclamation 
on the day fixed for final adjournment, June 6, 1883, and called an extra 
session to convene the following day. 

The Legislature continued in session until December 6, and 
reapportioned the State into judicial districts, but the efforts in 
behalf of new districts for Congress and the Legislature proved 
unavailing. 

The act creating the annual observance of Arbor Day was enacted 
on March 17, 1885, and Governor Pattison appointed April 16 of that 
year as the first Arbor Day in Pennsylvania, a custom which has been 
followed to the present time. 

In 1886 four candidates were placed in the field for the office of 
Governor. The Republicans again nominated General James A. Beaver 
and the Democrats named Chauncey F. Black, of York. The Prohi¬ 
bitionists selected Charles S. Wolf, of Lewisburg, and the Greenback 
Party named Robert J. Houston. 

The Republicans presented a solid front this time and easily elected 
General Beaver, who was inaugurated January 18, 1887. 

In the first session of the General Assembly the State was 
divided into twenty-eight congressional districts and 204 legislative 
districts. 

An amendment to the Constitution, proposing to prohibit the man¬ 
ufacture, sale or keeping for sale of any intoxicating liquor to be used 
as a beverage” was defeated by the vote of the people almost two to one. 
This amendment was strongly urged by Governor Beaver. 

An important movement was put into action by the Governor, him¬ 
self a gallant veteran of the Civil War, when by the act of the Legis¬ 
lature memorial tablets were erected on the battlefield of Gettysburg. 


736 DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 

These tablets were dedicated on Pennsylvania Day, September 11-12, 
1889. 

An interesting historical event was the centennial anniversary of the 
adoption of the Federal Constitution, which was observed in Philadel¬ 
phia September 15, 16 and 17, 1887. The Constitutional Centennial 
Commission arranged a civic and industrial procession, military parade 
and memorial ceremonies in a manner reflecting great honor and credit 
to all concerned. 


Daniel Boone, Pioneer Kentucky Frontiers¬ 
man, Born in Berks County October 
22,1733 

NE of the earliest of American romances is written about the 
character and thrilling experiences of Daniel Boone, who for¬ 
sook the quiet and uneventful life of a Quaker, turned his 
back on the civilization of his native State, deserted his 
farm in North Carolina and went in search of adventure 
in the wilderness of Kentucky. 

George Boone, III, sailed from England with his wife and three of 
their nine children, August 17, 1717, and landed in Philadelphia, Octo¬ 
ber 10. This family resided for a short time at Abington, then for two 
years at North Wales. They belonged to the sect of Quakers and were 
members of the Gwynedd Meeting. 

George Boone, next settled at Oley, then in Philadelphia County, 
but later, a part of Exeter Township, Berks County; named Exeter 
when Berks County was erected in honor of the Boone home in Eng¬ 
land. Here George Boone built a log house, in 1720, situated seven 
miles east of Reading. It is still standing, and is one of the priceless 
relics of old Berks County. 

The third son of George and Mary Maugridge Boone was Squire 
Boone, the father of Daniel Boone, who was born on another farm in 
the same neighborhood, on October 22, 1733. 

Daniel left Berks County with his parents for North Carolina in 
1750, at the age of seventeen years. They seated themselves in Yad¬ 
kin River Valley, and young Boone soon became the most expert 
woodsman and hunter in that section of the State. In 1755 Daniel 
married Rebecca Bryan, the prettiest girl in the neighborhood, 
and they were happy in their new log house. 

The settlers became too numerous and soon the hunting was more 
difficult and longer trips necessary. Daniel grew restless, and about 
that time he was attracted by the tales of John Finley, an experienced 
Indian trader and adventurer, about the country beyond the moun¬ 
tains, known as Kentucky. 







DANIEL BOONE 


737 


Boone then gathered together five companions and set out on a hunt¬ 
ing and exploration trip. After a long, weary march they reached 
the heights overlooking the plains of Central Kentucky, and observed 
the huge herds of buffalo and deer, and felt amply rewarded for the 
hardships endured in getting there. 

They erected a cabin and passed a happy and busy summer hunt¬ 
ing and exploring. A few days before Christmas the camp was broken 
up through the capture of Boone and a companion while out hunting. 
They were suddenly surprised by fifteen Indians and taken prisoners. 

Boone and his companion made their captors believe they were 
happy in their experience and promptly accepted the Indian manner of 
doing things. 

In the middle of the night Boone awakened his companion, grabbed 
their rifles and escaped. 

When they arrived at their cabin it was deserted. The two men 
realized they were the only white men west of the mountains, but 
they remained and resumed their hunting. 

Some days later Squire Boone, a brother of Daniel, and a friend, 
arrived at DanieFs camp. The neighbor who accompanied Squire soon 
grew homesick and returned to North Carolina. Boone’s other com¬ 
panion was killed by the Indians, and only the brothers were left alone 
in that wilderness of Kentucky. 

They hunted all winter, and in the spring Squire tramped back 
home for a supply of powder leaving Daniel alone. Three months later 
Squire returned with powder, lead, horses and the happy tidings that 
all was well at home. 

The following spring Daniel and his brother made a trip home. A 
year later he sold his farm and planned to make his home in Kentucky. 
Several neighbors decided to join him, and soon five families, forty in 
all, with cattle and household goods, were tramping toward the western 
country. 

Suddenly the men driving the cattle were fired at from ambush 
and six of them killed, one of whom was Daniel Boone’s eldest son. 
This so saddened the emigrants that Daniel Boone led them back to 
the Clinch River, where they remained until 1774. 

Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, employed Boone to 
rescue a party of surveyors, and he made a round trip of 800 miles, 
to the Falls of the Ohio and back to Virginia in sixty-two days, 
bringing the men back without a mishap. 

On April 1, 1775, he began the erection of his famous fort on the 
Kentucky River. It was finished in June and named Boonesborough. 

Boone then returned home, gathered up his family and took them 
to the new home he had prepared. Here they were happy until the 
Indians began to make trouble. 

The day before Christmas one of his men was killed and another 


24 


738 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


wounded. The following June, Boone’s young daughter and two girls 
foolishly crossed the river in a boat and were carried away by the 
Indians. 

Boone and eight companions started in pursuit, and forty miles 
distant came upon them at dinner. The Indians were taken by surprise 
and fled without their rifles, two being killed on the jump. The girls 
were rescued unharmed. 

During the winter of 1778 Boone was captured at a salt springs, 
with about thirty of his men. The Indians led them toward Canada, 
reaching Detroit in March. 

The English bought the prisoners, offering a large sum for Boone, 
but the Indians refused it, saying they liked him and wanted to make 
him one of their tribe. Boone returned with them, always conduct¬ 
ing himself in a cheerful manner. He was adopted in the tribe as a 
son of Chief Blackfish. 

One evening he learned the Indians planned an attack on Boones- 
borough. He hid food in his shirt and at daybreak started on a hunt¬ 
ing trip. Covering his trail, he set out for home, walking day and 
night, eating few meals during the 160 miles through the woods. 

When he arrived he found his wife, believing him dead, had re¬ 
turned to her father’s home. He assembled his sixty men and pre¬ 
pared for the attack of 400 Indians. 

The attack was made, British and Canadians being among the 
savages under Chief Blackfish. A parley of two days was agreed to, 
but Boone used the time to better protect the fort. 

After a fierce fight lasting nine days the Indians gave up and 
started home, leaving behind thirty-seven dead and many wounded. 
Boone lost two men and had four wounded. 

In 1780 Squire Boone was killed and Daniel had a narrow escape 
from capture. 

In 1782 Boone was commissioned a lieutenant colonel. One of 
his sons was killed and the other wounded. 

Kentucky was admitted as a State February 4, 1791. Boone’s 
restless spirit then moved him westward and in 1795 he settled in Mis¬ 
souri. He died September 26, 1820, and his body was buried beside 
his wife, who had died seven years before. 

In 1845 Boone’s remains were re-interred near Frankfort, Ky. 


INDIAN WAR ENDS 


739 


General Sir Guy Carleton Puts End to 
Indian War October 23, 1782 

FTER the murder of Colonel William Crawford, which oc¬ 
curred June, 1782, about five miles west of Upper Sandusky, 
the Scots and other frontiersmen were saddened but far from 
being discouraged. 

The fugitives of the ill-fated expedition to the Sandusky 
had hardly returned to their homes along the western frontier 
of Pennsylvania when they began preparations for another expedition. 

The borderers possessed a fierce determination to crush out the “red 
vipers ’ and one more trip into the Indian country soon as harvest was 
gathered was but an incident in their exciting life. 

General William Irvine, the commandant at Fort Pitt, was urged to 
command, and principal men of that vicinity agreed to furnish the 
provisions, not only for the volunteers but for the regular troops. 

The General determined to lead the expedition if he should be satis¬ 
fied with its size and equipment. Men who were too aged for service 
agreed to furnish the horses and provisions. 

It was intended to start early in August, but the summer had been 
so dry that the mills could not grind until the Water was sufficient, so 
a postponement was announced until September 20. 

General Irvine kept the State Government advised of the prepara¬ 
tions on the frontier and at the same time intimated that State and 
Congress would materially assist in the enterprise. 

After a conference between members of Congress and the Supreme 
Executive Council a recommendation was made, September 1, 1782, to 
General Washington that the General Government should aid in this 
campaign against the savages. It was an opportune moment as opera¬ 
tions in the East were quiet and peace was soon expected with Great 
Britain. 

General Washington agreed that three expeditions should penetrate 
the Indian country, each to be composed of regulars, militia and volun¬ 
teers, and Congress voted to bear the expenses of the regular troops. 

Brigadier General Irvine was to command in person the expedition 
which would move from Fort Pitt against the Wyandot and Delaware 
on the Sandusky River; Major General James Potter, of Northumber¬ 
land County, was to advance from Sunbury into the Seneca land, in 
the Genesee Valley of New York State, and a third expedition was to 
be sent by the State of New York against the Eastern Iroquois in the 
vicinity of Oswego. 

Two companies of militia, one from York and the other from Cum- 








740 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


berland County, were sent to Westmoreland to guard its settlements 
while its own men were absent in the Indian country. 

Detachments of Colonel Moses Hazen’s “Canadian Regiment” sta¬ 
tioned at Lancaster and Carlisle were ordered to march to Fort Pitt 
and there join General Irvine, who had at that post two companies of 
the Eighth Pennsylvania regiment, commanded by Captains Samuel 
Brady and John Clark. 

General Lincoln, Secretary of War, proposed that General Irvine’s 
force should aggregate 1200 men and set October 8 as the date to begin 
the campaign, and assured General Irvine that the additional troops 
would be there by that time. 

While preparations were being made the Indians struck a blow 
against the border. Early in September, Captain Andrew Bradt and 
forty Canadian Rangers and 238 Indians, Wyandot, Delaware and 
Shawnee, set out from Upper Sandusky to attack Wheeling. 

Fort Henry, at that place, was defended by twenty-seven men, only 
eighteen of whom were fit for duty. One swivel gun, which had been 
discarded by the French and thrown into the river when Fort Duquesne 
was evacuated in 1758, had been recovered by the pioneers and again 
set up. 

All the inhabitants of that neighborhood flocked to the stockade on 
the news of the approach of the enemy. Colonel Ebenezer Zane was 
in command of the garrison. 

Captain Bradt’s force crossed the Ohio and paraded in front of Fort 
Henry in the evening of Wednesday, September 11. The captain dis¬ 
played the British flag and demanded a surrender, which was promptly 
rejected, and soon firing was opened on the fort from long range. 

At midnight the savages attempted to carry the fort by storm, but 
were repulsed. The French swivel gun proved to be more than a relic 
and rendered a good account of itself, and especially as the Indians were 
much afraid of any sort of cannon. 

Two more attempts to gain by storm were made before daybreak, 
and both proved futile. The enemy, however, kept up a steady fire 
during the day. Captain Bradt sent a Negro to the fort with a second 
demand for surrender, and during Thursday night a fourth desperate 
attempt to take the fort by storm was made. 

Again the brave riflemen repulsed the savage horde and broke their 
spirit, and they retired and recrossed the Ohio. Only one defender was 
wounded in the foot. 

After the failure to invest Wheeling, seventy of the Indians who cut 
loose from the main force and went for scalps and plunder, attacked 
the blockhouse of Abraham Rice, on Buffalo Creek, within the present 
Donegal Township, Washington County. 

Six men in that blockhouse successfully defended it from 2 o’clock 
in the afternoon of September 13 until 2 o’clock the following morning. 


BRULE EXPLORES SUSQUEHANNA RIVER 741 


They killed four Indians and lost one of their own number, George 
Felebaum, who was shot in the brain while looking through a loophole. 

The savages killed many cattle and burned the barn. On their 
return toward the Ohio they met and killed two settlers who were 
going to the relief of Rice’s blockhouse. This was the last invasion of 
Western Pennsylvania by a large body of Indians. 

While General Irvine was impatient that Hazen’s regulars did 
not arrive, on October 23, he received word from Philadelphia that 
the Indian war was at an end and that his expedition was counter¬ 
manded. 

To the credit of General Sir Guy Carleton is due the cessation of 
the Indian depredations. Soon after his appointment he was shocked 
by the cruel burning of Colonel William Crawford and other American 
prisoners, and he immediately put an end to the six years of terrible 
savage butchery. 

General Washington learned of General Carleton’s action Septem¬ 
ber 23, when he directed the authorities in Philadelphia to stop Gen¬ 
eral Potter at Sunbury from marching to Fort Pitt. 

On September 27 General Lincoln ordered Generals Hazen and 
Irvine to call off the expedition. The former immediately returned with 
his command to Lancaster. The letter to General Irvine was not 
promptly delivered and Captain Samuel Brady found the bearer at 
a wayside inn, and he hurried the intelligence to General Irvine too 
late. 

But in the autumn of 1782, the sorely harried frontiersmen 
were encouraged to believe their distresses were at an end, and 
with much joy they were able to participate in the first general 
Thanksgiving Day celebrated in the United States on the last Thursday 
of November. 


Susquehanna River First Explored by 
Etienne Brule in October, 1615 

WO great waters south of Pennsylvania admit ships from 
Europe, and by them white men came. Their first approach 
was up the Chesapeake. 

Captain John Smith sailed from the colony of Jamestown, 
Va., July 24, 1608, on an exploring expedition, and his little 
craft, bearing thirteen souls, was propelled with sail and oar, 
Even with such a vessel he experienced some danger and suffered 
privations, before he pushed as far up the “northwest branch” as he 
could. This, of course, was the Susquehanna River. 

Captain Smith first saw the Susquehanna Indians, and he is the one 







742 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


explorer who has given us a fine account of the country he visited and 
the people he met. 

Twelve months after Captain Smith’s visit to the head of the Chesa¬ 
peake, Henry Hudson, in the “Half Moon,” sailed along the Atlantic 
Coast and discovered the existence of the Delaware Bay, on August 28, 
1609. 

But neither Captain John Smith nor Henry Hudson entered Penn¬ 
sylvania. They approached or reached the open doorway, but it is not 
certain either came inside. The first actual visit of a white man was not 
made until six years after Hudson’s call at the Capes. 

The first exploration of the Susquehanna River for its entire length 
was made in the fall, winter and spring of 1615-16 by Etienne (Stephen) 
Brule, a Frenchman in the employ of Samuel Champlain, the first Gov¬ 
ernor of New France. He entered Pennsylvania via the North Branch 
the latter part of October, 1615. 

A narrative of Brule’s explorations is given by John G. Shea and 
is to the effect that Brule crossed from Lake Ontario to the headwaters 
of the Susquehanna, descended the North Branch, and furnished the 
Jesuit Fathers with the earliest information we have of the aborigines 
of that section. 

The glowing description which Brule gave of these Neuters led 
Father de la Roche Daillon to visit them. Brule must have been among 
these Indians as early as 1610, and perhaps earlier. He was one of the 
first Europeans ever to visit the Huron country and acquire a knowledge 
of their language. 

Brule was a dauntless woodsman, interpreter and guide and seems to 
have possessed the requisite quantity of genuine bravado to have done 
the things with which he is credited. 

September 8, 1615, when Champlain was preparing to join the 
Huron in their expedition against their ancient enemies, the Iroquois, 
Brule set out with a party of twelve Huron from Upper Canada for the 
town of Carantouan on the Susquehanna, to obtain their co-operation 
against the common enemy. The Indians formed part of the confederacy 
known later as the Andastes. 

Brule, with his little band of Huron, crossed from Lake Ontario to 
the Susquehanna, defeated on the way a war-party of Iroquois and 
entered Carantouan in triumph. 

This was that tribe’s principal town and was palisaded. From 
this town they could send out 800 warriors, which would indicate a 
total population of 4000 souls. Brule obtained here a force of 500 
Carantouan, and they set out to join Champlain and the Huron; but 
as they proceeded slowly, they reached the Iroquoian town only to 
find that Champlain had attacked it with his force, had failed, had 
himself been wounded, and had returned to Canada. 

Brule and his allies returned to Carantouan, and here Brule re- 


BRULE EXPLORES SUSQUEHANNA RIVER 743 


mained the rest of the autumn and winter, “for lack of company and 
escort home.” 

While thus waiting Brule explored the country and visited tribes 
adjacent to that region. He explored along the river “that debouches 
in the direction of Florida,” and left the neighborhood of Oneida, N. Y., 
in the fall of 1615, and descended the Susquehanna River to at least the 
present Pennsylvania-Maryland boundary. This is evidenced by the 
fact that in the report of his journey he refers to meeting with tribes 
who complained of the harshness of the Dutch. 

Certainly these early settlers had not gone far from the mouth of 
the great rivers at this early date, even to explore the country. He 
reported many warlike nations carrying on wars against each other; the 
climate as very temperate, and great numbers of animals and an abun¬ 
dance of small game. 

He continued his course “along the river as far as the sea, and to 
islands and lands near them, which are inhabited by various tribes and 
large numbers of savages, who are well disposed and love the French 
above all nations. But those who know the Dutch complain severely 
of them, since they treat them roughly.” 

When he attempted to rejoin his countrymen, his party was attacked 
and scattered by the Iroquois and Brule, losing his way, entered an 
Iroquois village. He tried to convince them that he was not of the 
same nation of whites who had just been attacking them, but the savages 
fell upon him, tore out his nails and beard and began to burn him in 
different parts of the body. 

He was far from being an exemplary character, but wore an Agnus 
Dei, and when the Indians went to tear this from his neck he threatened 
them with the vengeance of heaven. Just then a terrible thunderstorm 
came up, his tormentors fled in all directions and the chief of the tribe 
released Brule. 

After this he spent some time with them. They escorted him on 
a four days’ journey to visit the Huron tribe on Lake Huron. 

He found Champlain in 1618, and made his report to him. It was 
apparently on this return trip that he passed through the territory of 
the Neuters, as it would be his safest course. 

It may be well to record here the ultimate fate of this intrepid 
adventurer. In 1623 he was in Quebec, where he was sent to meet and 
bring down the Huron coming to trade. He returned with them, 
leading a very dissolute life among the Indians. 

Sagard, in his “History of Canada,” says when Kirk took Quebec 
Brule deserted the French and went over to the English. He was sent 
up to the Huron, in 1629, in the interest of the English, notwithstanding 
the bitter reproaches of his old commander, Champlain. Sagard further 
states that the traitorous conduct of Brule provoked the Huron, who put 
him to death and devoured him. 


744 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The Jesuits do not mention this fate, but intimate that he met his 
death at the town of Toanchain, about one mile from Thunder Bay. 

Such was the fate of the man who was the first to cross from Lake 
Ontario to the Susquehanna and pass from the villages of the Iroquois 
through neutral country to the shores of Lake Huron. Certainly he was 
the first European to discover the picturesque beauty of the great Sus¬ 
quehanna River. 


John Harris, Who Laid Out Harrisburg, 
Had Narrow Escape, October 25, 1755 

OHN HARRIS, SR., built his log house on the bank of the 
Susquehanna River where the City of Harrisburg now stands 
in the year of 1705. This building was subsequently stockaded 
and became known as Fort Harris. 

Harris was especially an Indian trader, but engaged largely 
in agriculture. It is said of him that he was the first person 
to use a plow on the Susquehanna, and moreover, that “he was as 
honest a man as ever broke bread.” 

The elder Harris was born in the County of Yorkshire, England, of 
Welsh parents, in the year 1673, and was brought up in the trade of his 
father, that of a brewer. He was of middle age when he emigrated to 
America and located in Philadelphia, where he became a contractor for 
cleaning and grading the streets of the city. He married Esther Say, an 
English lady, who possessed a remarkable personality and was noted for 
her extraordinary energy and learning. 

In January, 1705, John Harris was given a license to “seat himself 
on the Susquehanna, and to erect such buildings as are necessary for his 
trade, and to enclose and improve such quantities of land as he shall 
think fit.” 

He tarried at Conewago awhile, but soon learned of the beauty 
and superior advantages of Paxtang, and that the best fording-place 
on the Susquehanna was near there, so he removed and, immediately 
upon his arrival, commenced the erection of a home and storehouse, 
which were subsequently to figure so conspicuously in the pioneer history 
of the young Province. 

In connection with his farming he established a ferry which became 
known throughout the entire Eastern section of the United States. 

Miss Wharton, in her delightful story, “In Old Pennsylvania 
Towns,” refers to the elder Harris as follows: 

“John Harris is said to have lived on fairly good terms with the 
surrounding Indians, but one thrilling experience of his is among the 
cherished traditions of Harrisburg. 

“It seems that a band of roving Indians from the Carolinas halted 








JOHN HARRIS 


745 


at his trading post to exchange their goods probably for rum, of which 
the savages already had too much. They became riotous in their drunken 
revelry and, demanding more rum, were refused by Mr. Harris, who 
began to fear harm from his visitors. 

“Not to be denied they again demanded ‘Lum’ and, seizing him, 
they took him to a mulberry tree near by and bound him to it, intending 
to burn him after they had helped themselves to his stores. 

“Before the savages were able to carry out their evil designs, some 
friendly Indians arrived on the scene, having been warned of the danger 
of his master by Hercules, a faithful colored servant of Mr. Harris. It 
is said that these friendly Indians had come to the rescue of Mr. Harris 
in consequence of some act of kindness which they had received from 
him. 

“The grave of Mr. Harris may be seen in the river bank opposite 
the Cameron house and is now inclosed by a railing. He is buried under 
the mulberry tree to which he had once been bound, and at his feet 
rest the remains of the faithful Hercules, who had saved his master’s 
life. 

“There are men living in Harrisburg who remember the stump of 
the historic mulberry tree which residents of Harrisburg preserved for 
years by applying cement and plaster and later a shoot from the original 
tree flourished and bore fruit to which children strolling along the river 
bank would stop and help themselves.” 

He died in 1748, and was succeeded by his son, who was born in the 
original Harris home, or Fort Harris, in 1727. 

He was the first white child born in Pennsylvania west of the 
Conewago hills. He was carried to Philadelphia by his mother for the 
purpose of being baptized, and according to the parish register of Christ 
Church, in Philadelphia, this event was duly solemnized September 22, 
1728, his age at that time being eleven months. 

When only a young man, John Harris, Jr., was occasionally em¬ 
ployed by the Province of Pennsylvania to transact important business 
with the Indians at critical periods. 

His house was frequently visited by the aborigines, and several very 
important conferences were held there between the several tribes of 
Indians on the Susquehanna, Ohio, etc., and the Provincial Government 
of Pennsylvania. 

Under the will of his father he became possessed of 700 acres of 
land, on a part of which he later laid out the city of Harrisburg. 

John Harris, Jr., was an energetic and an extensive farmer and an 
Indian trader, who enjoyed the confidence of the Indians to an unusual 
degree. His ferry became the most prominent place along the frontier. 

Prior to 1754, he had been sent on an Indian mission to Ohio, and at 
the same time to notice the practical route from his ferry to Logstown. 
He performed his errand satisfactorily. 


746 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Having accepted an Indian agency he was faithful to his charge, 
both to the Indians and the Provincial Government. The latter was 
kept constantly advised of happenings among the frontier settlements, 
for at this time many of the Ohio Indians had already taken up the 
hatchet against the English. 

He frequently visited the Indians at Shamokin (now Sunbury), and 
when the French and Indians had committed atrocious murders upon the 
frontier inhabitants he, aided by others, rushed to their rescue and often 
buried the bodies of the slain. 

These missions were frequently carried out under great hardship 
and danger. The most serious experience in the life of John Harris 
occurred October 25, 1755, when the party he was leading from Shamo¬ 
kin was attacked near Mahanoy Creek by Indians lying in ambush and 
four of his party were killed and four drowned. The person riding on 
the same horse with Harris was shot and killed, and a moment later 
the horse was killed and Harris compelled to flee for safety by swim¬ 
ming the river. 

John Harris was a sincere patriot. When the independence of the 
colonies was being agitated he thought it premature, fearing that the 
colonies were unequal to the task of combating with Great Britain, 
but when independence was declared, he advanced £3000 to carry on 
the contest. 

He was a man of keen foresight. He understood the natural ad¬ 
vantages of Harris’ Ferry, and twenty years before he laid out the town, 
he observed that it would be a place of business and the seat of the 
government of Pennsylvania. 

When he laid out Harrisburg in 1785, he conveyed, with other 
property, four acres on Capitol Hill, east of the present State buildings, 
for public use. 

After a life of usefulness, he closed his eventful career, July 29, 
1791, and his remains rest in the old Paxton Presbyterian Church grave¬ 
yard alongside of the illustrious fellow-patriot, William Maclay, whose 
daughter was his loving and devoted wife. 


ALBANY TREATY FAILS 


747 


Fail to End Warfare Through Treaty at 
Albany, October 26, 1745 

URING the minority of Richard and Thomas Penn the 
Proprietary Land Office'had been closed from 1718 to 1732, 
and many immigrants seated themselves without title on such 
vacant lands as suited their convenience. 

The number of such immigrants entitled them to great 
consideration. Their rights accruing by priority of settlement 
were recognized by the public and passed, together with their improve¬ 
ments, through many hands, in confidence that they would receive pro¬ 
prietary sanction. 

Much agitation was produced when the Provincial proclamation 
required all who had not obtained and paid for warrants to pay to the 
Receiver General, within four months, the sums due for their lands, 
under penalty of ejectment. As a consequence many and great difficulties 
arose. The Assembly sought to compromise the matter by postponement 
of payment of the purchase money for several years. 

Great Britain and Spain declared war October 23, 1739, and the old 
troubles between the Governor and Assembly again appeared to disturb 
the peace of the Government. The Assembly refused to support Eng¬ 
land with money or troops and Governor Thomas was compelled to raise 
Pennsylvania’s quota of 400 men by his own exertion. This he ac¬ 
complished in three months, but many of his recruits were bond-servants 
willing to exchange their service and freedom dues for nominal liberty 
and soldier’s pay. 

In March, 1744, hostilities were openly declared between Great 
Britain and France. The peaceful era in the Province was now at an 
end,- and the dark cloud of the cruel savage warfare began to gather on 
the western frontier. 

The lands acquired by the infamous “Indian Walk,” and those of the 
Shawnee, which were purchased without their consent, were now to 
be paid for by the blood of the settlers. 

The Delaware Indians refused to leave the forks of the Delaware, 
even though the “walk” had determined these lands belonged to the 
Proprietary. The Six Nations were called upon to order off the Dela¬ 
ware, which they did in an overbearing manner. The Delaware retired 
to Wyoming Valley and the forks of the Susquehanna, at Shamokin, with 
this additional wrong done them rankling in their breasts. 

Franklin published his “Plain Truth” in an endeavor to conciliate 
the Assembly and the Governor and awaken them both to the importance 
of military preparations. Franklin was appointed a Colonel, but de¬ 
clined. He preferred to wield the pen, with which he could be of far 




748 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


greater influence to the province. James Logan justified defensive war 
and assisted with his means. 

Defenses were erected below the City of Philadelphia from funds 
raised for the purpose by means of a public lottery, in which many 
Quakers sowed a seed, trusting it would bring forth an hundredfold. 

These military preparations were necessary for two purposes: to 
intimidate a foreign enemy and to curb the hostile disposition of the 
Indians. 

The alienation of the Indians was greatly to be dreaded, and Gov¬ 
ernor Thomas called Conrad Weiser, the provincial interpreter, to the 
service and dispatched him on a mission to Shikellamy the great viceger¬ 
ent at Shamokin (now Sunbury), to renew the assurances of friendship 
and to propose his mediation between the Indians and the Government 
of Virginia, occasioned by an unpleasant encounter between some Onon¬ 
daga and Oneida with the English while on an expedition against the 
Tallapoosa, resident of that colony. 

Weiser was happily successful and a treaty was held the ensuing 
summer. The Indians refrained from hostility in the meantime. 

The treaty was convened at Lancaster, June 22, 1744, and ended 
July 4 following. It was attended by Governor Thomas in person, and 
by commissioners of Maryland and Virginia. 

All matters of dispute were satisfactorily settled, and the Iroquois 
engaged to prevent the French and their Indian allies from marching 
through their country to attack the English settlements. 

This conference did not, however, remove causes for future dis¬ 
quiet, occasioned by the encroachments of the settlers and the unfair 
conduct of the Indian traders. 

The Shawnee, on the Ohio, allied to the French interest, now as¬ 
sumed a hostile attitude. A great convention was held at Albany, 
October 26, 1745, to which commissioners from New York, Massachu¬ 
setts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania were sent. 

The Six Nations were urged to take up the hatchet against the 
French and become parties in the war, but the Indians showed no 
disposition to enter the contest, and the result of the conference was 
far from being satisfactory. 

In May, 1746, Governor Thomas was directed by the Crown to 
raise forces for a conquest of Canada. After much delay, the Assembly 
voted £5000, and Governor Thomas raised four companies of over one 
hundred men each, commanded by Captain William Trent, John Shan¬ 
non, Samuel Perry and John Deimer, who marched at once to Albany. 

The attempt on Canada was postponed, but the troops were retained 
nearly eighteen months along the Hudson to intimidate the Indians. 

John Penn died, and at a meeting of the Assembly held May 5, 
1747, Governor Thomas communicated the news of his death, and at 
the same time, on account of his own ill-health, he resigned his office. 


WILSON ON INDIAN MISSION 


749 


On the departure of Governor Thomas, the executive administration 
devolved upon the Council, of which Anthony Palmer was president, 
until the arrival of James Hamilton, son of Andrew Hamilton, former 
Speaker of the Assembly, as Lieutenant Governor, November 23, 1749. 

The crops were abundant in 1751 and 1752, but these years of plenty 
were followed by a season of want, covering the years 1753-1755, and 
on the heels of it came Indian hostilities. 

The progress of the white population toward the west irritated the 
Indians. Especially was this true of the Scotch-Irish, who seated them¬ 
selves on the west of the Susquehanna, on the Juniata, and in the Great 
and Little Coves formed by the Kittatinny and the Tuscarora hills, 
and at the Big and Little Connolloways. 

The French applied themselves to seduce the Indians from their 
allegiance to the English. The Shawnee had already joined them, the 
Delaware awaited an opportunity to avenge their wrongs, and of the 
Six Nations, the Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca were wavering. 

To keep the Indians in favor of the Province required much cunning 
diplomacy and expensive presents. A chain of forts and the maintenance 
of a military force, drew heavily on the Provincial purse, and it is but 
little wonder that the Assembly and the Proprietaries early divided on 
questions involving taxes and expenditures. The French and Indian 
War soon broke in all its fierceness. 


William Wilson Sent on Important Mission 
to Ohio Indians After Fort Pitt Treaty, 
October 27, 1775 

ARLY in the Revolution the Continental Congress opened 
negotiations for peace with the Indians. The frontier was 
divided into three Indian departments, of which the middle 
department included the tribes west of Pennsylvania and 
Virginia. 

Congress named a committee, consisting of Benjamin Frank¬ 
lin and James Wilson, of Pennsylvania, and Patrick Henry, of Virginia, 
to hold a treaty with the Indians at Fort Pitt. 

This treaty was assembled October 27, 1775, with the Seneca, Dela¬ 
ware, Shawnee and Wyandot tribes, represented by their leading chiefs. 
Guyasuta, the principal Seneca, also represented the Iroquois, and he 
presumed to speak also for the Western tribes, which so aroused the ire 
of White Eyes, the Delaware orator, that his tribe declared their abso¬ 
lute independence. 

The council was neither harmonious nor entirely successful, and the 
English soon bribed the Indians to take up the hatchet against the 







750 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Colonists. This they were easily able to accomplish, as they made 
tempting offers and made a greater display of military prowess. 

During the treaty at Fort Pitt the commission selected John Gibson 
as Indian agent for the Ohio tribes, but he was soon succeeded by Richard 
Butler. 

Early in 1776 Congress assumed direct control of the Indian agencies 
and placed George Morgan in charge of the most important post at 
Fort Pitt. 

Morgan was a man of education, high family connections and 
considerable wealth. His home was in Princeton, N. J., but he owned 
a mercantile establishment in Philadelphia, and as agent of his own trad¬ 
ing house he had traveled extensively in the Indian country, from the 
Allegheny to Illinois. 

He arrived at Pittsburgh May 1, 1776, and immediately opened 
negotiations for a better treaty with the Indians. He sent agents with 
pacific messages among the tribes, employing in this service William 
Wilson, Peter Long, Simon Girty and Joseph Nicholson. 

The mission upon which he sent Wilson was the most important. 
He was an Indian trader and acquainted with the tribes between the 
Ohio River and Detroit. It was his duty to invite the Delaware, 
Shawnee and Wyandot chiefs to a council at Fort Pitt. 

Early in June he departed, accompanied by Nicholson. They traveled 
on horseback to the Delaware towns on the Muskingum River. There 
the chiefs accepted his invitation. He then journeyed to the seats of 
the Shawnee on the Scioto, where he found many of the warriors to be 
in a very doubtful humor. 

The chief sachem, Hardman, and the brave war chief, Cornstalk, 
were inclined to peace, but advised that they had received an invitation 
to take part in a great council with the British Governor at Detroit, and 
must go there first. 

While Wilson was yet at the Shawnee towns, Morgan himself 
arrived there, and endeavored to arrange a definite date for the treaty. 

Before Morgan departed for Fort Pitt, he handed to Wilson a large 
peace belt of wampum and a written message to deliver to the Wyandot 
chief. When Wilson and Nicholson departed, they were accompanied 
by Cornstalk, but they advanced only as far as Pluggystown, on the 
Upper Scioto. This place was inhabited by renegade Indians. 

The chief, Pluggy, was a Mohawk, and his followers, called Mingo, 
were horse thieves and murderers. Pluggy’s warriors formed a plot to 
seize Wilson and Nicholson and carry them to the British fort at 
Detroit, where a handsome reward would be theirs. 

This plan was revealed to Cornstalk, who advised the white men to 
flee to the Delaware town of Coshocton. They were barely able to 
escape by night and arriving at Coshocton, they placed themselves under 
the protection of old King Newcomer. 


WILSON ON INDIAN MISSION 


751 


That venerable sachem, believing it would not now be safe for Wil¬ 
son to proceed to Sandusky, lest the Mingo should waylay the trail, 
sent Killbuck, a noted Delaware war captain, to bear the American 
message to the Wyandot chiefs. Killbuck returned eleven days later 
with the message the Wyandots wished to see Wilson in person as an 
evidence of his good intentions, but that they could not give a definite 
answer until they had consulted their great council beyond the lake. 
The seat of the nation was in Canada, near Detroit. 

Wilson determined to go to Sandusky, and the Delaware Council 
appointed White Eyes and two young warriors to accompany him. 
Nicholson had been sent back to Fort Pitt with a message to Morgan. 
Wilson was joined later by John Montour, a grandson of the famous 
Madam Montour, and he served Wilson faithfully. 

Before reaching Sandusky Wilson learned that the Wyandot chief 
had gone to the Detroit Council, and he therefore made up his mind 
to venture into the immediate neighborhood of the British post, so 
that he might deliver his message to the Wyandot chief. 

It was the decision of a brave and bold man. He was received 
with apparent friendliness by a majority of the chiefs and on September 
2 he addressed them in council, presenting his peace belt and message 
from Morgan. He invited them to attend the council at Fort Pitt 
twenty-five days from that time. 

The next morning the Wyandot betrayed Wilson’s presence to the 
British commander, Colonel Henry Hamilton. They returned the belt 
to Wilson and advised him to explain his errand to the British official. 

Wilson, White Eyes and John Montour were compelled to go with 
the Wyandots to the great Council House in Detroit. Wilson frankly 
announced his purpose to the Lieutenant Governor, again presented the 
peace belt and the written message to the Wyandot chief and handed 
the articles to Colonel Hamilton. 

The British commander addressed the Indians, saying those who 
bore this message were enemies to his King, and before he would 
take any of them by the hand he would suffer his ‘right hand to be 
cut off. 

Hamilton thereupon tore up the speech, cut the belt in pieces and 
scattered the fragments about the Council House. He then spoke to 
the Wyandot Indians in French, which Wilson did not understand. 
Hamilton abused Montour for aiding the colonists and denounced White 
Eyes, whom he ordered to leave Detroit in twenty-four hours if he 
valued his life. 

Hamilton, notwithstanding his anger, respected Wilson’s character 
as an ambassador and gave him safe conduct through the Indian country. 
The trader returned to Fort Pitt much discouraged by the outlook 
and reported to Morgan that the Wyandot would go on the warpath. 
The Mingo were already in the British service. 


752 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


In spite of Hamilton’s opposition, Indians of four tribes attended 
the council with the “rebels” at Fort Pitt, in the latter part of October. 
The Delaware sent their ruling chiefs; the Wyandot sent Half King; 
the Shawnee, the great Cornstalk, and the distant Ottawa sent one 
sachem. Costly presents were given them by the commissioners, and 
effusive peace speeches were made by the savages, but only the Delaware 
were sincere. 


James Logan, Penn’s Secretary and Trusted 
Friend and Agent, Born October 
28,1674 

HE lives of men like James Logan ennoble the pages of history 
and make its study an elevating pursuit and a reinforcement 
to the resources of public morality. This man was worthy 
the compliment which the great vicegerent Shikellamy paid 
him, when he named his son in his honor; he was worthy to 
have been the trusted friend of William Penn, and to have 
had Benjamin Franklin for his printer. 

The world has not produced many men, who, after forty years spent 
in the whirl and muddy currents of active business and intense political 
strife, can, with clean hands and unsullied reputation, calmly step aside 
out of the turmoil and retire to the company of his books, to endow a 
library and make a translation of Cicero’s “De Senectute,” printing it, 
as the writer himself pleasantly says, “in a large and fair character so 
that old men may not be vexed by the defective eyesight in reading what 
was so appropriate to their years.” 

James Logan was born in Lurgan, Ireland, October 28, 1674. His 
father, Patrick Logan, grandson of Sir Robert Logan of Restairig, 
Scotland, sprang from that stock of proud Scottish lairds, distinguished 
for long pedigrees and barren acres, whose children have lent their 
genius to the service of the world. 

James Logan was a lad of precocious mind—at sixteen he knew 
Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and made rapid progress in mathematics. 
He afterwards mastered French, Italian and Spanish, and probably 
Dutch and German. He became familiar with several Indian dialects. 

He went into trade as a linen-draper’s apprentice in Dublin, then 
in the Bristol trade for himself. 

At Bristol, in 1698, he met William Penn, and became his private 
secretary and devoted follower ever after. 

In the year 1699, he sailed with William Penn on his second visit 








JAMES LOGAN 


753 


to his province in America. In mid-ocean another ship came into sight, 
and as England and France were at war, all feared that the strange 
vessel might be an enemy. The crew prepared for action. Penn and 
his friends, who did not believe in warfare, went below. Only one of 
Penn’s party remained on deck to help defend the ship, James Logan. 

Soon Logan went below to tell Penn that the strange vessel was 
English, when Penn reproved him for undertaking to engage in fighting, 
as he was a Quaker. The young man replied with spirit: “Why did 
thee not order me to come down? Thee was willing enough that I 
should stay and help to fight, when thee thought there was danger!” 

Penn expected to stay in Pennsylvania the rest of his life, but on 
his visit he was able to spend less than two years here. But during his 
stay, Logan had become not only a helper but also an intimate friend. 

Penn trusted his secretary to the utmost, and when he sailed away, 
left all his affairs in Pennsylvania under Logan’s direction. “I have left 
thee in an uncommon trust,” wrote Penn, “with a singular dependence 
on thy justice and care.” 

There was no mistake in trusting James Logan. He kept Penn in¬ 
formed of everything, and scrupulously attended to all Penn’s business 
affairs. 

William Penn never came back to see his province again. During 
the last six years of his life his mind failed, so that his wife, Hannah, 
carried on all business for him. Had it not been for James Logan, 
poverty would often have oppressed the great founder and his family. 

From the moment of Penn’s departure, in 1701, to Logan’s death, 
1751, he was always the power behind the proprietary throne, wielding 
what was sometimes almost absolute authority with singular propriety 
and judgment. 

He was secretary of the province, commissioner of property, and of 
Indian affairs, member and president of Council, acting Governor, and 
chief justice. 

After more than twenty-five years of residence in Philadelphia, 
Logan decided to build a country home for himself. He erected a fine 
mansion, which he called Stenton, near the Old York Road. Here he 
lived for nearly a quarter century more. 

His thigh was broken in a fall, and he was compelled to live retired, 
but his love of books was so constant and sincere that the pursuit of 
literature became his passion. 

But even in seclusion he never neglected his public duties for his 
private tastes. Many important affairs of state were transacted at 
Stenton, which was nearly always surrounded by deputations of Indians, 
who camped about the house to seek advice and favors from their 
honored friend “hid in the bushes.” As many as a hundred Iroquois 
once stayed at Stenton for three days as Logan s guests. 

Thomas Godfrey’s improvements in the quadrant were made at 


754 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Stenton under Logan’s eye, and Franklin and he worked together with 
a thorough appreciation of each other’s good qualities. 

The British determined to burn Stenton, when they captured Phila¬ 
delphia, but the cleverness of an old Negro woman servant saved the 
historic mansion. Lord Howe afterwards made Stenton his headquar¬ 
ters. 

Now the famous house, quite two hundred years old, is owned 
by the Philadelphia Society of Colonial Dames, and is kept in good 
condition and open for visitors. It stands near the station at Wayne 
Junction. 

Logan was an unsuccessful suitor for the hand of Ann, daughter of 
Edward Shippen, who married Thomas Story. His wife was Sarah 
Read, daughter of a wealthy merchant of Philadelphia, to whom he was 
wedded eight years after his ill-success with Miss Shippen. 

His children were not literary in their tastes and it was on this 
account that he left his library to Philadelphia, endowing it for its per¬ 
petual maintenance, with the Springettsbury Manor property which he 
had received from Penn’s estate. 

Logan was a fine type, dignified yet courteous, and his conversation 
was quiet and reserved. 

Gordon says, “Never was power and trust more safely bestowed for 
the donor. The secretary faithfully devoted his time and his thoughts 
to promote the interests of his master, and bore with firmness, if not 
with cheerfulness, the odium which his unlimited devotion drew upon 
himself.” 

He died at Stenton, October 31, 1751. 


Penn Lands at Upland and Changes Name to 
Chester, October 29, 1682 

FTER William Penn issued his frame of government for his 
new Province of Pennsylvania and had sent a description of 
his property throughout England, especially among the Friends, 
offering easy terms of sale, there were many persons from Lon¬ 
don, Liverpool and Bristol who embarked in this enterprise 
and the association called “The Free Traders’ Society of Penn¬ 
sylvania” purchased large tracts of land. 

Penn then obtained a deed for the three lower counties (now the 
State of Delaware), which was duly recorded in New York November 
21, 1682. 

Having completed all arrangements for his voyage to America, Penn 
wrote an affectionate letter to his wife and children and another “to 









ARRIVAL OF WILLIAM PENN 


755 


all faithful friends in England.” Accompanied by about 100 passengers, 
mostly Friends from Sussex, he embarked in August on the ship Wel¬ 
come, a vessel of about 300 tons burden. 

After a voyage of two months they sighted the American coast about 
Egg Harbor, in New Jersey, on October 24, 1682, and reached New 
Castle, Del., on the 27th. 

On the following morning Penn produced his deeds from the Duke 
of York and received possession by the solemn “delivery of turf, and 
twig, and water, and soil of the River Delaware.” 

His arrival off the coast and passage up the river was a continuous 
demonstration of great joy by all classes—English, Dutch, Swedes, and 
especially by his devoted followers. 

The day following his landing Penn summoned the inhabitants to 
the court-house at New Castle, where, says Clarkson, “he made a speech 
to the old magistrates, in which he explained to them the design of his 
coming, the nature and end of government and of that more particularly 
which he came to establish.” 

At this time he took formal possession of the country and renewed 
the commissions of the magistrates. 

Penn then proceeded to Upland, where he arrived October 29, 1682. 
This was a memorable event, says Clarkson, and to be distinguished by 
some marked circumstances. Penn determined, therefore, to change the 
name of the place, and turning toward his friend Pearson, one 
of his own society, who had accompanied him on the ship Welcome, 
he said: 

“Providence has brought us here safe. Thou hast been the com¬ 
panion of my perils. What wilt thou that I shall call this place?” 

Pearson said, “Chester,” in remembrance of the place from which he 
came. William Penn replied, that it should be called Chester, and that 
when he divided the land into counties, one of them should be called by 
the same name. 

From Chester Penn proceeded, with some of his friends, in an open 
barge, in the earliest days of November, to a place about four miles above 
the mouth of the Schuylkill, called Coaquannock, “where there was a 
high bold shore, covered with lofty pines.” 

Here the infant city of Philadelphia had been established, and Penn’s 
approach was hailed with joy by the whole population. 

Immediately after his arrival in the “City of Brotherly Love,” Penn 
dispatched two persons to Lord Baltimore to ask of his health, offer 
kind neighborhood and agree upon a time of meeting. Penn then went 
to New York to pay his respects to the Duke, returning to Philadelphia 
before the close of November. 

It was about this time that the “Great Treaty” took place at Shack- 
amaxon. Tradition has persisted that a great treaty took place here under 
an elm tree, with William Penn, Deputy Governor Markham and 


756 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


others, and the representatives of the several Indian tribes of that and 
other localities. 

Even if tradition errs in the details of this treaty, it is a fact that the 
Indians themselves alluded to “the treaty of amity and peace held with 
the great and good Onas” on all public occasions. 

Onas was the Indian name for the Governor of Pennsylvania, and 
it is supposed that the “great and good Onas” referred particularly to 
William Penn himself. 

It is also true that for a period of forty or fifty years the treaty Penn 
made with the Indians was not broken, and the land of Penn was pre¬ 
served during all the time from the suffering of the scalping-knife, the 
tomahawk or the torch. 

William Penn convened a General Assembly at Chester, December 
4, 1682, of which Nicholas More, president of the Society of Free 
Traders, was chosen speaker. 

During a session of four days this Assembly enacted three laws: 
(1) An act for the union of the Province and Territories; (2) An act 
of Naturalization; and (3) The great law, or code of laws, consisting 
of sixty-nine sections, and embracing most of the laws agreed upon in 
England and several others afterward suggested. 

Penn, by appointment, met Lord Baltimore at West River Decem¬ 
ber 19, where he was received with great ceremony, but their interview 
led to no solution of the vexatious question of boundary. The discus¬ 
sion lasted two days, but the weather became severely cold, precluding 
the possibility of taking observations or making the necessary surveys, so 
it was agreed to adjourn further consideration of the subject until spring. 

The two Governors were taking measure of each other and gaining 
all possible knowledge of each other’s rights and claims preparatory to 
the struggle for the possession of this disputed fortieth degree of lati¬ 
tude, which case was destined to come before the home Government and 
give Penn a great deal of trouble. 

Early in 1683 Penn divided the province and territories each 
into three counties—those of the former were called Bucks, Phila¬ 
delphia and Chester; those of the latter were New Castle, Kent 
and Sussex. 

Sheriffs and other officers were appointed for the several counties, 
writs for the election of members of Council and Assembly were issued 
conformable with the Constitution, and on January 10, 1683, Penn met 
the Council in Philadelphia and the Assembly two days later. 

The Provincial Council was composed of eighteen members, three 
from each county, the Assembly fifty-four with nine from each county, 
making in all seventy-two. Thus was the Government of the province 
inaugurated, out of which has grown the great Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania. 

Penn concluded two important treaties with the Indians during June 


FORT SWATARA BUILT 


757 


and July, 1683. He also visited the interior of his province, going as 
far west as the Susquehanna River. 

The proprietary set sail for England June 12, 1684. 

Penn wrote a farewell letter to his province when on board the ves¬ 
sel, which was couched in the most endearing terms. 

After his departure the province and territories were divided into 
twenty-two townships. There were then 7000 inhabitants, of whom 
2500 resided in Philadelphia, which already comprised 300 houses. 


Frightened Settlers Build and Defend Fort 
Swatara October 30,1755 

HE stockades and small forts built along the frontiers during 
the intense excitement which followed Braddock’s defeat in 
July, 1755, have always been of great interest to local his¬ 
torians and the many citizens who reside in the vicinity of these 
provincial defenses. 

One such place, to which not a little interesting history is 
attached, was built about twelve miles east of Manada Gap, near the 
passage through the Blue Mountains, by which the Swatara Creek 
wends its way to the fertile acres below, and a few miles farther empties 
into the Susquehanna. 

In the immediate vicinity of Swatara Gap was located Fort Swatara 
or Smith’s Fort, as it was sometimes called. An unfortunate fact was 
that this fort was sometimes erroneously called Fort Henry or Busse’s 
Fort, and many incidents in and about this place are confused. 

After the disastrous beginning of the French and Indian War the 
Indians swept through the frontiers of Pennsylvania and committed ter¬ 
rible massacres. 

The news of the Penn’s Creek massacre soon reached the settlements 
on Swatara Creek and the farmers gathered together, October 30, armed 
with guns, swords, axes, pitchforks, whatever they happened to possess, 
until some 200 rendezvoused at Benjamin Spickers, near Stoucksburg, 
about six miles above Womelsdorf. 

The Rev. Mr. Kurtz* of the Lutheran faith, delivered an exhorta¬ 
tion and offered prayer, after which Conrad Weiser divided the people 
into companies of thirty each. 

They marched toward the Susquehanna, having first sent a company 
of fifty men “to Tolkeo in order to possess themselves of the Capes or 
Narrows of the Swahatawro, where we expected the enemy would come 
through,” wrote Colonel Conrad Weiser, to Governor Robert Hunter 
Morris. 



♦Reverend John Nicholas Kurtz, first Lutheran Minister in Pennsylvania. 







758 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The forces were augmented on the way, and by the time they arrived 
at Squire Adam Read’s plantation on Swatara Creek, they received the 
intelligence of the surprise and slaughter of members of Captain John 
Harris’ party at the mouth of the Mahanoy Creek. 

This news dampened the ardor of the volunteers and they soon con¬ 
cluded they could be of more effective service guarding their own fire¬ 
sides and they hurried back. The news that 500 Indians had already 
made their way through Tolkeo Gap and had killed a number of people 
did not contribute to their joy on the long march home. 

Colonel Weiser sensed the situation and fully understood he could 
not count much upon this group, so he advised them to make a breast¬ 
work of trees at Swatara Gap, promising to procure for them a 
quantity of bread and ammunition. They got as far as the top of the 
mountain; fired their guns to alarm the neighborhood, and then 
hurried back. 

Soon came the news of the murder of Henry Hartman, just over the 
mountain. When Mr. Parsons and a party went to bury the body, 
they learned that two others had been recently killed and scalped, and 
some had been captured. The roads were filled with persons fleeing 
from their homes and confusion reigned. 

It was clearly apparent that Swatara Gap must be occupied by troops 
and Colonel Weiser ordered Captain Christian Busse with his company 
of fifty men to “proceed to Tolihaio Gap, and there erect a stoccado 
fort of the form and dimensions given you, and to take posts there and 
range the woods from the fort westward towards the Swatara and east¬ 
ward towards a stoccado to be built by Cap. Morgan, about half way 
between the said fort and Fort Lebanon.” 

Governor Morris writing to Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia, Feb¬ 
ruary 1, 1756, advised him that he had arranged to build a chain of 
forts, about ten or twelve miles apart, between the Delaware and Sus¬ 
quehanna. The best is “built at an important Pass through ye Kittah- 
teny Hills, on our Northern Frontier and I have called it Fort Henry.” 
This is an error, as he should have written Fort Swatara. 

This might be proved by a letter Colonel Conrad Weiser wrote to 
Governor Morris, July 11, 1756, giving the assignment of his troops. 
He stated that the men under Captain Smith are all placed in and about 
Swatara Gap and the Manada Fort; Captain Busse’s men were at Fort 
Henry and Captain Morgan’s at Fort Northkill and Fort Lebanon. 
This definitely proves that Fort Swatara and Fort Henry were not one 
and the same place. 

The first and most important of the commanders of Fort Swatara 
was Captain Frederick Smith, whose company was recruited in Chester 
County. Captain Smith was ordered, January 26, to proceed as soon as 
possible to Swatara and in some convenient place there to erect a fort. 

Captain Adam Read and Captain Hendrick, who had been ranging 


FORT SWATARA BUILT 


759 


the mountains, were ordered to dismiss their men and turn over their 
arms and supplies to Captain Smith, all of which was done. 

Further mention of the actual building of Fort Swatara is missing, as 
is the case of Manada Fort, but it is very probable that the stockade 
erected by the settlers was occupied by the provincial troops. This was 
not a very formidable fortification, and was afterward referred to in a 
letter to Colonel Washington as “only a block house.” It may there¬ 
fore be presumed, at this late day, that it consisted of a single building, 
surrounded by a stockade. 

The many murders committed by the savages and their stealthy ap¬ 
proach, made it necessary to distribute the soldiers among the various 
farmhouses, especially during the harvest season. 

The distribution of these men was usually made under the direction 
of Colonel Weiser, at consultations with the several commanders at Fort 
Henry. 

This detail was not always satisfactory to the settlers, as may well be 
imagined. Each wanted troops to be on guard and there were never 
sufficient to supply the demand, but Captain Smith, at first negligent in 
this particular, was afterward complimented by both Colonel Weiser 
and Governor Morris for the faithful performance of his duty in the 
face of many hardships. 

At the treaty held in Easton, in 1757, Conrad Weiser once more 
acted as agent for the Proprietaries, and interpreter. He arranged for 
a guard of 110 men, who were to come from sundry forts, one of which 
was Fort Swatara. 

On February 5, 1758, Adjutant Kern reported Lieutenant Allen 
and thirty-three men at Fort Swatara, and “its distance to Fort Hunter, 
on the Susquehanna, as twenty-four miles.” 

There are frequent references to be found in the Pennsylvania Ar¬ 
chives of Paymaster Young’s visits to Fort Swatara. 

Colonel James Burd’s tour of inspection in early spring of 1758 in¬ 
cluded Fort Swatara, where he remained two days longer than desired 
on account of incessant rains. He reviewed the garrison Tuesday morn¬ 
ing, February 21. He did not seem very much pleased with conditions 
about the fort and gave orders intended to correct weaknesses. He 
ordered a cask of powder, 100 pounds of lead and blankets for the gar¬ 
rison. 

After this tour of inspection there does not seem to be much more 
recorded of the transaction of Fort Swatara. 


760 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Indian Ravages at McDowell’s Mill, Frank¬ 
lin County, October 31, 1755 

PLACE of much consequence in provincial Pennsylvania and 
frequently referred to by public officers and agents was 
McDowell’s Mill. This was located midway between the 
Reverend John Steel’s Fort and Fort Loudoun, east of Kit- 
tatinny Mountains on the east bank of the Conococheague 
Creek, in the western part of the present Franklin County. 

This defense was built in the year 1756 and was a log structure, 
rectangular in shape and provided with loop-holes. It stood until the 
year 1840. There is at present a stone house erected on or near the site 
of this old fort. 

This place was a private establishment, and the earliest public notice 
of it is in a letter written by Major General Edward Braddock to 
Governor Morris, dated June 18, 1755, signifying his approbation of 
the deposits being made at McDowell’s Mill instead of at Shippensburg. 

Governor Morris wrote to General Braddock July 3, 1755, saying 
that he had sent certain enumerated articles to Shippensburg, where 
“they will remain until I go up into the country, which will be on 
Tuesday next, and then I shall form the magazine at or near Mc¬ 
Dowell’s Mill and put some stoccados around it to protect the magazine 
and the people that will have the care of it; for without something of 
this kind, as we have no militia and the Assembly will maintain no men, 
four or five Indians may destroy the magazine whenever they please, 
as the inhabitants of that part of the Province are very much scattered. 

“I send you a plan of the fort or stoccado, which I shall make by 
setting logs of about ten feet long in the ground, so as to inclose the 
storehouses. I think to place two swivel guns in two of the opposite 
bastions, which will be sufficient to guard it against any attack of small 
arms.” 

On October 31 began incursions which lasted for several days. 
Adam Hoops wrote to Governor Morris, dated Conococheague, Novem¬ 
ber 3, 1755: 

“I am sorry I have to trouble you with this Melancholy and dis¬ 
agreeable news, for on Saturday I reed, an Express from Peters Town¬ 
ship that the Inhabitants of the great Cove were all murdered or taken 
Captive and their houses and barns all in Flames. Some few fled, upon 
notice brought them by a certain Patrick Burns, a Captive, that made 
his Escape that very Morning before this sad tragedy was done. 

“Upon this information, John Potter, Esq., and Self, sent Expresses 
through our Neighborhood, which induced many of them to Meet with 






McDOWELL’S MILL RAVAGES 


761 


us at John McDowell’s Mill, where I with many others had the un¬ 
happy prospect to see the Smoke of two houses that was set on Fire by 
the Indians, viz , Matthew Patton’s and Mesheck James’s, where their 
cattle was shot down, the horses standing bleeding with Indian Arrows 
in them, but the Indians fled. 

“The Rev. Mr. Steeel, John Potter, Esq., and Several others with 
us, to the Number of about an hundred, went in Quest of the Indians, 
with all the Expedition Imaginable, but to no Success; these Indians 
have likewise taken two Women Captives, belonging to said Township. 
I very much fear the Path Valley has undergone the same Fate. 

“We, to be sure, are in as bad Circumstances as ever any poor Chris- 
tions were in, For the Cries of the Widowers, Widows, fatherless and 
Motherless Children, with many others for their Relations, are enough 
to Pierce the hardest of hearts; Likewise it’s a very sorrowful spectacle 
to see those that Escaped with their lives with not a Mouthful to Eat, 
or Bed to lie on, or Clothes to Cover their Nakedness, or keep them 
warm, but all they had consumed into Ashes. 

“These deplorable Circumstances cries aloud for your Honours most 
Wise Consideration, that you would take Cognizance of and Grant 
what shall seem most meet, for it is really very Shocking, it must be, 
for the Husband to see the wife of his Bosom, her head cut off, and the 
Children’s blood drank like Water by these Bloody and Cruel Savages 
as We are informed has been the fate of many.” 

November 6, Hoops again wrote to Governor Morris, inclosing 
qualifications for two officers, and said: 

“Hans Hamilton is now at McDowell’s Mill with upwards of 200 
men and about 200 from this county, in all about 400 men.” 

So it may be safely presumed as a fact that Governor Morris finally 
determined to establish his magazine at McDowell’s Mills and that 
these soldiers stockaded the buildings according to the plans of Governor 
Morjris. 

On Wednesday, February 11, 1756, ’‘'two lads were taken or killed 
at the Widow Cox’s, just under Parnell’s Knob, and a lad who went 
from McDowell’s Mills to see what fire it was never returned, the 
horse coming back with reins over his neck; they burnt the House and 
shot down the Cattle.” 

Under date of March 25, 1756, Governor Morris sent the following 
to the Reverend Johri Steele: “With these Instructions you will re¬ 
ceive a Commission appointing you a Captain of a Company in the pay 
of the Province, which is to be made up by Draughts of thirteen men 
out of Each of the Companys composed by James Burd, Hans Hamil¬ 
ton, James Patterson and Hugh Mercer, Esq., * * * also a Com¬ 
mission appointing James Hollowday your Lieutenant * When 

you have formed your Company you are to take post at McDowell s 
Mills, upon the road to Ohio, which you are to make your Head Quar- 


762 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


ters, and to detach patroling partys from time to time to scour the woods. 
* * * You are to apply to Mr. Adam Hoops, for the Provincial al¬ 
lowance of Provisions for the men under your Command.” 

Governor Morris sent instructions to Elisha Salter, Commissary 
General of Musters, to proceed to McDowell’s Mill and muster the 
company under Captain John Steel, and direct him to take post at Mc¬ 
Dowell’s Mill. 

Robert Callender wrote to Governor Denny from Carlisle, dated 
November 4, 1756: “This day I received advice from Fort McDowell 
that on Monday or Tuesday last, one Samuel Perry and his two sons 
went from the Fort to their plantation, and not returning at the time 
they proposed, the commanding Officer sent there a corporal and four¬ 
teen men to know the cause of their stay, who not finding them at the 
plantation, they marched back toward the Fort, and on their return 
found the said Perry killed and scalped and covered over with leaves; 
immediately after a party of Indians, in number about thirty, appeared 
and attacked the soldiers, who returned the fire, and fought for some¬ 
time until four of our people fell, the rest of them made off—six of them 
got into the Fort, but what became of the rest is not yet known; there 
are two families cut off, but cannot tell the number of people. It is like¬ 
wise reported that the enemy in their retreat burnt a quantity of grain 
and sundry horses in the Cove.” 

The activities of Fort McDowell ceased during December, 1756, 
when Colonel John Armstrong removed the stores to Fort Loudoun, and 
increased the capacity and strength of that place. Further references 
to McDowell’s Mill are of no consequence, it being afterwards used 
by rangers who were scouting along that frontier. 


Turmoil in Lower Counties; Penn Sails for 
England, November 1, 1701 

HE Constitution, which had been under consideration for 
eighteen months, was finally adopted October 28, 1701, and 
William Penn, pressed by many claims for his presence in 
England, set sail November 1 and arrived there about the mid¬ 
dle of January. 

He had hardly landed before King William died, January 
18, and Princess Anne of Denmark succeeded him. Penn was in great 
favor with her. 

The new Constitution which Penn personally assisted in giving his 
Province was as comprehensive on the subject of civil and religious lib¬ 
erty as the former ones. 

There was established a Council of State, composed of ten members, 
chiefly Quakers and his intimate friends, of whom four made a quorum 
who were empowered “to consult and assist with the best of their advice 
the Proprietary himself or his deputies in all public affairs and matters 
relating to the government.” 

Andrew Hamilton, a native of Scotland, one of the Proprietaries of 
New Jersey, and formerly Governor of East and West Jersey, was 
appointed Deputy Governor, and James Logan Provincial Secretary and 
Clerk of the Council. 

Governor Hamilton’s administration was very brief, for he died 
while on a visit to Amboy, April 20, 1703. The government then de¬ 
volved upon the Council, of which Edward Shippen was president. 

Almost the entire attention of the Government was directed to the 
consummation of a union between the Province and Territories. 

The Territories, or Lower Counties, persisted in the absolute re¬ 
fusal to join with the Province in legislation until 1703, when it was 
finally determined and settled between them that they should compose 
different and distinct assemblies, entirely independent of each other, 
pursuant to the liberty allowed by the clause in the charter for that 
purpose. 

The proprietary selected Mr. John Evans as the successor to Gov¬ 
ernor Hamilton. He arrived in the province in February, 1704, and 
soon increased the number of the council and called to that board, with 
others, William Penn the younger, who had accompanied him to the 
province. Pursuant to the instruction of the proprietary, he earnestly 
applied himself to re-unite the province and Territories; and his lack of 
success in this measure produced an unfavorable disposition toward the 
province, which embittered his whole Administration. 

Governor Evans was but twenty-six years old when appointed, and 

763 





764 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


he was zealous and active in the proprietary’s interest; he was deficient 
in neither wit nor talents, but lacked experience, prudence and tact, and 
was offensive to the Quakers. He showed a partiality toward the lower 
counties, which produced unpleasant effects in the province. 

England was at war with France and Spain, and Evans was ordered 
by the Queen to raise an armed force in Pennsylvania, but his efforts 
proved unsuccessful. He incurred even greater unpopularity among 
the Quakers and became odius to the people of Philadelphia. 

He offended the merchants of Philadelphia, when he authorized the 
erection of a fort near New Castle, where it could be of little use to the 
province, and inward bound ships, not owned by residents, were obliged 
to deliver their half-pound of powder for each ton measurement. The 
provincialists remonstrated against this abuse in vain. 

At length Richard Hill, William Fishbourne and Samuel Preston, 
three spirited Quakers, resolved to remove the nuisance by a method 
different from any that had yet been attempted. 

Hill and his companions, on board the Philadelphia, a vessel belong¬ 
ing to the former, dropped down the river and anchored above the fort. 
Two of them went ashore and informed French, the commander, that 
their vessel was regularly cleared, demanding to pass without inter¬ 
ruption. This demand was refused, when Hill, who had been bred at 
sea, stood at the helm and passed the fort with no other injury than a 
shot through the mainsail. French pursued in an armed boat and was 
taken aboard, while his boat, cut from the vessel, fell astern, and he was 
led a prisoner to the cabin. 

Governor Evans was apprized of the matter and followed the Phila¬ 
delphia by land to New Castle and, after she had passed the fort, pur¬ 
sued her in a smaller but faster boat to Salem, where he boarded her in 
great anger, and behaved with considerable intemperance. 

Lord Cornbury, Governor of New Jersey, who was also Vice Ad¬ 
miral of the Delaware, happened to be at Salem, and the prisoners were 
taken before him. He gave them and Governor Evans, as well, a 
severe reprimand, and when all promised to behave in the future they 
were dismissed and Governor Evans was jeered. 

Following this spirited action, the fort no longer impeded the navi¬ 
gation of the Delaware. 

Governor Evans made an extended trip among the Indians, which 
began June 27, 1707. He was accompanied by several friends and serv¬ 
ants. The Conestoga and other Indians had advised him that the Nanti- 
coke of Maryland designed war against the Five Nations. Governor 
Evans visited in turn: Pequehan, on the Pequea; Dekonoagah, on the 
Susquehanna, about nine miles distant from Pequehan; Conestogoe and 
Peixtang. 

At the latter place he seized one Nicole, a French Indian trader, 
against whom heavy complaints had been made. His capture was at- 


LOST SISTER OF WYOMING’ 


765 


tended with difficulties, but he was finally secured and mounted upon a 
horse with his legs tied together, beneath the horse’s belly. 

The articles of remonstrance, subsequently addressed to the Pro¬ 
prietary by the Assembly, make it appear that the Governor’s conduct 
on this occasion and among the Indians was not free from censure, it 
being described as “abominable, and unwarrantable.” 

To add to Governor Evans’ other troubles he had a very unhappy 
misunderstanding with his secretary, James Logan, which, with the 
antagonism of the Assembly, almost paralyzed legislative action, and 
led to a most lamentable exhibition of ill-temper on the part of the 
Governor. 

Remonstrances were sent to William Penn, which tended to produce 
the very steps which the Assembly desired to guard against, of provoking 
the Governor to relinquish a troublesome and ungrateful Province to 
the Crown of England, which had long wished to possess it. 

Governor Evans was removed early in the year 1709 and Captain 
Charles Gookin appointed as his successor. Gookin was an officer in 
Earle’s Royal Regiment, quite advanced in years, and in the language 
of Penn “a man of pure morals, mild temper and moderate dis¬ 
position.” 


Indians Captured Frances Slocum, the “Lost 
Sister of Wyoming,” November 2, 1778 

MONG the many dramatic incidents in the history of the 
Wyoming Valley few, if any, are more thrilling or unusual 
than the carrying away into captivity of little Frances Slocum. 

Jonathan Slocum, a Quaker, settled at Wyoming in 1762 
and, with others who survived the awful Indian massacre of 
October 15, 1763, left the valley. 

In the autumn of 1777 he brought his wife, six sons and three daugh¬ 
ters from Rhode Island and again made his home at Wyoming. 

On Monday, November 2, 1778, Jonathan Slocum and his sons, Wil¬ 
liam and Benjamin, were at work completing their corn harvest. At 
the Slocum home were the other members of the family, together with 
Mrs. Nathan Kingsley and her two sons. About noonday the Kings¬ 
ley lads were sharpening a knife on a grindstone in the front yard. Sud¬ 
denly the crack of a rifle was heard, and Mrs. Slocum hastened to the 
front door, when she was horrified to see the lifeless body of the elder 
Kingsley boy lying on the ground. The Indian who killed him was 
preparing to scalp his victim with the very knife the boys were sharp¬ 
ening. 







766 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The terrified mother snatched her infant from the cradle, called 
to the others to run for their lives, and fled out of the rear door to 
a log fence beyond which lay a swamp, and there hid herself and her 
baby. 

Meanwhile the younger Kingsley boy and Frances Slocum, then 
five-and-a-half years old, hid themselves under a staircase; Judith Slo¬ 
cum, with her three-year-old brother Isaac, fled toward the swamp, 
while little Mary Slocum, less than ten years old, started on a run in 
the direction of Fort Wyoming, carrying in her arms her baby brother, 
aged one-and-a-half years. Ebenezer Slocum, then thirteen years old, 
was a cripple and unable to get away with the others. 

While the Slocums were fleeing from their home the Indian in their 
door-yard was joined by two others, who made their way into the house 
and quickly ransacked it. Frances Slocum and young Kingsley were 
discovered in their hiding place, and dragged forth, while Ebenezer 
Slocum was seized in another part of the house. 

Mrs. Slocum, leaving her baby behind, rushed into the presence of 
the Indians and implored the savages to release the children. She 
pointed to the crippled feet of Ebenezer and exclaimed: “The child is 
lame; he can do thee no good.” 

The Indian who had him in his grasp released him to his mother. 
She pleaded piteously for her daughter, but in vain. 

The chief Indian of the three threw Frances athwart his shoulder, 
one of the other Indians did likewise with young Kingsley, while 
the third one of the party shouldered the big bundle of plunder 
which had been taken from the house. They then dashed into the 
woods, and that was the last Mrs. Slocum ever saw of her daughter, 
Frances. 

Years later it was learned from Frances Slocum herself that she and 
young Kingsley were carried to a cave where they stayed all night. 
Early the following morning they set out and traveled for many days. 
When they arrived at the village to which the Indians belonged, young 
Kingsley was taken away and Frances never learned what became of 
him. 

The chief took Frances to an aged couple of the Delaware nation, 
who adopted her. She was given the name of Weletawash, which was 
the name of their youngest child, whom they had lately buried. 

They were living in Ontario when the Revolution ended. They 
then moved to Kekionga, the present site of the city of Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Frances states she was there long after she was full grown, and that 
she could relate incidents of Harmar’s defeat, October, 1790. In 1790 
Frances married a Delaware brave named “Little Turtle.” 

During four years of war in what is Ohio and Indiana, Frances and 
her husband and her foster-parents were almost constantly on the move. 
Her foster-father could speak English and so could Frances, until he 


“LOST SISTER OF WYOMING” 767 

died, when she lost her mother-tongue. In 1794, “Little Turtle” left 
her and went west. 

Sometime in 1795 while on the move with her foster-parents, Fran¬ 
ces discovered an Indian lying in the path suffering from wounds re¬ 
ceived in battle with the whites. She dressed his wounds and nursed 
him back to health. He supplied them with game. 

When about to leave he was promised the adopted daughter in mar¬ 
riage and Frances became the wife of Shepoconah, a chief of the Miami 
tribe. Soon thereafter her foster-parents died and Frances and her hus¬ 
band removed to Fort Wayne. 

In 1801 they, with their two sons and a daughter, removed to the 
Osage Village, on the Mississineva River, about one mile from its 
confluence with the Wabash. Here Shepoconah was made war chief, 
and Frances was admitted into the Miami tribe and given the 
name Maconaquah, signifying “A Young Bear.” Shepoconah died 
in 1832. 

After the capture of Frances her father was killed, but many efforts 
were made to obtain clues as to the whereabouts of Frances. After peace 
was declared her brothers made a journey to Fort Niagara, where they 
offered a reward of 100 guineas for the recovery of their sister. These 
brothers never gave up the search. They visited many Indian villages 
and traveled thousands of miles, even enlisting the Government and 
large parties of Indians in their search. They attended every gathering 
of Indians where white children captives were to be given up. They 
believed she still lived, and until 1797 every possible search was made, 
but the Slocums could get no trace of their captive sister during the 
life of their mother. 

In January, 1835, Colonel George W. Ewing, an Indian trader, was 
quartered in the home of Maconaquah and she related the story of her 
life to him. The next day he marveled at its mystery and wrote a 
narrative of this woman, and addressed it to the postmaster at Lan¬ 
caster, Pa. No one was interested. Two years later John W. Forney 
became the publisher of the Intelligencer and ran across this letter and 
published it, July, 1837. 

Immediately it was read by those who knew the story of the “Lost 
Sister of Wyoming.” Correspondence was started, and Joseph Slocum 
and two nephews traveled to the home of Maconaquah, where she was 
positively identified and acknowledged him as her brother, but expressed 
no inclination to leave her wigwam to partake of the comforts of his 
comfortable mansion in Wilkes-Barre. 

She said in reply to their pleadings: “No, I cannot. I have always 
lived with the Indians: they have always used me very kindly; I am 
used to them. The Great Spirit has always allowed me to live with 
them, and I wish to live and die with them.” 


768 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


She had indeed become an Indian even in looks. She thought, felt 
and reasoned like an Indian. 

The Slocums had this comfort, their “Lost Sister of Wyoming” was 
not degraded in her habits or character; her Anglo-Saxon blood had not 
been tainted by savage touch, but bore itself gloriously amid long series 
of trials through which it had passed. 

Correspondence was kept up between the relatives until the death 
of Frances, which occurred March 9, 1847. 


George Major, Chief Burgess of Mahanoy 
City, Murdered by Mollie Maguires, 
November 3, 1874 

^r>TEORGE MAJOR, the popular chief burgess of Mahanoy City, 
rjppjll died Tuesday, November 3, 1874, from the effects of pistol 
Jltll shot wounds received the Saturday previous, the assassins being 
members of the notorious Mollie Maguires. 

A great strike was in progress in the anthracite coal 

- —regions of Pennsylvania, and during such periods of intense 

excitement the Mollies were as active as a community of hornets whose 
nest some schoolboys had invaded with paddles. 

George Major had long since gained the enmity of this nefarious 
organization, and was a doomed man. 

James McParlan, a young Irishman from Chicago, was the Pinker¬ 
ton detective who lived among the Mollies, became one of them, and 
who successfully rid the State of the whole organization. 

On the day of this murder James McKenna (as McParlan was 
known to the Mollies), was in Shenandoah, but soon received intelligence 
of the affair. He was an officer of the Mollie organization and, in his 
official capacity, was detailed with Charles Hayes to go to the scene of 
the shooting and gather such particulars as it was possible to obtain. 

This information, of course, was for the use of the Mollies in event 
any of their members should be arrested for the crime, that an alibi 
could be prepared for them. 

McKenna and Hayes arrived on the scene early Monday morning, 
while the victim was yet alive, but not expected to survive that day. 

McKenna appeared particularly sad and dejected, declaring to his 
fellow Mollies that his income from his (supposed) crooked peculations 
had run several months behind, so that he had no funds to expend in 
too many treats. This was an excuse to provide him with a safe cover 
from which to carry on his observations, and he at once commenced 
hunting up the facts connected with the shooting of Burgess Major. 

Major had been shot through the left breast, two inches above the 




MURDER OF GEORGE MAJOR 


769 


heart. This fact was learned by McKenna as soon as he arrived at 
Clark’s house, the rendezvous of the Mollies. 

The proprietor, Clark, was not a member of the order, but his two 
sons were Mollies. He was alone when McKenna arrived, and soon 
started to talk about the shooting. 

After the usual greetings, McKenna asked Clark if he knew who 
fired the shot. 

“That I can’t, for the life of me, tell! There’s two stories about it. 
One of them puts it on Dan Dougherty, but I believe him just as inno¬ 
cent as the babe unborn—and the other charges it on Major’s own 
brother, William, hitting him be mischance, when firing after the 
Hibernian company’s boys—for ye must know that the whole trouble 
came about through a quarrel between the Hibernian an’ the Citizen 
Fire Companies. One is wholly made up of our countrymen, an’ the 
other of Modocs—English, German, Welsh an’ what not! I suppose 
ye know that?” 

“Yes! But who started the row?” queried McKenna. 

Clark replied that he was sure it was not Dougherty. He told 
McKenna of the fire which had called out the companies, and the fact 
that many firemen were drunk. That on the way home some firemen 
got to fighting, when Chief Burgess George Major came out of his 
house, flourished his revolver, and during the confusion shot a dog that 
was barking nearby. This led to more shooting, when someone in the 
crowd took off the Chief Burgess, and his brother shot Dougherty in 
the neck. 

McKenna then met Clark’s brother, who was a Mollie, and they 
went to Dougherty’s home, and soon gained permission to see the 
wounded man. 

Dougherty was almost delirious, and barely recognized his friends. 
He was terribly wounded, the surgeons even thinking it unsafe to probe 
for the bullet. 

McKenna and Clark then went to McCann’s and soon gained the 
landlady’s confidence and she invited them upstairs, where McCann was 
found in bed, also wounded. He claimed Major had fired three shots 
at him. 

Here the scheme was hatched to swear out a warrant for the Chief 
Burgess before he should die, charging him with an assault with a 
deadly weapon. That, they contended, would place McCann on the 
witness-stand and prevent him from being brought to the bar as a de¬ 
fendant. Others present desired McCann to make his escape. 

The Chief Burgess succumbed to his wounds Tuesday, November 
3, and received burial, with suitable honors, the ensuing day. 

McKenna returned to Shenandoah and reported to the Mollies the 
issue of his trip. He had previously sent to Mr. Allan Pinkerton daily 
bulletins of his inquiries and their results. 


25 


770 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Dougherty recovered, had his trial, early in May, and was acquitted. 

McKenna was not ready to call his work at an end. Sufficient evi¬ 
dence had not yet been obtained to bring the band of criminals to 
justice. 

But it was only a few months later when the murderers of Alexander 
Rae, Gomer James, William and Jesse Major, F. W. S. Langdon, Mor¬ 
gan Powell, Thomas Sanger, William Uren, and others were brought 
to trial and such evidence obtained that the usual Mollie alibi was 
broken down and those guilty were made to suffer the penalty which 
they deserved. 


Captain John Hambright Leads Expedition 
from Fort Augusta Against Great 
Island, November 4, 1756 

ORT AUGUSTA was built and garrisoned during the summer 
and fall of 1756 under the direction of Colonel William Clap- 
ham and 400 Provincial soldiers recruited for that purpose. 
This formidable fortress was situated at Shamokin, at the Forks 
of the Susquehanna, in what is now the city of Sunbury. 

The soldiers had barely landed at Shamokin until reports 
were brought there that the French were coming in great force to be- 
seige the fort. 

The Indians, hostile to the English, committed such depredations that 
Colonel Clapham sent out expeditions against the Indian towns on the 
Juniata, at Chincklamoose (now Clearfield) ; at Great Island (now 
Lock Haven), and up both branches of the Susquehanna River. 

During October, 1756, intelligence was received that Indian fam¬ 
ilies, resident at the Great Island, were making many incursions against 
the settlements. Several of them had visited Shamokin in August, when 
they killed a bullock guard at the spring. And as they had formerly 
lived at Shamokin, they were capable of very great mischief. 

Colonel Clapham directed Captain John Hambright, of Lancaster, 
to lead a company of picked men and destroy the village. 

The instructions for this perilous expedition are peculiar and of un¬ 
usual interest to the present day residents along the West Branch of the 
Susquehanna as far up as Lock Haven and, because they reveal the 
dangers such enterprises always encountered, they are given in full: 

“Sir: 

“You are to march with a Party of 2 Serjts., 2 Corporals and 38 
Private men, under your Command to attack, burn and destroy an 
Indian Town or Towns, with their Inhabitants, on the West Branch 
of the Susquehanna, to which Monsieur Montour will conduct you, 
whose advice you are directed to pursue in every Case. 









EXPEDITION AGAINST GREAT ISLAND 771 


“You are to attack the Town agreeable to the Plan and Disposition 
herewith given you, observing to Intermix the men with Bayonets equally 
among the three Partys in the attack, and if any Indians are found there 
you are to kill, Scalp, and captivate as many as you can, and if no 
Indians are there you are to endeavor to act in such manner, and with 
such Caution, as to prevent the Discovery of your having been there by 
any Party, which may arrive Shortly after you, for which Reason you 
are strictly forbid to burn, take away, Destroy or Meddle with any¬ 
thing found at such Places, and immediately dispatch Monsieur Mon¬ 
tour, with one or two more to me with Intelligence. 

“When ye come near the Place of action you are to detach Monsieur 
Montour, with as many men as he shall Judge necessary to reconnoiter 
the Parts, and to wait in concealment in the mean Time with your 
whole Party till his Return, then to form your measures accordingly. 

After having burnt and destroyed the Town, you are in your Re¬ 
treat to post an officer and twelve men in Ambush, close to the Road side, 
at the most convenient Place for such Purpose which may offer, at about 
Twelve miles Distance from the Place of action, who are to surprise 
and cut off any Party who may attempt to pursue, or may happen to be 
engaged in Hunting thereabouts, and at the same Time secure the Re¬ 
treat of your main Body. 

“ ‘Tis very probable, that on these Moon Light Nights, you will 
find them engag’d in Dancing, in which case embrace that opportunity, 
by all means, of attacking them, which you are not to attempt at a 
greater distance than 20 to 25 yards, and be particularly careful to 
prevent the Escape of the Women and Children, whose lives Humanity 
will direct you to preserve as much as possible. 

“If it does not happen that you find them Dancing, the attack is to 
be made in the morning, just at a season when you have Light enough 
to Execute it, in which attempt your party are to march to the several 
houses, and bursting open the Doors, to rush in at once. Let the Sig¬ 
nal for the general attack be the Discharge of one Firelock, in the 
Centre Division. 

“If there are no Indians at the Several Towns, you are in such case 
to proceed with the utmost Caution and Vigilance to the Road which 
leads to Fort Duquesne, there to lye in Ambush and to intercept any 
Party or partys of the Enemy on the march to or from the English Set- 
* tlements, and there to remain with the Design till the want of Pro¬ 
visions obliges you to return. 

“I wish you all imaginable Success, of which the Opinion I have of 
your self, the Officers and Party under your Command, leave me no 
Room to doubt, 

& am, Sir, 

“Your Humble Servant, 

“William Clapham. 


772 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


“P. S.—You will not omit to post the Sergeant with a party on the 
other side of the River during the attack, according to Direction, in 
order to prevent the Enemy from escaping that way and to reserve al¬ 
ways one half of your Fire. 

“Given at Fort Augusta, Nov. 4th, 1756.” 

A close examination of the route of march reveals to those at all 
familiar with the topography of that part of the State that the expe¬ 
dition crossed the river at Fort Augusta and marched through the 
ravine to the lower side of Blue Hill, into what is- now known as 
Granger’s Hollow, and continued up the country on the west side of 
the river, passing through what is now Winfield, Lewisburg, West Mil- 
ton, New Columbia and White Deer, where they evidently marched 
Over the present Loganton road, following alongside White Deer Creek 
and then into the Nippenose Valley; thence over the hills and down 
again into McElhattan Gap, emerging at the river near Great Island. 

This is the most direct route, and, as the Indians were good civil 
engineers and usually found the easy grades for their beaten trails, there 
is little doubt but that Captain Hambright and his sturdy band of 
chosen men surely experienced a hard, rough march, even for that early 
period. 

He surely carried out his instructions, but what actually happened 
on this march is unknown, as no records of his report are to be found 
among the papers of that period. This is a matter of sincere regret, for 
the expedition was one of great importance. 

It is believed from notes made on a time-stained paper now in the 
State Library that the first village visited was situated a few miles above 
the mouth of Pine Creek, opposite what is now the village of Pine, 
Clinton County. The paper bears the following indorsement: “4th 
Nov., 1756. Route of Capt. Hambright’s Secret Expedition, Inclos’d in 
Col. W. Clapham’s Ler of” (This sentence was unfinished). 

Antiquarians inform us that many years ago great quantities of 
Indian relics were found at this site. It is only a short distance east of 
Great Island, and nearly the exact distance from Fort Augusta, by fol¬ 
lowing the river, that is noted in Colonel Clapham’s letter. 


BOUNDARY DISPUTE SETTLED 


773 


Disputed Boundary Lines Settled at Fort 
Stanwix November 5, 1768 

OTWITH STANDING the surrender to the Six Nations by 
the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, in September, 1758, of “all 
the territory lying to the northward and westward of the 
Allegheny Mountains,” the white settlers continued to en¬ 
croach on the hunting grounds of the Indians. 

At the great treaty held at Albany, the Proprietaries pur¬ 
chased and received a deed dated July 6, 1754, for the land of the 
Province above Penn’s Creek, in what is now Snyder County. 

The Indians afterward asserted they were defrauded in this sale; 
that the territory included lands they did not purpose selling and there 
was much dissatisfaction. 

To settle their trouble a compromise was made at the Easton treaty, 
October, 1758, by the terms of which the Proprietaries authorized 
Richard Peters and Conrad Weiser to release and reconvey to the Six 
Nations all the territory lying northward and westward of the Alle¬ 
gheny Mountains which had been conveyed to the Proprietaries by the 
deed of July 6, 1754, “provided the Six Nations fully stipulate and 
settle the exact and certain bounds of the residue, of the said lands in¬ 
cluded in the before-mentioned purchase.” 

Following the successful termination of the Pontiac Conspiracy in 
1764, the whites were less fearful of the Indians and settled in the 
Indian country with much more confidence. The Indians were quick 
to grasp the situation and made vigorous complaint to the Governor and 
all the other provincial authorities. 

Proclamations were issued against the settlers without effect, and 
finally, February 3, 1768, the Pennsylvania Assembly passed an act on 
the subject. It was enacted that if any persons, already settled or after¬ 
ward moved on unpurchased lands, neglected or refused to remove from 
the same within thirty days after they were required to do so by the 
Governor after notice prohibiting occupancy as aforesaid, being legally 
convicted, were to be punished with death without the benefit of clergy. 

Three weeks after the enactment of the foregoing law Governor 
Penn issued a proclamation to every person to remove themselves and 
their families off and from the said lands on or before the first day of 
May next ensuing. 

But proclamations, edicts and acts seemed to be of no avail, and the 
disputes between the whites and Indians became most acute. At length, 
in the summer of 1768, Sir William Johnson, the great English agent 
and true friend of the Six Nations Indians, determined to hold a great 










774 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


council with the Indians “not only for the purpose of renewing the 
ancient covenant chain between the English and the Indians, but to es¬ 
tablish a scientific frontier.” 

In preparation for this great council twenty large bateaux, laden 
with presents best suited to propitiate the Indians, had been conveyed to 
Fort Stanwix, now Rome, N. Y. Sir William Johnson ordered 
sixty barrels of rice and seventy barrels of provisions. When the 
council opened 3200 Indians were present, “each of whom,” wrote 
Sir William, “consumes daily more than two ordinary men amongst 
us, and would be extremely dissatisfied if stinted when convened for 
business.” 

The Indians invited to the council began to assemble at Fort Stan¬ 
wix early in October, 1768, and by the middle of the month the various 
officials expected to be present were on the ground. From Pennsylvania 
came Governor John Penn, the Reverend Richard Peters, Benjamin 
Franklin and James Tilghman. 

Governor Penn remained only for the preliminary negotiations, as 
important business of the Province compelled his early presence in Phil¬ 
adelphia. 

Messrs Peters and Tilghman represented Pennsylvania as Commis¬ 
sioners. Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia and New York were also 
represented by high officials. 

Eight tribes of Indians, including the Delaware, the Shawnee and 
all the tribes of the Six Nations, were present in larger numbers, while 
many other tribes were represented by small delegations. 

The Seneca went to this great conference armed as if going on the 
warpath. There were also present a large number of private citizens 
either through curiosity or by reason of some personal interest in the 
proceedings. 

The records of this great council would indicate that Sir William 
Johnson and the Commissioners dined together. They formally drank 
various toasts, as was usual in those times. Frequently these toasts were 
drunk to the King’s health, and on one or two occasions the language 
used gave offense to certain of the King’s officers at the table. Once a 
minister proposed a toast “not to the King of England, but to the King 
that hears our prayers.” The trouble with the mother country was even 
then brewing. 

Sir William opened the council by telling the Indians that “the King 
was resolved to terminate the grievances from which they suffered for 
want of a boundary, and that the King had ordered presents propor¬ 
tionate to the nature and extent of the interests involved.” The Indians 
retired and for several days were in private council. 

The new boundary had been practically agreed upon at a treaty 
held in 1765, its course being diagonally through Pennsylvania from a 
point one mile above the mouth of John Penn’s Creek, Snyder County, 


FIRST SIEGE OF YELLOW FEVER 


775 


to a point then called Oswegy, now Oswego, N. Y. Beyond that point, 
the direction in which the line Should be run seems to have occasioned 
the greatest discussion. 

The question was finally and satisfactorily settled, and a deed was 
made and signed November 5, 1768, by a representative from each tribe 
of the Six Nations, fixing and describing the boundary-line and granting 
the land east of it to the King of England. The actual sum paid for 
this vast territory was about $50,600. 

From a point on the Allegheny River several miles above Pittsburgh, 
this historic line of property ran in a northeasterly direction to the head 
of Towanda Creek, proceeding down the stream to the Susquehanna; 
thence it went northward along the river to Tioga Point, eastward to 
Owego, and crossed the country to the Delaware, reaching it at a point 
a few miles below Hancock. From here it went up the Delaware to 
what is now Deposit, Broome County, N. Y. Thence the line went 
directly across the hills to the Unadilla, and up that stream “to the west 
branch, to the head thereof.” 

The “Fort Stanwix Treaty Lines” through Pennsylvania included 
all or part of the present counties of Pike, Wayne, Susquehanna, Lack¬ 
awanna, Luzerne, Bradford, Sullivan, Wyoming, Montour, Northum¬ 
berland, Lycoming, Union, Clinton, Center, Clearfield, Cambria, In¬ 
diana, Armstrong, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Somerset, Fayette, Green, 
Washington and Beaver. 

It was also at this treaty that the Proprietaries were actively 
concerned in the purchase of the Wyoming lands then claimed by 
the State of Connecticut. In this object the Pennsylvanians were suc¬ 
cessful. 


First Siege of Yellow Fever Checked in 
Philadelphia November 6, 1793 

HILADELPHIA was visited twice by the dreaded pestilence 
of yellow fever, first in the year 1793 and again in 1798. The 
general consternation which incited many to flee from the de¬ 
stroyer “produced scenes of distress and misery,” wrote Mat¬ 
thew Carey, “of which parallels are rarely met with, and 
which nothing could palliate but the extraordinary public panic 
and the great law of self-preservation. Men of affluent fortunes, who 
gave daily employment and sustenance to hundreds, were abandoned to 
the care of a Negro after their wives, children, friends, clerks and serv¬ 
ants had fled away and left them to their fate. 

“In some cases, at the commencement of the disorder, no money 
could procure proper attendance. With the poor the case was, as might 






776 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


be expected, infinitely worse than the rich, and many of these perished 
without a human being to hand them a drink of water, to administer 
medicine or to perform any charitable office for them. Various instances 
occurred of dead bodies being found lying in the streets, of persons who 
had no house or habitation and could procure no shelter.” 

The cessation of business, in consequence of the plague, threw 
hundreds of poor people out of employment. Want and famine made 
•their appearance. While the fatal atmosphere of contagion overspread 
the devoted city the most frightful exaggerations of the real condition of 
things were spread throughout the country, the consequence of which 
very soon became serious. 

In nearly all the cities and towns, near and far, with a few humane 
exceptions, all intercourse with Philadelphia was prohibited. This 
added to the general distress. 

The deadly disease swept away whole families. Eleven persons died 
in one house within a day. 

Philadelphia with 50,000 population in 1792 was then not only the 
largest and busiest city of the Nation but its seat of government. 
The Congress moved from the city to Germantown; President George 
Washington and the members of his Cabinet and their families 
departed the city, and every person who could afford it followed their 
example. 

One out of every five who remained in Philadelphia died. Churches 
and schools, as well as the stores and mills closed their doors. Half the 
houses stood empty. Those who ventured to walk abroad held over their 
nostrils handkerchiefs soaked in vinegar and avoided shaking hands with 
any one. 

Grass grew high in the main streets. Carts passed the main thor¬ 
oughfares to carry the bodies of those who had perished. The drivers 
called out at intervals, “Bring out your dead!” 

The disease itself was horrible and filthy. The sick were gathered 
into hospitals, but these, unlike the great hospitals of today, added to 
their misery. They were mere barns where patients lay crowded 
together, without proper care. Nurses could not be obtained even at 
high wages, for to nurse the victims of yellow fever meant almost certain 
death. 

Mayor Mathew Clarkson asked for volunteers to form a Committee 
of Safety which should do whatever seemed possible for the health of 
the city. Only twelve men in that greatest of American cities answered 
the call, so serious was the situation. 

One of these volunteers was none other than the greatest man of 
his day, Captain Stephen Girard. Only two of these twelve volun¬ 
teered to serve at the hospital, and these heroes were Stephen Girard 
and Peter Helm. Both posssessed great wealth and might have fled 
the city to live in safety and comfort far from the scene of this horrible 


FIRST SIEGE OF YELLOW FEVER 111 

pestilence, but they nobly chose to help their fellow men and risk their 
own lives. 

Of these two men Girard took the post of greatest danger, the 
interior of the hospital. There for two months he spent a large part 
of each day, nursing his patients. No money could pay for such services 
and Girard would have accepted no return. Moreover, he went with 
his own carriage to the houses where the sick lay, entered them, and 
drove with them to the hospital. 

At last the benevolence of the inhabitants elsewhere came to their 
relief, and contributions in money and provisions were poured out with 
a liberal hand, which relieved the physical distress. But it took the 
return of cold weather to check the fever* and on November 6 the 
citizens who had fled at the beginning of the plague began to return, 
and from that day conditions rapidly improved. 

In the plague of 1793 the mortality was 3293, as reported by the 
“Minutes of the Committee.” 

In this scourge there were on Market Street and north thereof 1178 
houses shut up and 1066 open, and 1152 deaths. Of the white inhabi¬ 
tants 4627 fled, 7332 remained in the city, and of the colored inhabitants 
64 fled out of the city and 474 remained. 

South of Market Street 1009 houses were closed and 969 remained 
open and occupied, 1068 died, 4289 fled and 6133 remained, and 174 
Negroes fled and 833 remained to face the plague. 

In the Northern Liberties 302 houses were closed and 822 remained 
occupied; 546 died, 1751 fled and 4943 remained; 28 Negroes ran away 
and 205 remained. 

In the district of Southwark 239 houses were empty and 742 occu¬ 
pied; 527 died, 1239 whites fled and 4521 remained, and 24 Negroes fled 
and 234 remained. 

Thus in the city 2728 houses were closed on account of the occupants 
fleeing the city or dying and 3599 remained occupied. More than 12,000 
inhabitants fled the city, while 25,000 remained and camei into close 
contact with the fever victims. 

The figures given here were taken during the month of November, 
when the cooler weather was beginning to check the ravages of the 
plague. According to the statisticians of that day, the average of those 
who fell victims to the fever amounted to more than six and one-third 
persons to the house. 

Among those attacked were Governor Thomas Mifflin and Alex¬ 
ander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury in President Washington’s 
Cabinet. 

Both recovered and on November 14 the Governor issued a 
proclamation stating the pestilence had ceased and fixing a day of thanks¬ 
giving, fasting and prayer. The disease was considered to be conquered 
about November 6, and from that time confidence returned. 


778 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


When the city was again desolated by yellow fever in 1798 the 
deaths reached an enormous rate and much greater than in 1793. 

In the month of August, 1798, the deaths in Philadelphia were 621 
and in August, 1793, 264; in twelve days in September, 1798, 720 died, 
and during the same days in 1793 there were 290 deaths reported. From 
August 8 to October 3, 1798, there were 2778 deaths, and in this same 
period in 1793 there were 1847 deaths, so it is safe to predict that about 
twice as many deaths occurred in the second plague as in the first. 


Philadelphia Merchants Rebel Against 
Stamp Act in Great Meeting, 
November 7, 1765 

HE relations between the colonies and the mother country at 
end of the French and Indian War would doubtless have con¬ 
tinued friendly had the latter not seen fit to pursue a new 
policy toward the former with respect to revenue and taxation. 
The colonies, until then, had been permitted to tax themselves. 
The first act of the British Parliament aiming at the draw¬ 
ing of a revenue from the colonies was passed September 29, 1764. This 
act imposed a duty on “clayed sugar, indigo, coffee, etc., being a produce 
of a colony not under the dominion of his Majesty.” 

In the colonies it was contended that “taxation and representation 
were inseparable, and that they could not be safe if their property might 
be taken from them without their consent.” 

This claim of right of taxation on the one side and the denial of it 
on the other was the very pivot on which the Revolution turned. 

England maintained her position in this matter, and in 1765 the 
famous Stamp Act passed both Houses of Parliament. This ordained 
that instruments of writing, such as deeds, bonds, notes, etc., among the 
colonies should be null and void unless executed on stamped paper, for 
which duty should be paid to the Crown. 

The efforts of the American colonists to stay the mad career of the 
English Ministry proved unavailing. Dr. Benjamin Franklin, then in 
London as the agent of the Province of Pennsylvania, labored earnestly 
to avert a measure which his sagacity and extensive acquaintance with 
the American people taught him was pregnant with danger to the British 
Empire; but he did not entertain the thought that it would be forcibly 
resisted. 

The opposition to the Stamp Act was so decided and universal that 
Lord Grenville, to conciliate the Americans, asked their agents to suggest 
the person to have the sale of the stamps in their respective colonies. 








MERCHANTS REBEL STAMP ACT 779 

Franklin named his friend John Hughes, who in the Assembly had been 
voting with the opponents of the Proprietaries. 

Franklin’s enemies tried to make much capital out of this participa¬ 
tion in the introduction of the stamps, while Hughes and Galloway tried 
to lay the blame for the popular outburst upon the Proprietary Party 
in both contrivance and connivance. 

Massachusetts Assembly suggested that the various Houses of Repre¬ 
sentatives or Burgesses in America send committees to a meeting in New 
York City on the first Tuesday of October, 1765, to consider a united 
representation to the King and Parliament. 

The Assembly of Pennsylvania decided unanimously that it ought 
to remonstrate against the Stamp Act, and appointed as its committee 
Speaker Fox and Messrs. John Dickinson, George Bryan and John 
Morton. Nine resolutions on the subject of the “unconstitutional impo¬ 
sitions” were adopted unanimously. 

Mr. Hughes feared being mobbed during the joy of celebration 
incident to the change of ministry in England. He sat at his home, 
armed, watching for an attack on his house, but at midnight those whom 
he feared dispersed, after burning a “stamp man” in effigy. 

Hughes wrote to Governor John Penn and to Mr. Dickinson, the 
master of the ship which brought the stamps, that he had received no 
commission to take charge of them. The ship then lay at New Castle, 
afraid to proceed farther, but on. October 5 she sailed up the river to 
Philadelphia, escorted by a man-of-war. 

All the vessels in the harbor put their flags at half-mast, the bells 
of the State House and Christ Church were muffled and tolled until 
evening, and two Negroes with drums summoned the people to a meeting 
at the State House. This sent Robert Morris, Charles Thomson, and 
others to Hughes, who was very ill at his home, asking him to resign, 
or at least to promise not to execute his office. 

The crowd, Hughes said, was stirred up by the son of Franklin’s 
great enemy, Chief Justice Allen. 

On the following Monday, Hughes gave assurance that neither he 
nor his deputies would act until King George’s pleasure be known, or the 
law be put into execution in other colonies, or the Governor commanded 
him. 

Hughes wrote to the Commissioners of the Stamp Office that he 
would perform his duties if his hands were sufficiently strengthened, but 
in due time he resigned. 

On November 7, 1765, the merchants of Philadelphia assembled at 
the Court House, where they adopted nonimportation resolutions which 
were embodied in an agreement soon signed by almost everybody who 
could be described as a merchant or trader, setting forth that the difficul¬ 
ties they labored under were owing to the restrictions, prohibitions and 
ill-advised resolutions in recent acts of Parliament. 


780 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


These measures had limited the exportation of some of the produce, 
increased the expense of many imported articles and cut off the means 
of supplying themselves with sufficient specie even to pay the duties 
imposed. 

The Province was heavily in debt to Great Britain for importations, 
and the Stamp Act would tend to prevent remittances, and so it was 
hoped the people of the Province would be frugal in the consumption of 
all manufactures except those of America or of Ireland, coming directly 
thence, and that the merchants and manufacturers of Great Britain 
would find it to their interest to befriend them. 

The subscribers agreed and pledged their honor to direct all goods 
ordered from Great Britain not to be shipped and to cancel all former 
orders until the Stamp Act be repealed. The ships already cleared for 
Great Britain owned by the merchants were allowed to bring back the 
usual bulky articles but no dry goods, except dye stuffs, and utensils 
necessary for carrying on the manufactures, and to sell no articles sent 
on commission after January 1, 1766. 

The committee which circulated this agreement for signatures, and 
was appointed to see to its being carried out, was composed of Thomas 
Willing, Samuel Mifflin, Thomas Montgomery, Samuel Howell, Samuel 
Wharton, John Rhea, William Fisher, Joshua Fisher, Peter Chevalier, 
Benjamin Fuller and Abel Jones. 

In February Franklin was examined before the House of Commons, 
when he told them there was not enough gold and silver in the colonies 
to pay the stamp duty for one year. He gave it as his opinion that the 
people of America would never submit to paying the stamp duty unless 
compelled by force. 

Parliament had only the alternative to compel submission or to repeal 
the act. It was repealed March 18, 1766, but accompanying it was the 
one known as the Declaratory Act, more hostile to the American rights 
than any of its predecessors. This act affirmed “that Parliament have, 
and of right ought to have power to bind the colonies in all cases 
whatsoever.” 

The news of the repeal reached America in May and caused un¬ 
bounded demonstrations of joy. Though the Quakers generally would 
not have violently resisted the execution of the law, they shared with 
others the joy produced by the tidings of the repeal. 


EXPEDITIONS AGAINST INDIANS 


781 


Expeditions Against Indians—Franklin Sails 
for England, November 8, 1764 

OON after John Penn assumed the office of Lieutenant Gover¬ 
nor, November, 1763, he convened the Assembly and presented 
General Gage’s request for 1000 men, to be used in the pro¬ 
posed Indian campaign, which was granted, together with a 
vote of credit for the additional force necessary “to frustrate 
the further wicked designs of those lawless rioters.” This had 
reference to the “Paxtang Boys” and their bold attack upon the 
Conestoga Indians, December 14, 1763. 

Sir William Johnson, of New York, who had charge of Indian 
affairs for the Royal Government, having learned of both the above 
massacre and those in the Nain and Wichetunk settlements, a short time 
previous, and being possessed of the actual facts, was particularly 
anxious to acquaint the Six Nations with the details, and thus remove 
any bad impressions as to the faith of Pennsylvania in dealing with 
friendly Indians. It was most vital that there should be no alienation 
of the Six Nations from the English interest. 

The affair of the Paxtang Boys was happily settled without any 
unfair or unwis'e hardships and the attention of the authorities again 
turned to bigger problems and those more difficult of solution. 

Early in 1764 etxensive measures were resolved upon for the reduc¬ 
tion of the Indians. General Gage determined to attack them on two 
sides, and to force them from the frontiers by carrying the war into the 
heart of their own country. One corps was sent under command of Col¬ 
onel Bradstreet to act against the Wyandot, Ottawa, Chippewa and other 
nations living upon or near the lakes. Another, under command of 
Colonel Henry Bouquet, was sent to attack the Delaware, Shawnee, 
Mingo, Mohican and other nations between the Ohio River and the 
lakes. 

The two commands were to act in concert. Colonel Bradstreet was 
directed to proceed to Detroit, Michilimackinack and other places, and 
on his return to encamp and remain at Sandusky, and prevent the 
Western Indians from rendering aid to those on the Ohio, while 
Colonel Bouquet was to attack the latter in the midst of their 
settlements. 

Part of the Forty-second and Sixtieth Regiments were assigned to 
Colonel Bouquet, to be joined with 200 friendly Indians, and provincial 
troops from Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Indians never came and 
Virginia could not spare any men, but Pennsylvania furnished the one 
thousand men, which was its quota. The Provincial Assembly also voted 
50,000 pounds to maintain it. 






782 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


This force was reduced by the desertion of 200 before leaving 
Carlisle, and of others at Fort Bedford. Those remaining, with a very 
few regulars, and less than 200 Virginians, made up the army of 
Colonel Bouquet, which advanced from Fort Pitt in October, 1764, and 
marched ninety-six miles to Muskingum, mostly through a wilderness 
which the savages had deemed their sure defense. 

This expedition appearing in such force in the heart of the enemy’s 
country overawed the Indians, who sued for peace. The Delaware, 
Shawnee and Seneca agreed to cease hostilities. Many white people 
held as prisoners were liberated. 

So thoroughly is Pennsylvania entitled to the credit of this successful 
expedition, which not only restored so many of her men, women and 
children to their families, but it had the chief part in securing peace to 
the adjoining colonies. 

The Legislatures of Maryland and Virginia did not contribute a 
penny to the expense, but left Colonel Bouquet personally liable for the 
pay of the volunteers from those provinces. The Pennsylvania Assembly 
in due time came to his relief, and also paid for this. 

By the agreement of 1760 the Assembly was allowed to tax the 
Proprietaries’ lands upon certain conditions. The Assembly tried to 
have the language of the bill changed so that the Proprietaries’ land 
would not be taxed “only as high as the worst lands owned by the 
settlers” was taxed, but no such change was allowed. 

Indeed, harmony was scarcely to be expected between one of the 
Proprietary family, as Governor on the one side, and the Assembly on 
the other. 

The Assembly was compelled to yield to the necessities of the 
province, but the conduct of Governor John Penn so incensed the As¬ 
sembly, that it was determined by a large majority to petition the King 
to purchase the jurisdiction of the province from the Proprietaries, and 
vest the Government directly in the Crown. 

Joseph Galloway sponsored the resolutions which resulted in the 
petition being signed by three thousand five hundred persons and ad¬ 
dressed to King George III. 

There was much opposition from leading men in the province against 
throwing off the proprietary dominion, and these were not alone of the 
Quaker belief. 

Isaac Norris, the venerable Speaker; John Dickinson, afterwards 
distinguished in the Revolution; the Reverend Gilbert Tennant, and the 
Reverend Francis Allison, representing the Presbyterian interest, with 
William Allen, Chief Justice, and afterward father-in-law of Governor 
John Penn, were strong leaders in opposition to the measure. 

The Quakers, on the other hand, supported it, and were sustained 
by several successive Assemblies. The argument which lined up the 
Presbyterians with those who opposed the change in Government was 


PLOT TO KIDNAP GOVERNOR SNYDER 783 


the important question of defending the province, and particularly their 
brethren on the frontiers. It mattered comparatively little whether the 
Proprietaries or the richer inhabitants paid for this protection. 

They also feared that under the Crown the Church of England 
might become the Established Church. The majority, which wished to 
divest the Founder’s descendants of their authority, were the strict fol¬ 
lowers of the Founder’s religion. 

Dickinson was re-elected to the Assembly, as was Norris, even though 
he did not desire to return to that body. Galloway and Franklin were 
defeated, the latter by twenty-five majority out of 4000 votes. Only two 
of the ten members from Philadelphia were in favor of the change of 
Government. 

Norris was again elected Speaker, but dissensions arose which caused 
him to resign the speakership, when Joseph Fox was elected to succeed 
him. He appointed Dr. Franklin as an additional provincial agent in 
London, and directed him to go with all dispatch, and urge the adoption 
of the measure before the British Ministry. 

Franklin sailed for England on November 8, 1764, being escorted 
by 300 admirers, to Chester, where he embarked. 

He took with him a copy of the resolution which the Assembly, upon 
hearing of the proposal in England of a stamp act or some other means 
of revenue had passed, acknowledged it a duty to grant aid to the Crown, 
according to ability, whenever required in the usual constitutional 
mannner. 

Franklin found, on his arrival at London, that he had to contend 
with a power far stronger and more obstinate than the Proprietaries 
themselves, even with the very power whose protection he had come to 
seek. 


Governor Simon Snyder, Prey of Kidnapers, 
Died November 9, 1819 

IMON SNYDER, three times Governor of Pennsylvania, was 
born in Lancaster County, November 5, 1749, and died in his 
beautiful stone mansion in Selinsgrove November 9, 1819. 

Snyder had been defeated in the gubernatorial contest of 
1805, but his election was not long delayed. 

Alderman John Binns, editor of the Democratic Press, then 
the most powerful political leader in the State, was Snyder s closest 
friend and adviser and soon influenced such a current of popular senti¬ 
ment toward his friend’s candidacy that William J. Duane and Dr. 
Michael Leib were compelled to support Snyder even though they real¬ 
ized Binns would be more potent in guiding his Administration. 







784 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Snyder carried every county except six and defeated James Ross by 
28,400 votes. 

No sooner had the election occurred than the Governor was im¬ 
portuned to appoint Dr. Lieb to the office of Secretary of the Common¬ 
wealth, but the astute Executive named N. B. Boileau, of Montgomery 
County, to that important place. 

Governor Snyder was re-elected in 1811 and again in 1814, being the 
last Governor of Pennsylvania to serve three terms. 

There were many thrilling events during the nine years of his Admin¬ 
istration, the most important of which was the War of 1812-14. 

The Chief Executive of no State in the Union performed his part 
more patriotically or with a firmer determination than did Governor 
Snyder. 

A month before the formal declaration of our second war with 
England he had issued an order drafting 14,000 men as the quota of 
Pennsylvania for the general defense. His several addresses to the 
Legislature were of the most patriotic fervor and he deserved the heartv 
support which was generously given him. 

During the trying period of the war, Governor Snyder exhibited 
many splendid traits of character, and met every emergency with deter¬ 
mined courage and the consciousness of having performed his full duty. 

Pennsylvania has been remarkably free from crimes against officials 
holding high office, and yet the nearest attempt was a plot to kidnap 
Governor Snyder. 

Early in the year of 1816 Richard Smith, as principal in the first 
degree, and Ann Carson, in the second degree, were tried in Philadelphia 
before the Hon. Jacob Rush and his associates for the murder of John 
Carson, her husband. The trial resulted in the conviction of Smith and 
the acquittal of Ann Carson. 

Richard Smith was a lieutenant in the Twenty-third Infantry Regi¬ 
ment U. S. A. He was of Irish descent, a nephew of Daniel Clark, of 
New Orleans, and heir to his estate, worth in excess of $1,000,000. 

Ann Carson was the most captivating beauty of the underworld and 
the most notorious character in the State, according to the newspapers 
of a century ago. She married a Scotchman, Captain John Carson, a 
dissipated ex-captain of the United States Navy, who was nearly twice 
her age. 

Several years after this marriage Captain Carson sailed for China, 
in command of the ship Ganges, and nothing more was heard of him 
for four or five years, and his wife believed he had perished at sea. 

During his absence Ann Carson became infatuated with the dashing 
young Lieutenant Smith, who occupied an apartment in her home. 

In the fall of 1815 Captain Carson appeared at the home and his 
estranged wife had no welcome for him. 

For the following several months the trio lived a life of continual 


PLOT TO KIDNAP GOVERNOR SNYDER 785 


strife. One evening in January, 1816, the two men met in the parlor 
of the Carson home on Second and Dock Streets, when Smith shot and 
killed Carson. 

The murderer was taken before Alderman Binns, who committed 
him to prison on a charge of murder. As already stated, Smith was 
convicted and Mrs. Carson acquitted. 

Mrs. Carson immediately planned to save Smith from the 
scaffold. She was able to command the services of the most desperate 
criminals. - 

Both Smith and Mrs. Carson knew that the Alderman and editor 
had great influence with Governor Snyder, and their first effort was 
to bring pressure upon him to obtain a pardon for the condemned man. 

Binns refused to interfere, and in addition published a caustic warn¬ 
ing against any attempt to stay the course of justice. Never had there 
been so much feeling manifested in the desire to obtain a pardon for 
murder as on this occasion. 

Ann Carson conceived the scheme to kidnap Binns and hold him as 
a hostage for Smith. This plan failed. Then the desperate criminals 
endeavored to coerce Binns into their measures by planning to kidnap his 
son, who had been christened Snyder, after the then Governor. The 
boy was not quite six years old, but daily went to his school. 

This plot was communicated to Binns and the child was kept in his 
home, and that plot also failed. 

Then the notorious and desperate Ann Carson determined to kidnap 
the Governor himself, and keep him in custody, under a threat of being 
put to death, if he did not grant a pardon for Smith. 

The very night this scheme was determined on, it was, through a 
lay-cousin of Lieutenant Smith’s, communicated to John Binns, who 
immediately dispatched the details of the plot to the Governor, who 
was then at his home in Selinsgrove. 

Ann Carson, accompanied by two ruffians named “Lige” Brown and 
Henry Way, set out from Philadelphia on horesback to Selinsgrove. At 
Lancaster, Way robbed a drover, but was badly beaten over the head 
and easily captured. The others, however, made their escape and pro¬ 
ceeded on their nefarious errand. 

Governor Snyder hastened to Harrisburg, where he swore out a 
warrant against the woman, and she was apprehended and held in 
$5000 bail, which Was furnished by her friends. She returned to 
Philadelphia. 

Way escaped from jail after nearly killing his jailer and was never 
captured. Lieutenant Smith was executed. 

Mrs. Carson’s subsequent career was merely a succession of crimes, 
in which she affected the disguise of a demure Quakeress. It was in 
this disguise she was detected passing a counterfeit note on the Girard 
Bank. She was sentenced to seven years in the Walnut Street prison. 


786 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


A writer says she was appointed matron in the women’s ward, where 
her cruel treatment drove the female convicts to revolt and that Mrs. 
Carson was killed during one of these uprisings. 

John Binns in his “Recollections” says that while in prison she was 
a kind and most attentive nurse. 

The latter is true. Ann Carson died in prison April 27, 1824, of 
typhus fever, which she contracted while nursing other victims of the 
plague. 


John Dickinson Writes First “Farmer” 
Letter, November 10, 1767 

N 1767 a bill was passed by Parliament which affirmed its right 
“to bind the Colonies in all cases whatsoever” and levied duties 
on tea, paper, glass and painters’ colors imported into the 
Colonies from Great Britain, payable in America. This act, 
with several others, rekindled the opposition of the Colonies. 
Again associations were formed to prevent the importation of 
British goods and meetings called to resolve, petition and remonstrate. 

The first of the “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the 
Inhabitants of the British Colonies,” appeared November 10, 1767, the 
authorship of which gave John Dickinson, of Philadelphia, so much of 
his celebrity. 

They were published in every colony, also in London, and afterwards 
translated into French in Paris. 

Dr. Benjamin Franklin, who had formerly been an enemy of Dickin¬ 
son wrote the preface to the London edition; while the people of Boston, 
assembled in a town meeting, voted Dickinson their thanks. 

Letter No. 1 began: “My Dear Countrymen: I am a farmer, 
settled, after a variety of fortunes, near the banks of the Delaware, in 
the Province of Pennsylvania. I received a liberal education, and have 
been engaged in busy scenes of life; but am now convinced that a man 
may be as happy without bustle as with it. 

“My farm is small; my servants few and good; I have a little money 
at interest; I wish for no more; my employment in my own affairs is 
easy; and with a contented, grateful mind, undisturbed by worldly 
hopes or fears, relating to myself, I am completing the number of days 
allotted to me by Divine goodness.” 

Every man ought to espouse the sacred cause of liberty to the extent 
of his powers and “The Farmer” offered some thoughts on late transac¬ 
tions, praying that his lines might be read with the same zeal for the 
happiness of British America with which they had been written. 

He had observed that little notice had been taken of the Act of 
Parliament for suspending the legislation of New York. This was 








FIRST “FARMER” LETTER 


787 


punishment for noncompliance by the Assembly of that Province with a 
former act requiring certain provisions to be made for the troops. To 
compel the colonies to furnish certain articles for the troops was, he 
proceeded to show, taxation in another form and New York was being 
punished for resisting such taxation. 

In Letter No. 2, the “Farmer” took up the Act imposing duties on 
paper, glass, etc., which he deemed a most dangerous innovation upon 
the old practice of imposing duties merely for the regulation of trade. 

Parliament had a right to regulate the trade of the colonies; but 
here it was vowing the design of raising revenues from America; a right, 
which, America felt, was inherent in her own representatives. This 
taxation was attempted by the device of levying duties on certain articles 
imported to the colonies. The effect of this was clearly pointed out. 

Great Britain had prohibited certain manufactures in the colonies, 
and had prohibited the purchase of such manufactured goods except 
from the mother country. 

“If you once admit that Great Britain may lay duties upon her 
exportations to us, for the purpose of levying money on us only,” he 
wrote, “she will then have nothing to do but to lay those duties on the 
articles, which she prohibits us to manufacture—and the tragedy of 
American liberty is finished.” 

In Letter No. 3 the “Farmer” explained there were other modes of 
resistance to oppression than any breach of peace and deprecated, as 
Dickinson did ever afterward, any attempt to make the colonies 
independent. 

“If once we are separated from our mother country,” he said, 
“what new form of government shall we adopt, or where shall we find 
another Britain to supply our loss? Torn from the body to which we 
are united by religion, liberty, laws, affections, relation, language and 
commerce, we must bleed at every vein.” 

In the subsequent letters, the dangers to American liberty were ex¬ 
piated, objections answered and the people urged to make a stand for 
themselves and their posterity peaceably, prudently, firmly, jointly. 
“You are assigned by Divine Providence, in the appointed orders of 
things the protectors of unborn ages, whose fate depends upon your 
virtue,” he said. “Whether they shall arise the generous and indis¬ 
putable heirs of the noblest patrimonies or the dastardly and hereditary 
drudges of imperious taskmasters, you must determine.” 

The effect of the Farmer’s letters was tremendous. About this time 
a letter to Governor Penn arrived from the Earl of Hillsborough, dated 
April 21, 1768, informing him that King George III considered the 
circular letter from the Massachusetts Legislature, calling upon the 
other colonies to send commissioners to New York City to consider a 
united representation to the King and Parliament to be of a most 
dangerous and factious tendency, and that Governor Penn should exert 


788 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


his influence to prevail upon the Assembly of Pennsylvania to take no 
notice of it, and to prorogue or dissolve that body. 

The Assembly, September 16, resolved that the Governor had no 
authority to prorogue or dissolve and that it was the undoubted right 
of the Assembly to correspond with any of the American colonies to 
obtain by decent petitions to the King and Parliament redress of any 
grievances. 

Four days later the Assembly addressed a petition to the King, the 
following day one to the House of Lords and another to the House of 
Commons. Each of these paraphrased in softer language and adapted to 
Pennsylvania the latter from Massachusetts. 

The petition to the King referred to the settlement of the province 
when it was only a wilderness with a view of enjoying that liberty, 
civil and religious, of which the petitioners’ ancestors were in a great 
measure deprived in their native land, and also to extend the British 
empire, increase its commerce and promote its wealth and power. 

With inexpressible labor, toil and expense, and without assistance 
from the mother country, that wilderness had been peopled, planted and 
improved. 

It was conceived that by no act had the people surrendered up or 
forfeited their rights and liberties as natural-born subjects of the British 
Government; but those rights had been brought over and were vested 
by inheritance. 

The duties and taxes for the sole purpose of raising revenue imposed 
by parliament upon the Americans, they not being represented in that 
body, and being taxable only by themselves or their representatives, were 
destructive of those rights and without precedent until the passage of 
the Stamp Act. 

Whenever the King had had occasion for aid to defend and secure 
the colonies, requisitions had been made upon the Pennsylvania As¬ 
semblies, who with cheerfulness granted them, and “often so liberally 
as to exceed the abilities and circumstances of the people.” 

It was essential to the liberties of Englishmen that no laws be made 
which would take away their property without their consent, and even 
if this taxation had been constitutional the present law was injurious to 
the mother country as well as America. And lastly, the revenue was to 
be applied in such colonies as it should be thought proper. Thus Penn¬ 
sylvania would pay, without their consent, taxes which might be applied 
to the use of other colonies. 


ANTICIPATING WAR WITH FRANCE 


789 


In Anticipation of War with France General 
Washington Arrives in Philadelphia, 
November 11, 1798 

N NOVEMBER 11, 1798, General George Washington, who 
was then lieutenant-general of the army, arrived in Phila¬ 
delphia to assume charge of matters in relation to the threat¬ 
ened war with France, and was received by the troops of horse 
and a large number of uniformed companies of foot. 

On the 24th President John Adams, who had left the city 
on account of the recurrence of the yellow fever, returned, and was 
received with salutes from the sloop-of-war “Delaware,” Captain 
Stephen Decatur, and Captain Matthew Hale’s Ninth Company of 
Philadelphia Artillery, which was stationed near Center Square. 

The presence of John Jay, of New York, in England to make 
a treaty with Great Britain aroused the French to a sense of the in- 
portance of observing its own treaty stipulations with the United States, 
which had been utterly disregarded since the war with England began. 
Jay’s treaty with England, November 19, 1794, caused such a division 
of the Americans that they were all either Frenchmen or Englishmen in 
their politics. 

Genet, the French minister, received the most flattering attention 
from the day he arrived until he was recalled. When Adet, his suc¬ 
cessor, ordered all Frenchmen in America to wear the tri-colored French 
cockade, everybody in Philadelphia wore it. 

On January 4, 1795, a new decree was issued, giving full force and 
effect to those clauses of the treaty of commerce, signed in 1778, with 
the United States. 

When the news of the failure of the Americans to elect Thomas 
Jefferson President reached France, the Directory issued a decree, 
March 2, 1797, purporting to define the authority granted to French 
cruisers by a former decree. It was intended to annihilate American 
commerce in European waters. 

The treaty with America was modified as to make American vessels 
liable to capture for any cause recognized as lawful ground of capture 
by Jay’s treaty. 

They also decreed that any Americans found serving cn board 
hostile owned vessels should be treated as pirates; in other words, 
American seamen, impressed by the British, were made liable to be 
hanged by the French. 

On January 18, 1798, a sweeping decree against American commerce 
was promulgated by the French Directory. 






790 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


In consequence of this insolent attitude of the French Directory and 
the continued seizures of American vessels by French cruisers, the popu¬ 
larity of France had declined, and it soon became evident that the 
country was slowly but surely drifting into war. 

On March 5, 1798 President Adams, informed Congress of the 
failure of the mission of the American Envoys, and accompanying this 
information was a message from the French Directory to the Council 
of Five Hundred urging the passage of further objectionable laws against 
American commerce. 

A few days later Congress was informed that the representatives of 
Prince Talleyrand, one of the French ministers, had demanded a bribe 
of £50,000 for the members of the Directory and a loan to the Republic, 
in consideration of the adoption of a satisfactory treaty. 

Great excitement was caused by the publication of these facts. In 
every section of the country was re-echoed the vigorous language of 
Charles Pinckney: “Millions for defense, but not one cent for 
tribute.” 

Governor Mifflin and his associates in the State Government openly 
sympathized with France, and in the Pennsylvania Senate the feeling 
in favor of France was still very strong. On March 20 that body 
adopted resolutions declaring that the representatives of Pennsylvania 
bear their public testimony against war in any shape or with any nation 
unless the territories of the United States shall be invaded, but more 
especially against the people with whom our hearts and hands have been 
lately united in friendship. 

In the House, however, the resolutions were received and laid upon 
the table, but never taken up for consideration. 

The councils of Philadelphia passed resolutions in favor of sustaining 
friendly relations with France, but strongly endorsed the Federal 
administration in its conduct of the matter. A great meeting of the 
merchants and traders of Philadelphia was held, April 11, when an 
address to the President was adopted, which expressed regret at the 
failure of the negotiations with France, and their determination to sup¬ 
port the Government. 

Popular indignation at the conduct of France was rapidly intensi¬ 
fying, and the publication of a new patriotic song, “Hail Columbia,” 
greatly stimulated the agitation. 

At the request of Gilbert Fox, a young actor, Joseph Hopkinson, of 
Philadelphia, then twenty-eight years of age, wrote “Hail Columbia” 
to accompany the air of “The President’s March,” which had become 
very popular in Philadelphia. 

This new song was first sung by Fox at his benefit in the theater, 
April 25, 1798, and excited the wildest applause. The words were 
caught up and repeated throughout the country. 

Among other demonstrations in support of the Government was a 


FIRST JURY DRAWN 


791 


meeting of youths between eighteen and twenty-three years of age, 
April 28, at James Cameron’s tavern. 

Resolutions were passed approving the action of the Federal Gov¬ 
ernment, and a committee was appointed to prepare an address to the 
President. On May 7, more than twelve hundred of them each wearing 
a black cockade marched in procession to the home of President Adams. 

On the following night parties of men wearing the French cockades 
appeared on the streets and made some disorder, in consequence of which 
the Citizens’ Volunteers were placed on guard at the mint and arsenal, 
and troops of cavalry paraded the streets at night. 

The newspapers contributed not a little to the excitation of feeling. 
Editor William Cobbett was particularly violent and Benjamin Franklin 
Bache, in the Aurora, was almost as vehement. 

The citizen military organizations were most active and during the 
summer months assembled frequently and performed various evolutions. 

Early in June, Governor Mifflin addressed a circular letter to milita 
officers, requesting their co-operation in preparation of measures for 
defense. 

The necessity for Lieutenant-General Washington and his army soon 
passed. The trouble with France was brought to a satisfactory result 
through diplomatic channels and President Adams issued a proclamation 
calling for a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer, on April 25, 
1799, over the happy event. 


First Jury Drawn in Early Courts of 
Province on November 12, 1678 

HE early judicial history of Pennsylvania presents striking 
features of interest to two classes in the community—the pro¬ 
fessional lawyer and the student of history. 

To the former it must be a matter of curiosity and interest 
to study the first rude means devised to administer justice 
between man and man—to discern among the transactions of 
those early times the rise and development of institutions and practices. 

But to the student of history the subject affords a different kind of 
interest. He finds gratification in the manner, customs and modes of 
thought once prevalent in these early courts. 

In them he finds traces of the past life of the Nation, learns of the 
matters which then interested the people, the nature of their industries, 
the extent of their commerce, the character of their education, the 
attention paid to their morals, and even the depth of their religious 
convictions. 





792 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The early courts of what is now Pennsylvania had their origin in 
1673, under the government of James, Duke of York. 

After the Swedish settlements on the Delaware were conquered by 
the Dutch, the Swedes were directed to concentrate in villages, but they 
never did so. Among the places named for this purpose was Upland, 
now Chester. 

The Swedish magistrates were permitted to remain in offiice—a 
conciliatory policy which was imitated by the English when they 
came into possession of Pennsylvania. 

The Dutch divided the western shore of the Delaware into three 
counties or judicial districts, the most northern of which was called 
Ophlandt, its capital being Upland. This division was recognized and 
continued by the English. 

In 1676, under Governor Andross, the Magistrates of Upland were 
Peter Cock (Cox), Peter Rambo, Israel Helm, Lace Andries, Oele 
Swen, and Otto Ernest Cock, all Swedes. 

At the court at Upland, November 13, 1677, Captain Hans Jargin 
was ordered “to fit up the House of Defense for the use of the court at 
its next sitting.” The court previously had been holding its sessions at 
the house of Neeles Laersen, who kept a tavern, a troublesome fellow, 
whose daughter seems to have taken after her father, both having ap¬ 
peared several times in court. 

On November 12, 1678, complaint was made against Laersen for 
building a fence which stopped the usual path of travel over the meadow. 
The Court ordered him to remove the obstruction. 

At the same session of court the case of William Orian vs. John 
D’haes was called. It was an action on a book account for the sum of 
167 guilders, and the first jury known to have been called in Pennsyl¬ 
vania was impaneled. 

The names of these original jurymen were Hans Moens, Dunk 
Williams, Xtopper Barnes, Edmund Draufton, Peter Jockum, Isaac 
Sanoy, Jan Hendricks, Jonas Kien, Moens Cock, John Browne, Jan 
Boelson and Henry Hastings. 

The verdict was for the plaintiff for the full amount of his claim 
which had been disputed. 

These early county courts were vested with criminal jurisdiction in 
all save cases of heinous or enormous crimes. Treason, murder and 
manslaughter were outside their cognizance. Trials for larceny, swear¬ 
ing, laboring on the first day of the week, assault and battery, shooting 
or maiming the prosecutor’s hogs, unduly encouraging drunkenness, sell¬ 
ing rum to the Indians and offenses against the public morality and 
decency constituted the great bulk of the criminal business. 

“Lying in conversation” was fined half a crown, “drinking healths 
which may provoke people to unnecessary and excessive drinking” was 
fined five shillings, while the sale of beer made of molasses at more than 


FIRST JURY DRAWN 793 

a penny a quart was visited with a like penalty of five shillings for 
every quart sold. 

No person could “Smoak tobacco in the streets of Philadelphia or 
New Castle, by day or by night,” on penalty of a fine of twelve pence, 
to be applied to the purchase of leather buckets and other instruments 
against fire. 

Any person “convicted at playing of cards, dice, lotteries or such¬ 
like enticing, vain and evil sports and games” was to pay five shillings 
or to be imprisoned five days at hard labor, while those who introduced 
or frequented “such rude and riotous sports and practices as prizes, stage 
plays, masques, revels, bull baitings, cock fightings and the like” were 
either to forfeit twenty shillings or to be imprisoned at hard labor for 
ten days. 

Smoking tobacco in the courtroom was an heinous offense. Luke 
Watson, himself a Justice, twice offended the Court on the same day in 
this manner and was fined the first time fifty pounds of tobacco, the 
second 100 pounds. In 1687 William Bradford was fined for swearing 
in the presence of the Justices, and Thomas Hasellum was fined for 
singing and making a noise. 

Thomas Jones, who was wanted in court as a witness, was a hardened 
character and refused to appear. When two constables brought him into 
court he cursed at a horrible rate. 

The records state “said Jones being brought into court, the Court 
told him of his misdemeanor, and told him he should suffer for it; he 
told the Court he questioned their power, so the Court ordered the 
Sheriff and constable to secure him and they carried and dragged him 
to ye Smith Shop, where they put irons upon him, but he quickly got 
the Irons off and Escaped, he having before wounded several persons’ 
legs with his spurs that strived with him, and when they was goeing to 
put him in the Stocks, before that they put him in Irons, he kicked the 
Sheriff on the mouth and was very unruly and abusive, and soon got out 
of the Stocks.” 

An excellent law in the early days of the Province provided “that 
whereas there was a necessity for the sake of commerce in this infancy 
of things, that the growth and produce of this Province should pass in 
lieu of money, that, therefore, all merchantable wheat, rye, Indian corn, 
barley, oats, pork, beef and tobacco should pass current at the market 
price.” 

Of this provision the people availed themselves largely. They fre¬ 
quently gave bonds to each other acknowledging their debts in kinds. 
Judgments were accordingly sometimes entered “for 172 pounds of pork 
and two bushels of wheat, being the balance of an account brought into 
court,” or for “32 shillings for a gun, and 150 pounds of pork for a 
shirt,” while, perhaps, the climax is reached in an entry of judgment 
for “One thousand of six-penny nails, and three bottles of rum.” 


794 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The early Provincial Courts were unusual peace makers and made 
peculiar awards. 

In Chester County, in 1687, in an action of an assault and battery 
by Samuel Baker against Samuel Rowland was this award: ‘‘Samuel 
Rowland shall pay the lawful charges of this court, and give the 
said Samuel Baker a Hatt, and so Discharge each other of all 
manner of Differences from the Beginning of the World to this 
Present day.” 

The sentences imposed were not unusually severe. The whipping 
post, the pillory and the imposition of fines were usually resorted to as 
punishments in preference to long terms of imprisonment. The services 
of the culprit were more desirable than to keep him within a prison’s 
walls. 


Council of Censors First Met Under Con¬ 
stitution of 1776, November 13, 1783 

HE Constitution of 1776, as would be expected, was hastily pre¬ 
pared. Great excitement prevailed everywhere throughout the 
Province and the document was adopted with the same deter¬ 
mined spirit which characterized all public movements during 
that thrilling period of our history. 

Nothing less than the impending war for liberty could jus¬ 
tify the methods that were employed to change the frame of govern¬ 
ment under which the people had lived for nearly a century. 

The most effective improvement in this instrument could have been 
made by amendment in the regular manner, but this method would not 
have served to satisfy the determined purposes of the leaders of that day. 

The chief objections to the Constitution were the existence of a 
single legislative body, and a council of censors consisting of two men 
from each city and county in the State to hold office for seven years. 

The function of the censors were of a most extraordinary character. 
The members were to meet annually, and inquire whether the Constitu¬ 
tion had been kept inviolate; whether the legislative and executive 
branches had carefully functioned; whether taxes had been justly levied 
and collected, etc. A majority vote of their number was sufficient to 
determine every action, excepting the calling of a convention to revise 
the Constitution, which alone required the consent of two-thirds of the 
council. 

It is believed that George Bryan and James Cannon were the authors 
of this unusual provision. Both were ardent patriots. 

The Constitution fairly reflected the political opinions of those op¬ 
posed to the English Parliament. 

The office of Governor was swept away, and the Constitution of 









COUNCIL OF CENSORS 


795 


1776 provided that the Supreme Executive Council should choose one 
of its number President, whose duties were those of the Chief Executive. 

Every effort to secure a revision of the Constitution proved unavail¬ 
ing and public opinion waited impatiently for the first seven years to 
pass, in the hopes that a revision would then be possible. If the enemies 
of the Constitution were numerous and bitter, it had also many en¬ 
thusiastic supporters. 

The Council of Censors assembled, as the Constitution required, on 
November 13, 1783, and continuing in session nearly a year, adjourned 
finally September 25, 1784. Frederick A. Muhlenberg was elected 
President. 

Various amendments were discussed and strong difference of opinion 
manifested, but in the address of the freemen of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, at the close of their labors, they recommended a contin¬ 
uance of the frame of government. 

They say, “if with heart and hand united, we will all combine to 
support the Constitution, and apply its injunction to the best use of 
society, we shall find it a source of the richest blessings. We would 
earnestly recommend this to you. Give it a fair and honest trial; and 
if after all, at the end of another seven years, it shall be found neces¬ 
sary or proper to introduce any changes, they may then be brought in, 
and established upon a full conviction of their usefulness, with harmony 
and good temper, without noise, tumult, or violence.” 

A majority of the members favored amending the Constitution, so 
that the Legislature should consist of a house of representatives of 100 
members and a legislative council of twenty-nine members; that the 
executive power be vested in a Governor with a veto power; that the 
Judges should be appointed by the Governor to serve during good be¬ 
havior, with fixed salaries and that the Council of Censors should be 
abolished. 

Twelve Councilors favored and nine opposed these amendments, a 
two-thirds vote could not be had. The majority issued an appeal, as 
did the minority. Then followed a pamphlet war on the action of the 
convention, lasting all summer. It was not, however, especially 
bitter. 

On resuming its sessions the Council then assumed its rights under 
the Constitution, but could arrive at no definite conclusion, and finally 
resolved “that there does not appear to this Council an absolute neces¬ 
sity to call a convention to alter or explain or amend the Constitution. 
This report was adopted by a vote of 14 to 8, a marked change in the 
opinion of some of the censors since their previous action. 

This change was occasioned by the people. A petition signed by 
18,000 persons had been sent to the Council of Censors, opposing all 
changes in the Constitution. Then, too, George Bryan had been elected 
from Philadelphia to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of a 


796 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Conservative. Bryan was a radical of the radicals, and his election was 
sensed as an indication of the drift of public sentiment. 

President Muhlenberg admitted early in the summer that the Con¬ 
servatives were beaten, and attributed it to the “blind passion and mad 
party spirit of the common crowd.” General Joseph Reed thought 
their chief mistake was in presenting too many amendments. Bryan 
was severely attacked, and was characterized as the censor general of 
Pennsylvania. 

In justification of their cause the censors simply issued an address to 
the people and then adjourned. They admitted that there were defects 
in the Constitution, but they could not agree on the changes. Even 
this address lacked unanimity, for twelve voted for it and nine opposed 
it. Thus the Constitution, which had been assailed so long, weathered 
the first storm and still remained unchanged. 

The discontent with the Constitution did not die with the inaction 
of the censors. The old confederation was now expiring and the chaos 
was becoming darker than ever. Finally when all authority was gone, 
and the people had suffered enough for the lack of it, they were willing 
to adopt another constitution containing the principles of enduring life. 

The movement that led to the ratification of the Federal Consti¬ 
tution by Pennsylvania gave the proponents of a new constitution the 
suggestion that a convention should be called to adopt another constitu¬ 
tion for Pennsylvania. 

The necessary steps were then taken, and the Legislature, acting 
upon petitions addressed to it, after many heated debates, reported the 
resolutions from the Committee of the Whole with favorable recom¬ 
mendations. 

By this time it was clearly evident the majority of the people de¬ 
sired this in preference to a new Constitution made by the Council of 
Censors. 

Furthermore, the Bill of Rights recognized the people as possessed 
of all the necessary powers in the premises. The report recommended 
a plan for the election of members to the proposed convention, and 
method of procedure. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 39 to 17. 

The learned members of the Council of Censors did not agree; in¬ 
deed, there was a strong and general feeling, especially among the most 
influential and intelligent, that the Constitution of 1776 was inadequate, 
and was still more so since the close of the war, when the situation was 
entirely changed On November 24, 1789, the convention met to revise 
the Constitution. 


INDIANS RAVAGE BERKS COUNTY 


m 


Indian Outrages in Berks County Began 
November 14, 1755 

HE first violent outbreak by the Indians in Berks County, after 
the defeat of General Braddock in July, 1775, occurred in 
the vicinity of Dietrick Six’s plantation, near what is row the 
village of Millersburg, in Bethel Township. This tragedy oc¬ 
curred November 14, 1755. 

Conrad Weiser, who resided in what is now Womelsdorf, 
frequently accompanied bands of friendly Indians on important mis¬ 
sions to Philadelphia, but after many cruel murders had been com¬ 
mitted upon the settlers, the inhabitants turned against Weiser, be¬ 
lieving him to be protecting Indians who did not deserve it. 

The redskins all looked alike to the sturdy settlers, who so fre¬ 
quently lost their own lives, or those of their dear ones, or suffered the 
destruction of their homes and barns at the hands of these treacherous 
savages. 

There is no doubt of the loyalty of Colonel Weiser and his brave 
sons, who were ever on the alert to help others in distress or travel to 
the seat of government and plead the cause of the less fortunate. 

Upon his return home from a trip to Philadelphia, while the trusted 
Chief Scarouady and his friendly Delaware Indians were still under the 
shelter of Weiser’s roof, his two sons, Philip and Frederic, just home 
from a scouting expedition, related the story of the terrible massacre, 
which they had received from the lips of those who felt the cruel blow, 
but escaped death at the hands of the Indians. 

The story they related to their father was immediately sent by him 
to Governor Morris. The facts are of interest. 

Six of the settlers were on the road going to Deitrick Six’s planta¬ 
tion when a party of Indians fired upon them. The frightened white 
men hurried toward a watchhouse, a half mile distant, but were am¬ 
bushed before reaching their haven of refuge and three of the party were 
killed and scalped. A man named Ury shot an Indian through the 
heart and his body was dragged off by the savages, but it was found by 
the whites the next day, when a dead Indian lost his scalp. 

After this attack the Indians divided themselves in two parties. The 
one prowling around the watchhouse overtook some settlers fleeing 
toward that place, when they killed three of them, making six of the 
inhabitants killed by the Indians within an hour’s time. 

On the following night the Indians crept up in the darkness to the 
home of Thomas Bower, on Swatara Creek, pushed their guns through 
a window and killed a cobbler, who was at work repairing a shoe. They 
also set fire to Bower’s house before being driven away. 








798 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The Bower family sought refuge through the night in the home of 
Daniel Snyder, a neighbor, and returning to their home in the morning, 
they saw four skulking Indians running away, who had with them the 
scalps just taken from the heads of three children, two being yet alive. 
They also ran across the body of a woman who had just been Jkilled, 
with a two-weeks old baby under her body, but unhurt. 

Colonel Weiser dispatched a second letter the same day to Governor 
Morris in which he wrote: 

“That night after my arrival from Philadelphia, Emanuel Carpenter 
and Simon Adam Kuhn, Esqr’s., came to my House and lodged with me. 
They acquainted me that a meeting was appointed of the people of 
Tulpenhacon and Heidelberg and adjacent places in Tulpenhacon 
Township at Benjamin Spicker’s early next morning. I made all the 
haste with the Indians I could, and gave them a letter to Thos. McKee, 
to furnish them with necessaries for their journey. Scarouady had no 
creature to ride on. I gave him one. 

“Before I could get done with the Indians 3 or 4 Men came from 
Benja. Spickers to warn the Indians not tp go that way, for the People 
were so enraged against all the Indians & would kill them without dis¬ 
tinction. I went with them; so did the Gentlemen before named. 

“When we came near Benjamin Spickers I saw about 400 or 500 
men, and there was loud noise, I rode before, and in riding along the 
road and armed men on both Sides of the Road I heard some say, why 
must we be killed by the Indians and we not kill them? Why are our 
Hands so tied? 

“I got the Indians to the House with much adoe, where I treated 
them with a small Dram, and so parted in Love and Friendship. Capt’n 
Diefenbach undertook to conduct them, with five other men, to the 
Susquehanna. After this a sort of a counsel of war was held by the 
officers present, the before named and other Freeholders. 

“It was agreed that 150 men should be raised immediately to serve 
as out scouts, and as Guards at Certain Places under the Kittitany 
Hills for 40 days. That those so raised to have 2 Shillings a Day & 
2 Pounds of Bread, 2 Pounds of Beaff and a Jill of Rum, and Powder 
and lead. Arms they must find themselves. 

“This Scheme was signed by a good many Freeholders and read to 
the People. They cried out that so much for an Indian Scalp would 
they have, be they Friends or Enemies, from the Governor. I told 
them I had no such Power from the Governor nor Assembly. They 
began, some to Curse the Governor; some the Assembly; called me a 
Traitor of the Country who held with the Indians, and must have 
known this murder beforehand. I sat in the House by a Lowe window, 
some of my friends came to pull me away from it, telling me some of 
the people threatened to shoot me. 

“I offered to go out to the People and either Pasefy them or make 


INDIAN SHOOTS AT WASHINGTON 


799 


the King’s Proclamation: But those in the House with me would not 
let me go out. The cry was, The Land was betrayed and sold. The 
Common People from Lancaster (now Lebanon County) were the 
worst. The Wages they said was a Trifle and some Body pocketed the 
Rest, and they would resent it. Some Body had put it in their Head 
that I had it in my power to give them as much as I pleased. I was in 
Danger of being Shot to Death. 

“In the mean Time a great smoke arose under Tulpenhacon Moun¬ 
tain, with the news following that the Indians had committed a murder 
on Mill Creek (a false alarm) and set fire to a Barn, most of the People 
Ran, and those that had Horses Rode off without any Order or Regu¬ 
lation. I then took my Horse and went Home, where I intend to stay 
and defend my own House as long as I can. The People of Tulpen¬ 
hacon all fled; till about 6 or 7 miles from me some few remains. An¬ 
other such attack will lay all the Country waste on the West side of 
Schuylkill.” 

There is undoubted sarcasm in Colonel Weiser’s account of how 
the people fled upon the first faint rumor of an Indian attack, after 
they had made mob threats against him, yet the gravity of the situation 
cannot be questioned. 

The principal inhabitants *sent a petition to the Governor, Novem¬ 
ber 24, in which they recited their distress and accurately stated the 
lack of order and discipline among the people. They believed a reward 
should be offered for Indian scalps. 


Indian Shoots at Major Washington While 
on Important Mission November 
15, 1753 

EORGE WASHINGTON had several very narrow escapes 
from tragic death a long time before he led the Continental 
Army through the eight years of the Revolution, and on one 
occasion was actually shot at by a treacherous Indian guide. 

Late in the year of 1753 Governor Dinwiddie dispatched 
Major Washington on an important mission to the Ohio 
River, in Pennsylvania, where he was to convene the Indian chiefs at 
Logstown, learn from them the designs and strength of the French, then 
proceed to the principal French post, present his credentials and in the 
name of his Britannic Majesty demand the object of their invasion 
He departed from Williamsburg, the seat of Government of Vir¬ 
ginia, on October 31, 1753. The route he was to pursue was about 560 
miles in great part over high and rugged mountains, and more than 






800 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


half of the way through the heart of the wilderness, where no traces 
of civilization as yet appeared. 

He arrived at Wills Creek, November 15, when John Davidson, an 
Indian interpreter, and Jacob Vanbraam, a Dutchman, but acquainted 
with the French language, were employed to accompany him. He was 
also fortunate in securing the services of Christopher Gist, a surveyor 
and guide, who was always his companion on this mission. 

At length they arrived at the forks of the Ohio, where Pittsburgh 
now stands. Washington was impressed with the advantages it afforded 
as a military post. 

They hastened to Logstown, twenty miles below the forks, where 
Washington held conferences with Shingas, Lawmolach and Monaka- 
tuatha, the Half-King. The latter had been sent by several tribes 
to the headquarters of French, and he related to Washington the sub¬ 
stance of the speech he made on that mission. 

Washington made a speech to the chiefs, and gave them a belt of 
wampum. The Indians consulted and made a friendly reply and 
promised an escort as soon as their young warriors would return from 
hunting, but Washington could not wait and on November 30, his 
party set out, accompanied by four Indians only, Half-King being of 
the number. 

The post of the French Commandant was 120 miles distant and 
they arrived there December 11. 

M. de St. Pierre, the commandant, promised immediate attention 
to the letter from Governor Dinwiddie and provided for the comfort 
of Major Washington and his party. During the two days the French 
officers were framing an answer, Washington examined the fort, and 
made accurate description of its form and size. 

Washington and Gist clad themselves in Indian dress and set out 
on foot, leaving the weak and miserable horses to transport the baggage 
as best they could. 

The next day an adventure occurred which is well narrated by Mr. 
Gist in his diary: 

“We rose early in the morning, and set out about two o’clock, and 
got to the Murdering Town on the southeast fork of Beaver Creek. 
Here we met with an Indian, whom I thought I had seen at Jon- 
caire’s, at Venango, when on our journey up to the French fort. 

“This fellow called me by an Indian name, and pretended to be glad 
to see me. He asked us several questions, as, how we came to travel 
on foot, when we left Venango, where we parted with our horses, and 
when they would be there. Major Washington insisted on traveling 
by the nearest way to the Forks of the Allegheny. We asked the Indian 
if he could go with us and show us the nearest way. The Indian 
seemed very glad, and ready to go with us; upon which we set out, and 
the Indian took the Major’s pack. 


INDIAN SHOOTS AT WASHINGTON 


801 


“We traveled very brisk for eight or ten miles, when the Major’s 
feet grew very sore. The Major desired to encamp; upon which the 
Indian asked to carry his gun, but he refused. Then the Indian grew 
churlish, and pressed us to keep on', telling us there were Ottawa In¬ 
dians in those woods, and they would scalp us if we lay out; but go to 
his cabin and we should be safe. 

“I thought very ill of the fellow, but did not care to let the Major 
know I mistrusted him. But he soon mistrusted him as much as I did. 
The Indian said he could hear a gun from his cabin and steered up 
more northwardly. We grew uneasy and then he said two whoops 
might be heard from his cabin. We went two miles farther. Then 
the Major said he would stay at the next water. 

“We desired the Indian to stop at the next water, but before we 

came to water, we came to a clear meadow. It was very light and 

snow was on the ground. 

“The Indian made a stop and turned about. The Major saw him 
point his gun towards us and he fired. Said the Major, ‘Are you shot?’ 

‘No,’ said I; upon which the Indian ran forward to a big standing 

light oak and began loading his gun, but we were soon with him. I 
would have killed him, but the Major would not suffer me. We let 
him charge his gun. We found he put in a ball; then we took care of 
him. Either the Major or I always stood by the guns. We made 
him make a fire for us by a little run, as if we intended to sleep there.” 

The Indian was sent ahead to his cabin and Washington and Gist 
traveled all night, reaching Piny Creek in the morning. 

Whether it was the intention of the Indian to kill either of them 
can only be conjectured. The circumstances were extremely suspicious. 
Major Washington hints at this incident in his journal. 

The next night, at dusk, the travelers came to the Allegheny River, 
a little above Shannopino, where they expected to cross over on the ice. 
In that they were disappointed, the river being frozen only a few yards 
on each side, and a great body of broken ice driving rapidly down the 
current. 

There was no way of getting over the river but on a raft, which 
they set about to build with the aid of but one poor hatchet. They 
worked hard all day and finished the raft just after sundown. They 
launched their raft, got aboard and pushed off. But before they got to 
midstream they got caught in an ice jam. Washington set his pole in 
an effort to stop the raft, but the current threw the raft against his 
pole with much violence and he was hurled out into ten feet of water. 
He fortunately saved himself by grabbing hold of a raft log, and was 
assisted aboard by his companions, but in spite of all their efforts they 
could not get the raft to either shore, but were obliged to land on a 
small island and encamp for the night. 

Mr. Gist’s hands and feet were frozen and their sufferings through 


26 


802 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the night were extreme. The ice had formed during the night of suf¬ 
ficient thickness to bear their weight, and they crossed over without ac¬ 
cident, and the same day traveled about ten miles, reaching a trading- 
post established by John Frazier, at Turtle Creek, near the spot where 
eighteen months afterward was fought the memorable battle of the 
Monongahela. 

Anxious to hasten back and report to Governor Dinwiddie the re¬ 
sult of his mission, Major Washington and Mr. Gist recrossed the Alle¬ 
gheny Mountains to Gist’s house on Wills Creek and thence Washing¬ 
ton proceeded with dispatch to Williamsburg, where he arrived on 
January 16, 1754, having been absent eleven weeks. 


John Binns, English Political Prisoner, 
American Politician and Editor, Died 
November 16, 1860 

OHN BINNS was one of the most influential citizens of the 
State during the quarter century of which the War of 1812 
might be considered the central period. He was a politician, 
but more than all else an editor, who was a fearless and 
trenchant writer. 

Binns had experienced a stormy life in England before he 
came to America. He was born December 22, 1772, in the city of 
Dublin, Ireland, and received a fair education at an English school. 

April, 1794, he went to London and soon became a member of the 
London Corresponding Society, an event which gave much color to his 
future life. This society was the leading opposition to the Crown and 
many of its members were arrested and tried for high treason. Binns 
was an officer and most active member, and was soon in trouble, being 
arrested, March 11, 1796, while making an address in Birmingham, and 
imprisoned in “The Dungeon,” charged with “delivering seditious and 
inflammatory lectures.” 

Binns was mixed up in the movement of the United Irishmen to have 
France make an invasion of Ireland. He was arrested four times for 
the same offense, and was sentenced to Clerkwell Prison. Soon as he 
was liberated, he was again arrested for high treason, and sent to the 
Tower of London, where he was confined under a strict watch. 

After a number of trials he was freed, only to be again arrested, 
and confined in Gloucester prison, where he was ill-treated. On his 
liberation he embarked, July 1, 1801, for the United States and landed 
in Baltimore September 1. 

Upon his arrival at Baltimore, he hired three wagons, loaded them 
with his personal effects, and set out, on foot to accompany them to 






JOHN BINNS 


803 


Northumberland, where he proposed to reside. At Harrisburg he hired 
a boat, and helped push it up the Susquehanna. At Northumberland 
he joined Dr. Joseph Priestley and Judge Thomas Cooper, two former 
Englishmen, who had sought refuge there. 

Dr. Priestley lived an ideal life of peace and usefulness in Northum¬ 
berland, but Dr. Cooper, the most learned man of his time, a Judge, 
president of two different colleges, and renowned chemist, was so 
violent in his politics that he was imprisoned for a libel on President 
John Adams. 

On July 4, 1802, John Binns delivered an oration, which was printed 
in the Northumberland Gazette, the only paper published beyond Har¬ 
risburg, in the State, at that time. The many criticisms of this oration 
led to a lengthy newspaper controversy, and finally resulted in John 
Binns establishing at Northumberland the Republican Argus, which 
soon became one of the best and most widely known papers in Penn¬ 
sylvania. 

John Binns, from that date and for many years thereafter, became 
a dominant factor in politics. About this time he fought a duel, near 
Milton, with a man from Williamsport, named Samuel Stewart, which 
was one of the last duels fought on-Pennsylvania soil. 

In January, 1807, he was urged by the influential Democrats to re¬ 
move from Northumberland to Philadelphia and to establish a news¬ 
paper there. The Aurora had lost its punch; William J. Duane was 
losing his grip as a leader, and Binns’ power and influence were in the 
ascendent. 

Binns yielded to these solicitations and the first number of the 
Democratic Press appeared in Philadelphia March 27, 1807. He was 
advised against using the world “Democratic” in his paper’s title, and 
later took much satisfaction in having started the first paper anywhere 
published under the name. He claimed the title of his paper led to 
the change of the party name to “Democratic.” 

Binns was an ardent friend and admirer of Simon Snyder, then 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. Governor McKean defeated 
Snyder, “the Pennsylvania Dutchman,” but the latter was again re¬ 
turned to the House and elected Speaker. 

Snyder was again nominated in 1808. During this campaign Binns 
wrote a series of letters, over the signature of “One of the People,” ad¬ 
dressed to Governor McKean, which were published in all the Demo¬ 
cratic newspapers of the State, and also in pamphlets. 

Binns had no sooner arrived in Philadelphia than he had a clash 
with Dr. Michael Leib, who had been the autocratic political leader, 
but for some years with lessening power. 

The Democratic Press openly opposed Dr. Leib’s candidacy for re- 
election to the General Assembly, claiming the doctor was the cause of 
the dissensions among the Republican Party. Leib was elected, but by a 


804 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


much reduced majority than the other Republican candidate received, 
and Duane was defeated for the Senate. The Aurora groaned aloud 
at this “first Federal triumph” since Jefferson’s election. 

From its first issue Binn’s paper was highly successful. It soon was 
published daily. Its circulation increased rapidly and in the same pro¬ 
portion the Aurora began to lose subscribers. 

The power of Binns was increased in the election of Simon Snyder 
as Governor in 1808. Duane and Leib were, at heart, opposed to 
Snyder, but could not stem the tide and supported him. 

Dr. Leib was elected to the United States Senate in 1809, but 
Duane was not pleased with Governor Snyder. The Press defended 
him. The Aurora criticized his conduct and was soon in opposition in 
all that he did. By August the Aurora threatened the Governor with 
impeachment, and in October announced he should never again be Gov¬ 
ernor. 

Binns called the Aurora and its supporters “The Philadelphia 
Junto,” and they soon joined with the Federalists. Binns already was 
in favor of a war with England, and he was active in pledging support 
to the Administration. 

In 1811, Governor Snyder was overwhelmingly re-elected, and by 
1812 Binns was even stronger as a leader, possibly increased by his war 
enthusiasm. The Democratic Press published strong articles on the war, 
while the Aurora was silent. 

In fall of 1813 the Democrats were successful, but in 1814, though 
Snyder was elected for a third term by 20,000 votes over Wayne, and 
the State Legislature was strongly Democratic, yet the Federalists were 
largely successful in Philadelphia. 

Leib was appointed postmaster at Philadelphia in February, 1814, 
but the opposition was too strong and he was removed, and passed off 
the political stage. Duane, who was supreme for a time, antagonized 
large numbers of his party, and finally yielded to Binns, who com¬ 
pletely took from him his power. 

Binns was an aid on the staff of Governor Snyder, with rank of 
Lieutenant Colonel and was actively engaged during the War of 
1812-14. 

Governor Snyder always remained a close and intimate friend of 
Binns, and while he was in office, Binns exercised great power, but only 
maintained his sway a few years after Snyder’s last term. 

Binns bitterly opposed Jackson for President. He issued the famous 
coffin handbills in 1828, and excited thereby such opposition that his 
house was mobbed, Binns escaping by the roof. 

He was appointed an alderman by Governor Hiester in 1822, and 
in 1829 the publication of the Democratic Press ceased. 

John Binns died November 16, 1860. 


KEITH’S ADMINISTRATION 


805 


Administration of Sir William Keith as 
Deputy-Governor. He Died 
November 17,1749 

URING the administration of Sir William Keith, Deputy- 
Governor of the Province, July, 1718, to July, 1726, a dif¬ 
ficulty arose between the Southern Indians upon the Shenan¬ 
doah, and those resident upon the Susquehanna in the Province 
of Pennsylvania, respecting the limits of their hunting grounds 
Hostilities between them seemed imminent. It was necessary 
to settle these difficulties amicably or the peace of the Province was 
seriously threatened. 

To avert this, says Proud, Governor Keith paid a visit to the Gov¬ 
ernor of Virginia, with whom he framed a convention, confining the 
Indians on the North and South of the Potomac to their respective side 
of that river. A conference was held with the Pennsylvania Indians 
and the Five Nations, at Conestoga, July 6, 1721, when this convention 
was fully ratified. 

Governor Keith made this visit in state. He was attended by 
seventy horsemen, many of them were armed. He was welcomed upon 
his return at the upper ferry on the Schuylkill, by Mayor William Fish- 
bourne and the Aldermen of Philadelphia, accompanied by two hun¬ 
dred of the most respectable citizens, who conducted him through the 
streets after the manner of a hero returned from a conquest. 

Trouble over the boundary arose when the Governor of Maryland 
proposed making a survey on the Susquehanna, within the limits of the 
present York County. 

Governor Keith resolved to resist this attempt by force, and ordered 
out a militia company from New Castle. The Provincial Council 
discouraged this show of violence. 

The Indians became alarmed at the encroachments of the Mary¬ 
landers and conveyed to Governor Keith a large tract of land, that he 
might have a better title to resist them. This land was given for the 
use of Springett Penn, the grandson of William Penn, and was after¬ 
wards known by the narpe of Springettsbury Manor. 

The fears of the Province were soon after awakened by a quarrel 
between two brothers named Cartlidge and an Indian near Conestoga, 
in which the Indian was killed, with many evidences of cruelty. The 
known principles of revenge professed by the Indians gave reason to 
apprehend severe retaliation. Policy and justice required a rigid in¬ 
quiry and punishment of the murderers. 

Governor Keith took prompt measures for their apprehension and the 







806 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Assembly ordered a coroner’s inquest, though the body had been buried 
two months, and the arrest of the Cartlidge brothers. 

Messengers were dispatched to the Five Nations to deprecate hos¬ 
tilities, and, to prevent further irregularities, the prohibition of sale of 
spirituous liquors to the Indians was re-enacted, with additional penalties. 

The Indians invited Governor Keith and the governors of Virginia, 
New York, and the New England colonies, to meet with them in coun¬ 
cil at Albany, where with great magnanimity, the Indians pardoned the 
offense of the Cartlidges, and requested they might be discharged with¬ 
out further punishment. The address of the Indian sachem is worth 
repeating: 

“The great King of the Five Nations is sorry for the death of the 
Indian that was killed, for he was of his own flesh and blood; he be¬ 
lieves the Governor is also sorry; but, now that it is done, there is no 
help for it, and he desires that Cartlidge may not be put to death, nor 
that he should be spared for a time and afterwards executed; one life 
is enough to be lost; there should not two die. The King’s heart is 
good to the Governor, and all the English.” 

Governor Keith was attended on this journey to Albany by Messrs. 
Hill, Norris, and Hamilton, of his Council. 

A considerable part of the emigration to the colonies was composed 
of servants, who were of two classes. The first and the larger part, 
were poor and oppressed in the land of their nativity, sometimes the 
victims of political changes or religious intolerance, who submitted to 
temporary servitude, as a price of freedom, plenty and peace. The 
second, vagrants and felons, the dregs of the British populace, who were 
cast by the mother country upon her colonies, with the most selfish 
disregard of the feelings she outraged. 

As early as 1682 the Council proposed to prohibit convicts from the 
province, but as none had entered and this was only prospective, no law 
was enacted. Now the Council did enact such a law, by placing a duty 
of five pounds upon every convicted felon brought into the Province, 
and the importer was also required to give surety for the good behavior 
of the convict for one year. 

In the year 1722 there were commercial embarrassments caused by 
the deficiency of the circulating medium. Governor Keith proposed to 
overcome this difficulty by the introduction of paper money. The As¬ 
sembly moved with caution, for they had full knowledge of the mis¬ 
takes of the colonies, and issued only £15,000 on favorable terms to 
keep up their credit. This act was passed March 2, 1723. The emis¬ 
sion proved of advantage but was insufficient, so towards the end of 
the year £30,000 more were emitted on the same terms. 

Governor Keith, in espousing this popular cause, pleased the As¬ 
sembly but incurred the displeasure of the Proprietary party and its 
leader, James Logan. Complications arose which eventuated in the 


KEITH’S ADMINISTRATION 


807 


triumph of Logan and the deposition of Keith, who was decidedly the 
most successful of the Proprietary Governors. 

Franklin said of Keith, that “he differed from the great body of the 
people whom he governed, in religion and manners, yet he acquired 
their esteem and confidence. If he sought popularity, he promoted the 
public happiness; and his courage in resisting the demands of the family 
may be ascribed to a higher motive than private interest. The conduct 
of the Assembly toward him was neither honorable nor polite; for his 
sins against his principles'were virtues to the people, with whom he was 
deservedly a favorite; and the House should have given him substantial 
marks of their gratitude as would have tempted his successors to walk 
in his steps. But fear of further offence to the Proprietary family, the 
influence of Logan, and a quarrel between the Governor and Lloyd, 
turned their attention from him to his successor.” 

After his removal, Sir William Keith resided in the Province, and 
was elected to the Assembly, but he manifested a most unjustifiable and 
malicious spirit, and caused dissensions in the administration of his suc¬ 
cessor. His power and influence rapidly waned. 

In 1729 he returned to England, where, it is sad to record, he died 
in obscurity, in London, November 17, 1749. 

“It may be very little known,” says Watson, “that he who moved 
with so much excitement and as our Governor in 1726, should at last 
fall into such neglect, as to leave his widow among us unnoticed and 
almost forgotten! She lived and died in a small wooden house on Third 
Street, between High and Mulberry. There, much pinched for subsis¬ 
tence, she eked out her existence with an old female, declining all inter¬ 
course with society or with her neighbors. The house itself was burnt 
in 1786.” 

Lady Ann Keith died July 31, 1740, aged 65 years, and lies en¬ 
tombed at Christ Church graveyard. 


808 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Governor Joseph Hiester, Distinguished 
Revolutionary Officer and Statesman, 

Born November 18, 1872 

N THE early settlement of that part of Pennsylvania which 
is now included within the limits of Berks County a large 
portion of the population was drawn from those parts of Ger¬ 
many bordering on or near the River Rhine. 

Among these sturdy emigrants were three brothers, John, 
Joseph and Daniel Hiester. 

John, the eldest, emigrated in 1732, and was followed in 1737 by 
Joseph and Daniel, who sailed in that year in the ship St. Andrew from 
Rotterdam. 

These three brothers were sons of John and Catherine Hiester and 
their birthplace was the village of Elcoff in the county of Wittgen¬ 
stein, in the province of Westphalia, Prussia. The father, John Hiester, 
was born in January, 1708. 

The three brothers first settled in Goshenhoppen, then Philadelphia, 
now Montgomery County. Soon after the arrival of Joseph and Daniel, 
they purchased of the Proprietary Government a tract of several 
thousand acres in Bern Township, now Berks County. 

Here John and Joseph settled, and the Hiester family in America 
are their descendants. Here was born a patriot of the Revolution, dis¬ 
tinguished citizen and statesman, who afterwards became a governor 
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

Joseph Hiester, son of John Hiester, was born in Bern Township, 
November 18, 1752. 

He spent his early days on the farm and in the intervals of the 
routine from labor, Joseph received the rudiments of an English and 
German education under the supervision of the pastor of Bern Re¬ 
formed Church. 

In 1771, in his nineteenth year, he married Elizabeth Whitman, 
daughter of Adam Whitman, of Reading, to which place he soon re¬ 
moved, and went into the mercantile business with his father-in-law. 

Joseph Hiester was an ardent Whig in politics and took an ag¬ 
gressive part in espousing the cause of the Revolution. 

As a representative of that party he was chosen a member of the 
Pennsylvania Conference, which met in Philadelphia, June 18, 1776, 
and which in reality assumed the government of the Province, called 
a convention to frame a new constitution, gave instructions for the 
guidance of its representatives in Congress, and authorized the calling 






GOVERNOR HIESTER 


809 


out of troops for the Continental Army. In all these proceedings he 
was a warm supporter of the popular cause. 

He was then a captain of militia, and no sooner had the conference 
adjourned, than he hastened home and aroused the young men of Read¬ 
ing and vicinity to the importance of enlisting in the cause of American 
independence, at that time but feebly supported. 

Joseph Hiester called together, by beat of drum, his fellow-towns¬ 
men, to take into consideration the alarming state and gloomy pros¬ 
pects of their country. He explained to them the perilous situation of 
General Washington in New Jersey, and urged them to enlist and 
march to his support. 

He was heard with attention and respect, and his proposition was 
kindly received. He then laid forty dollars on the drum-head and said: 
“I will give this sum as a bounty, and the appointment of a sergeant 
to the first man who will subscribe to the articles of association to 
form a volunteer company to march forthwith and join the Com- 
mander-in-Chief; and I will also pledge myself to furnish the com¬ 
pany with blankets and necessary funds for their equipment, and on 
the march!” 

This promise he honorably and faithfully fulfilled. 

Matthias Babb stepped forward, signed the article, and took the 
money from the drumhead. His example, and the further advance¬ 
ment of smaller sums of money, induced twenty men that evening to 
subscribe to the articles of association. In ten days Captain Joseph 
Hiester had enrolled a company of eighty men. 

The company became a part of the Flying Camp, but soon Captain 
Hiester was induced to extend his efforts, and a battalion was shortly 
obtained. He could have been made their colonel but declined to be 
even a major, so attached was he to his original company. 

When his command reached Elizabethtown, N. J., it was learned 
General Washington had moved to Long Island. Captain Hiester 
used his best endeavor to induce the men to advance, as they had en¬ 
listed only for Pennsylvania service, and following his patriotic lead, 
they marched to join Washington. 

The gallant captain little knew the hard fate that was to be his. 
In the battle of Long Island he was taken prisoner, with most of 
his men, and confined in the notorious prison-ship, Jersey, where 
they were subjected to every indignity which refined cruelty could 
invent. 

After seven months’ imprisonment Captain Hiester was exchanged, 
and returned in time to take part in the battle of Germantown, where 
he received a wound in the head. 

In the varied fortunes of the patriot army he continued to share 

until the close of the war. . , 

He was appointed by the Supreme Executive Council one of the 


810 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


commissioners of exchange, April 5, 1779, and on October 21, follow¬ 
ing, one of the committee to seize the personal effects of traitors. 

He was chosen to the General Assembly in 1780, and served almost 
continuously from that date until 1790. 

He was a delegate to the Pennsylvania convention to ratify the Fed¬ 
eral Constitution in 1787, and in 1789, he was a member of the conven¬ 
tion which framed the State Constitution of 1790. He was chosen a 
presidential elector in 1792, and again in 1796. 

He served in the fifth to eighth Congress, and again in the fifteenth 
and sixteenth Congresses, and during his last term was elected Governor 
of Pennsylvania by the Federalists, defeating Governor William Find¬ 
lay, in a campaign which for personal vituperation has never been 
equalled in Pennsylvania. 

Governor Hiester’s administration was most successful, but he 
would not allow himself to be nominated for a second term. 

Returning to Reading, he retired to private life, and died there 
June 10, 1832. 


President Lincoln Delivered Address at Ded¬ 
ication of the National Cemetery at 
Gettysburg, November 19, 1863 

BRAHAM LINCOLN made many notable speeches, the 
most prominent of which, probably, were those delivered 
in his historic debates with Stephen A. Douglas, the “Little 
Giant.” 

On his way from his home in Springfield to Washington 
for his inauguration he made a number of speeches, the most 
notable of which was delivered in Philadelphia in Independence 
Hall. But the most famous of all his addresses as President Was de¬ 
livered November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National 
Cemetery on the battlefield of Gettysburg. 

President Lincoln left Washington at noon on Wednesday, No¬ 
vember 18, 1863. There were four passenger coaches, in which were 
seated the President, members of his Cabinet, several foreign ministers, 
the private secretaries of the President, officers of the Army and Navy, 
a military detail serving as a guard, and newspaper correspondents. 
This special train pulled into the town of Gettysburg about dark of 
that day. 

Mr. Lincoln passed the evening and night in the home of David 
Wills, who was the special representative of Governor Andrew G. 
Curtin and the most active agent in the establishment of the Soldiers’ 
Cemetery. 







LINCOLN’S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS 


811 


Arnold, in his “History of Lincoln and the Overthrow of Slavery,” 
asserts that the President while on his way from the White House to 
the battlefield was notified that he would be expected to make some re¬ 
marks, and that asking for some paper a rough sheet of foolscap was 
handed to him. Retiring to a seat by himself, with a pencil be wrote 
the address. 

Mrs, Andrews in her beautiful story entitled “The Perfect Tribute” 
says, “The President appealed to Secretary Seward for the brown paper 
he had just removed from a package of books: ‘May I have this to 
do a little writing?’ and then with a stump of a pencil labored for 
hours over his speech.” 

Contrary to those statements, General James B. Fry, who was 
present in the car as one of the escort, says: 

“I have no recollection of seeing him writing or even reading his 
speech during the journey; in fact, there was hardly any opportunity 
for him to read or write.” 

That opinion is shared by no less an authority than Nicolay, the 
senior of the President’s private secretaries, who in an interesting and 
highly valuable paper on the Gettysburg address, says: 

“There is neither record, evidence, nor well-founded tradition that 
Mr. Lincoln did any writing or made any notes on the journey between 
Washington and Gettysburg. The many interruptions incident to the 
journey, together with the rocking and jolting of the train, made writ¬ 
ing virtually impossible.” 

Morory in his “History of the United States for Schools,” says: 
“There is conclusive evidence that the words of the address were not 
written out until after the presidential party had arrived on the ground” ; 
and in an appendix it is stated: 

“The following account of how the address was written was re¬ 
ceived directly from the lips of ex-Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, 
who yvas present on the occasion and knew whereof he affirmed. Gov¬ 
ernor Curtin said that after the arrival of the party from Washington, 
while the President and his Cabinet, Edward Everett, the orator of 
the day, Governor Curtin, and others were sitting in the parlor of the 
hotel, the President remarked that he understood that the committee 
expected him to say something. He would, therefore, if they would 
excuse him, retire to the next room and see if he could write out some¬ 
thing.” 

The Hon. Edward McPherson, of Gettysburg, for many years 
Clerk of the House of Representatives and father of the present Judge 
Hon. Donald P. McPherson, of Adams County, said in 1875, that 
after Lincoln had retired to his room on the night of the 18th he sent 
for his host and “inquired the order of exercises for the next day and 
begun to put in writing what he called some stray thoughts to utter on 
the morrow.” Mr. Wills always believed the address was written in 


812 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


his house and said in 1893, as he had earlier, that the President read 
“from the same paper on which I had seen him writing it the night 
•before.” 

Noah Brooks, a newspaper correspondent at Washington during the 
war, who was on terms of friendly intimacy, declared that a few days 
prior to November 19, 1863, Lincoln told him that Mr. Everett 
had kindly sent him a copy of his oration in order that the same 
ground might not be gone over by both. The President added, 
“There is no danger that I shall; my speech is all blocked out—it is 
very short.” 

Ward H. Lamon, a personal friend and chief marshal of the cere¬ 
monies at Gettysburg, in his “Recollections of Abraham Lincoln,” 
states that Mr. Lincoln read to him, a day or two before the dedication, 
what he claims to have been in substance, if not in exact words, what 
was afterward printed in his famous Gettysburg speech. 

Senator Simon Cameron, also asserted, in a newspaper interview, 
that he had seen a draft of the address in the White House before the 
President left Washington. 

Such are the divergent testimonies concerning the preparation of the 
Address. Fortunately there exists documentary evidence to substantiate 
the statements of Noah Brooks, Ward H. Lamon and Senator Cameron 
and to establish conclusively that the address was the outcome of delib¬ 
eration and careful thought. 

That is further emphasized in the wording of the formal invitation 
to the President, which was written on November 2, and specifically 
stated that “it is the desire that you as Chief Executive of the Nation 
formally set apart these grounds to their sacred use by a few appro¬ 
priate remarks.” 

The address has been so long and so generously accepted as the 
highest expression of American oratory, that it is difficult to realize that 
it ever had less appreciation than now. The testimonies of those who 
heard the address delivered differ widely as to the reception given and as 
to the impression it made. 

Bates in his “History of the Battle of Gettysburg,” in 1875, says: 
“Its delivery was more solemn and impressive than is possible to con¬ 
ceive from its perusal.” 

Arnold says: “Before the last sentence was completed, a thrill of 
feeling like an electric spark pervaded the crowd. As he closed, and 
the tears and sobs and cheers which expressed the emotions of the people 
subsided, he turned to Everett and, grasping his hand, said, ‘I con¬ 
gratulate you on your success.’ The orator gratefully replied, ‘Ah! Mr. 
President, how gladly would I exchange all my hundred pages to have 
been the author of your twenty lines’.” Major Nickerson, Robert Mil¬ 
ler and many others commented on a similar vein. 

The reports of the address, published November 20, 1863, in the 


CRUEL CHIEF HIOKATOO 


813 


Public Ledger, the North American, the Press, and the Bulletin, of 
Philadelphia, were furnished by the Associated Press, the text is identical 
in each. But many variations of this address are to be found even 
today. 

Not until the war itself had ended and the great leader had fallen 
did the Nation realize that this speech had given to Gettysburg an¬ 
other claim to immortality and to American eloquence its highest glory. 


The Seneca Chief Hiokatoo, “Most Cruel 
Human Being,” Died November 
20, 1811 

■ HE second husband of Mary Jemison, the celebrated Indian 
captive known as “The White Woman of the Genesee” was 
Chief Hiokatoo, who she describes as the most cruel human 
being of whom we have any authentic record. 

When Mary Jemison was an old woman she related the 
thrilling narrative of her long life among the Indians. Noth¬ 
ing told by the venerable captive was more thrilling than the life of 
Hiokatoo, also known as Gardow. 

She says: “He was an old man when I first saw him, but he was 
by no means enervated. During the nearly fifty years that I lived with 
him, I received, according to Indian customs, all the kindness and at¬ 
tention that was my due as his wife. Although war was his trade from 
youth till old age and decreptitude stopped his career, he uniformly 
treated me with tenderness, and never offered an insult. 

“I have frequently heard him repeat the history of his life from his 
childhood; and when he came to that part which related to his actions, 
his bravery and his valor in war; when he spoke of the ambush, the 
combat, the spoiling of his enemies and the sacrifice of the victims, his 
nerves seemed strung with youthful ardor. The warmth of the able 
warrior seemed to animate his frame and to produce the heated gestures 
he had practiced in middle age. He was a man of tender feelings to his 
friends, ready and willing to assist them in distress. Yet, as a warrior, 
his cruelties to his enemies perhaps were unparalleled, and will not 
admit of a word of palliation. 

“Hiokatoo was born in one of the tribes of the Six Nations that 
inhabited the banks of the West Branch of the Susquehanna, in Penn¬ 
sylvania. He belonged to a tribe of the Seneca nation. He was a 
cousin to Farmer’s Brother, a chief who has been justly celebrated for 
his worth. Their mothers were sisters, and it was through the influence 
of Farmer’s Brother that I became the wife of Hiokatoo. 

“In early life Hiokatoo showed signs of thirst for blood by attending 





814 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


only to the art of war, in the use of the tomahawk and scalping knife 
and in practicing cruelties upon everything that chanced to fall into his 
hands which was susceptible of pain. In that way he learned to use his 
implements of war effectually and at the same time blunted all those 
fine feelings and tender sympathies that are naturally excited by seeing 
or hearing a fellow being in distress. 

“He could inflict the most excruciating tortures upon his enemies 
and prided himself upon his fortitude in having performed the most 
barbarous ceremonies and tortures without the least degree of pity or 
remorse. Thus qualified, when very young he was initiated into scenes 
of carnage by being engaged in the wars that prevailed among the In¬ 
dian tribes.” 

In 1731 he was appointed a runner and assisted in collecting an 
army to go against the Catawba, Cherokee and other Southern Indians. 
In one great battle of this war the Northern Indians ambushed their 
enemies and in two days massacred 1200 of their Southern enemies. 

During the French and Indian War Hiokatoo was in every battle 
that was fought along the Susquehanna and Ohio Rivers. At Brad- 
dock’s defeat he took two white prisoners and burned them alive in a 
fire of his own kindling. 

Mary Jemison says he participated in the battle at Fort Freeland, 
on Warrior Run, Northumberland County, July 28, 1779. She says: 

“Hiokatoo was in command of the 300 Seneca Indians, and that Cap¬ 
tain John MacDonald commanded more than one hundred British reg¬ 
ulars. Hiokatoo, with the help of a few Indians, tomahawked every 
wounded American while earnestly begging with uplifted hands for 
quarter.” 

In an expedition against Cherry Valley, N. Y., Hiokatoo was second 
in command. This force of hundreds of Indians was determined upon 
the total destruction of the whites. 

Besides these instances, he was in a number of parties during the 
Revolution, where he ever acted a conspicuous part. 

When Tory Colonel John Butler and Chief Joe Brant were making 
their terrible incursions against the settlers in lower New York and 
Pennsylvania they frequently resided with Chief Hiokatoo and his wife, 
Mary Jemison, at their home in the German Flats. 

During General Sullivan’s expedition against the Indians in the 
summer of 1779, Hiokatoo was most active in his attempt to frustrate 
his plans. During this march Lieutenant Thomas Boyd was captured 
by the Indians in ambush. While Chief Little Beard was in command 
at Boyd’s cruel execution, Hiokatoo was a close second. 

Hiokatoo was one of the leading actors in the diabolical scene fol¬ 
lowing the capture of Colonel William Crawford, July, 1782, when he 
was put to death after the most inhuman barbarities were inflicted 
upon him. 


CRUEL CHIEF HIOKATOO 


815 


The cruel Indian chief was assisted in these fiendish scenes by Simon 
Girty, the white savage renegade and outlaw Tory. Hiokatoo was the 
leading chief in the battle which destroyed Colonel Crawford’s com¬ 
mand and personally directed the colonel’s execution. He painted Dr. 
Knight’s face black with his own hands and had him conducted to the 
place where he was to be executed. Dr. Knight escaped during the 
night and was able to reach his home and give the horrid details of 
Crawford’s execution. 

Chief Hiokatoo served in seventeen campaigns during the period of 
the Revolution, until his death, which occurred on November 20, 1811, 
at the advanced age of 103 years. 

Hiokatoo was about six feet four inches tall, large boned and rather 
inclined to leanness. He was very powerful and active for a man of 
his unusual size, and his wife said of him that he never found an Indian 
who could keep up with him in a race or throw him wrestling. 

His eye was quick and penetrating and his voice was so harsh and 
powerful that amongst the Indians it always commanded attention. His 
health was uniformly good, and he was never confined by illness until 
attacked with tuberculosis when quite 100 years of age. 

During his married life as the husband of the White Woman of the 
Genesee he was the father of four daughters and two sons. The elder 
of the two sons, John, killed his half-brother, Thomas, in a family 
feud which had existed between them since John was born, although 
Thomas was a fine character and John dissolute. 

John a few years later, May, 1812, killed his own brother, Jesse, 
in a drunken frenzy, inflicting no less than eighteen wounds with a 
knife, each so deep that it would have been fatal. Jesse was twenty- 
seven years old and had been more like his mother than the other 
children. He shunned the Indian frolics, dressed and acted more like 
a white man and was sober and industrious. 

Thus we see the cruelty of old Chief Hiokatoo inherited by his own 
son and inflicted upon his own blood in a most fiendish manner. 


816 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Delegates to the Constitutional Convention 
Chosen November 21, 1789 



|N NOVEMBER 5, 1788, General Thomas Mifflin succeeded 
Dr. Benjamin Franklin as president of the Supreme Executive 
Council. Dr.*Franklin was now eighty-two years old and de¬ 
sired to be relieved of so exacting a responsibility and declined 
the re-election, which was assured him. At the same time 


George Ross, of Lancaster, was elected vice president. 


The first election for electors of President and Vice President of 
the United States, under the new Constitution was held January 7, 
1789. The Federal ticket was successful. The ten votes of Pennsyl¬ 
vania were given to General George Washington as President, and 
eight votes for John Adams, and two for John Hancock, for Vice 
President. 

The National Government, feeble at first, had no buildings and no 
home. During seven years of Washington’s term as President the capi¬ 
tal was at Philadelphia. Congress met at Sixth and Chestnut Streets. 
The Supreme Court met at Fifth and Chestnut Streets. The President 
lived on Market Street below Sixth Street. The Government of the 
United States has never paid the rent for these public buildings and in 
its infancy and weakness, Pennsylvania gave our National Government 
a home without compensation therefor. 

The Constitution of Pennsylvania as adopted in 1776, had long 
since proved inadequate for the requirements of a useful and effective 
government, and its revision was demanded. The Assembly, March 
24, 1789, adopted resolutions recommending the election of delegates 
to form a new Constitution. The Supreme Executive Council refused 
to promulgate this action of the Assembly. In September following 
the Assembly adopted resolutions for calling a convention. 

At the election in October delegates were chosen and on November 
21, 1789, the convention assembled in Philadelphia, and organized with 
the election of General Thomas Mifflin, Chief Executive of the State, 
as President of the convention. The sessions of the convention were 
long and tedious, and an adjournment was had for a time in 1790, but 
their labors were concluded, and the new Constitution adopted Sep¬ 
tember 2, 1790. 

The most radical changes were made in the executive and legislative 
branches of the Government. The Assembly ceased to have the sole 
right to make laws, a Senate being created. The Supreme Executive 
Council was abolished. A Governor was directed to be elected, to whom 
the administration of affairs was to be intrusted. 





CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1790 817 


The former judicial system was continued, excepting that the Judges 
of the higher courts were to be appointed during good behavior instead 
of for seven years. The Bill of Rights re-enacted the old provincial 
provision copied into the first Constitution respecting freedom of wor¬ 
ship, rights of conscience and exemptions from compulsory contribution 
for the support of any ministry. 

The recognition of God and of a future state of rewards and pun¬ 
ishments was still demanded of all holding office, but a belief in the 
divine inspiration of the Old and New Testaments was not included. 
The Council of Censors ceased to have authority, and Pennsylvania 
conformed in all important matters to the system upon which the new 
Federal Government was to be administered. 

The first election held in Pennsylvania under the new Constitution 
of the Commonwealth—that of 1790—resulted in the election of Gen¬ 
eral Thomas Mifflin, then president of the Supreme Executive Coun¬ 
cil, who had presided at the forming of the new instrument. Mifflin 
had little or no opposition. His election was evident from the start, 
for there were no real issues. The result turned chiefly on his better- 
known personal qualities. Parties had not yet become crystallized with 
definite issues. 

General Arthur St. Clair, his opponent, was highly esteemed as 
a citizen and brilliant soldier, but the popularity of Mifflin carried him 
in triumph, and for three terms he was chosen to the chief magistracy 
of Pennsylvania. His success was his own; he builded his own house. 

Governor Mifflin’s chief political adviser was Alexander J. Dallas, 
who was appointed to the office of Secretary of the Commonwealth. 
That was a wise selection. Dallas was young, but brilliant and deeply 
interested in politics. He knew the leading men of the State and main¬ 
tained a close relationship with them. 

With the new Constitution functioning, the course of legislation 
turned in various channels. The promotion of internal improvements 
which have since become so important in Pennsylvania, and other en¬ 
terprises of a less public character, soon demanded the attention of the 
General Assembly. 

One of the first measures was that urged by the Society for the 
Improvement of Roads and Canals, and which contemplated the con¬ 
struction of highways and artificial waterways at the expense of the 
State. This suggestion aroused such a storm of opposition that the 
Legislature was compelled to reject the original proposition and to pass 
bills providing only partial and doubtful encouragement for their estab¬ 
lishment by private enterprise. 

A long and valuable report was made February 19, 1791, which 
embodied the results of examinations made previously. The committee 
reported that the Delaware River could be made an important channel 
for the trade of New York by the construction of a portage canal of 


818 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


nineteen miles; that a safe boat and raft navigation might be made to 
the northern boundary of the State for £25,000. They gave an esti¬ 
mate of the grain which was brought down the Susquehanna and the 
Juniata and they reported on the probable trade along the Allegheny 
River and how it could be increased by canals at certain places. 

They recommended that the Governor should issue a proclamation 
inviting proposals for building canals and locks in and near the waters 
of the Tulpehocken and Quittapahilla; for a canal from Frankstown to 
Poplar Run, and for clearing the Susquehanna from Wright’s Ferry 
to Havre de Grace. They also wanted proposals for a turnpike from 
Philadelphia through Lancaster to the Susquehanna and for other roads 
throughout the State. 

A bill was passed April 6, 1792, and in August Governor Mifflin 
apprised the Legislature that he had made contracts for the improve¬ 
ments of certain streams, but that “several propositions had not yet 
met with persons willing to undertake the specified work.” 

During the year 1793 the Bank of Pennsylvania was incorporated by 
the Legislature, the opinion being expressed that it would “promote the 
regular, permanent and successful operations of the finances of the State 
and be productive of great benefit to trade and industry in general.” 

The State subscribed for one-third of the entire stock and branches 
were established at Lancaster, Harrisburg, Reading, Easton and Pitts¬ 
burgh. These were discontinued in 1810; in 1843 the State sold its 
stock, and with the great financial crisis of 1857 the Bank of Penn¬ 
sylvania sank in ruin. 


Joe Disberry, Remarkable Thief, First 
Arrested November 22, 1783 

BOUT the close of the Revolutionary War a notorious char¬ 
acter named Disberry lived between Selinsgrove and Sunbury. 
He was possessed of great physical strength and had few 
superiors in running, jumping and skating. But in thieving 
and lying he was considered a match for the prince of darkness 
himself. 

So bold was he that, according to reminiscences preserved by early 
settlers, he was known to enter the kitchen of a dwelling when the 
family were in bed, start up a fire, cook a meal and eat at his leisure. 
If disturbed in this agreeable occupation he relied on his swiftness of 
foot to escape. 

At length Joe became so notorious on account of his thieving pro-. 
pensities that the whole settlement was up in arms against him, and he 
was finally arrested November 22, 1783, and imprisoned in the jail at 
Sunbury. But as the jail—which was the first one built in Northumber- 







JOE DISBERRY, THIEF 819 

land County—was not secure he quickly escaped, and Sheriff Antes 
offered a reward for his apprehension. 

On another occasion Disberry took refuge on the “Isle of Que” 
and concealed himself in a thicket of bushes, where he fancied himself 
secure. He might have remained undiscovered and escaped but for his 
inordinate love of perpetrating jokes. 

Lying on the watch near the road cut through the thicket Joe heard 
the foosteps of a horse and, slyly peeping from his covert, espied the 
Sheriff’s wife approaching on horseback. He at once stepped into the 
road and, pulling off his hat, made a polite bow, when he suddenly 
disappeared in the bushes. The lady hurried to Selinsgrove and gave 
the alarm. 

A party headed by George Kremer was immediately formed and 
went to the island in pursuit of Joe. Guided by the lady’s instructions, 
Kremer went to the spot and soon had the culprit in custody. He was 
taken back to jail, tried and sentenced, and his sentence is one of the 
strangest found in the annals of criminal history of Pennsylvania. 

In the Quarter Sessions docket of Northumberland County the 
record shows that Joe Disberry was arraigned on the charge of felony, 
tried and found guilty. The jury was composed as follows: Peter 
Hosterman, Adam Grove, George Shaffer, Philip Frick, John Harrison, 
Michael Grove, William Clark, Adam Christ, Robert Irwin, Paul 
Baldy, John Shaffer, Alexander McGrady. The sentence of the 
Court, which still stands out boldly on the record, was as follows: 

“Judgment that the said Joseph Disberry receive thirty-nine lashes 
between the hours of 8 and 9 o’clock tomorrow; to stand in the pillory 
one hour; to have his ears cut off and nailed to the post; to return the 
property stolen or the value thereof; remain in prison three months; 
pay a fine of £30 to the honorable the president of this State for the 
support of the Government, and stand convicted until fine, fees, etc., 
are paid.” 

This remarkable sentence shows the estimate that was put on Joe as 
a criminal. The whipping post and pillory stood in the public square in 
Sunbury. 

Colonel John Henry Antes was the Sheriff at that time and directed 
the whipping, if he did not do it himself. 

There is no record to show who did the ear chopping, but as the 
surgical operation fell to the Sheriff also, it is probable that he did it. 

John Buyers was the president of the court at that time, assisted by 
associates, and the duty of imposing the sentence fell on him. The 
Court met, according to the entry in the docket on the fourth Tuesday 
of August, 1784, and as the trial took place at once, the sentence was 
carried out on Wednesday. 

Among the jurors were several men who were prominent as Indian 
fighters and participants in the war for liberty. 


820 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Peter Hosterman, foreman, was active as a militia officer and had 
command of a body of militia to watch and repel savage attacks. 

Adam and Michael Grove were famous as Indian scouts, and the 
latter only a short time before he served on this jury, was one of a 
company that pursued a party of marauding Indians up the Sinnemahon- 
ing. Discovering their camp they stealthily approached at night, rushed 
upon them, surprised them, captured their arms and killed several. The 
balance escaped. The Grove brothers then lived in Buffalo Valley, now 
Union County. 

This severe sentence, it seems, did not cure Joe Disberry of his 
thieving propensities, for the Quarter Sessions docket for August term, 
1798 (Northumberland County), shows that he was arraigned and tried 
on three indictments for burglarizing the houses of Philip Bower, Peter 
Jones and Isaiah Willits, and convicted on each. 

The jurors who found him guilty on each count were John Clark, 
John Metzgar, John Friesbach, George Clark, John Armstrong, John 
Cochran, Thomas Murray, Christian Gettig, John Dewart, George 
Bright, Peter Disher and Hamelius Lomison. 

Judge Jacob Rush was President Judge assisted by Captain William 
Wilson, John McPherson, Thomas Strawbridge and Colonel William 
Cooke as associates. Robert Irwin was high sheriff of the county. 
Judge Rush, on sentencing Disberry, said: 

“That the prisoner, Joseph Disberry, forfeit all and singular his 
goods and chattels, lands and tenements, to and for the use of the 
Commonwealth, and undergo a servitude of seven years for the burglary 
committed in the house of Peter Bower, and be committed to the house 
of correction, pay the cost of prosecution, &c.” 

The Court then sentenced him on the two other indictments, seven 
years each. Joe, who was listening very attentively remarked rather 
jocosely: “Why, Your Honor, three sevens make twenty-one!” 

Judge Rush then continued: “That the defendant be conveyed to 
the gaol and penitentiary house of the city of Philadelphia to undergo 
the servitude aforesaid for the term of twenty-one years. And that the 
said Joe Disberry be kept for the space of two years in solitary cells out 
of the term of twenty-one years.” 

This remarkable criminal served his long sentence and returned in 
1819 to his old haunts, about Sunbury and the Selinsgrove, an aged man, 
but as merry as a cricket. Being a natural-born thief, he could not resist 
the temptation to steal everything upon which he could lay his 
hands. 

The date of his death is unknown. But the late Dr. Robert Harris 
Awl, of Sunbury, said that some time after his return from serving 
his long sentence, he went one night to a mill in Union County to 
steal flour and falling through a hatchway sustained injuries which 
resulted in his death. It is said that when they came to bury him, the 


THOMAS CRESAP ARRESTED 821 

9 

owner of the mill insisted that he should be buried deep. “For,” said 
he, “if it is not done he will return and steal mill, dam and all!” 

It is not positively known whence this remarkable man came. Tradi¬ 
tion says that he was a native of Connecticut. In that event he might 
have been among the emigrants to Wyoming, but on account of his 
evil propensities was banished to Sunbury as a punishment to Dr. Plunket 
and his people, for whom the Wyomingites bore no love. Neither is 
it known whether he had any family or property. FI is criminal record, 
however, would furnish material enough for a first-class romance. 


Border Invasion by Thomas Cresap Ceased 
After His Arrest, November 23, 1736 

HERE was great conflict between the several Lords Balti¬ 
more, Proprietaries of Maryland, and the Penns, Proprietaries 
of Pennsylvania, over the boundary of their respective prov¬ 
inces, which lasted from the time William Penn first received 
his grant until the Mason and Dixon boundary line was sur¬ 
veyed in 1763-67. 

Conestoga Township, in what is now Lancaster County, was origin¬ 
ally organized about 1712. Prior to 1719 it was divided into East and 
West Conestoga. The western boundaries of the latter were not 
defined until 1722, when Donegal Township was erected and Chicques 
Creek was made its eastern boundary. Pequea Township seems to have 
been to the northeast of Conestoga, with not very well defined boun¬ 
daries, and was probably erected about the year 1720. 

Lord Baltimore selected a pliant and bold adventurer for his agent 
in this disputed territory named Thomas Cresap, aged twenty-six years, 
a carpenter by occupation, and in religious faith a Roman Catholic, 
same as the Calverts of Maryland. He was to go to Conejohela Valley 
and settle, where he built a cabin and established a ferry, on March 16, 
1730, near James Patterson’s land. 

In a joint statement made by James Patterson to Justices John 
Wright and Samuel Blunston they issued a warrant and wrote to Gov¬ 
ernor Patrick Gordon, October 30, 1732, and said: 

“About two years Since, Thomas Cresap, and some other people of 
Loose Morals and Turbulent Spirits, Came and disturbed the Indians, 
our friends and Allies, who were peaceably Settled on those lands from 
when the said Parnel and others had been removed, Burnt their Cabbins, 
and destroyed their goods, And with much threatening and Ill-usage, 
drove them away, and by pretending to be under the Maryland govern¬ 
ment, sought to Evade ours. Thus they proceeded to play booty. Dis¬ 
turbing the Peace of the Government, Carrying people out of the 







822 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Province by Violence, Taking away the guns from our friends, the 
Indians, Tying and making them Prisoners without any offence given; 
and threatening all who should Oppose them; And by Underhand and 
Unfair practices, Endeavoring to Alienate the minds of the Inhabitants 
of this Province, and Draw them from Obedience to their party. 
Their Insolence Increasing, they killed the horses of Such of our people 
whose trade with the Indians made it Necessary to Keep them on that 
Side of the river, for Carrying their Goods and Skins; assaulted those 
who were sent to look after them.” 

Cresap’s house was a convenient refuge for runaway servants and 
debtors. Samuel Chance, a runaway debtor of Edward Cartlidge, an 
Indian trader who lived in the Manor, took up his abode with Cresap 
and assisted him to row his ferryboat. A son of Cartlidge laid a plan 
to capture Chance by decoying him to the east side of the river. 

Cresap and Chance got into their boat and rowed over to the Blue 
Rock, where they found Edward Beddock, Rice Morgan, and a Negro 
servant of Mr. Cartlidge. After being taken into the boat, and rowed 
out into the stream a few yards, Beddock and Morgan threw Cresap 
into the river, and took Chance to shore with them. Cresap made his 
escape to an island nearby, where he remained until after dark, when he 
was discovered by an Indian and rescued. 

Cresap made complaint to the Maryland authorities, and a sharp 
correspondence between the Governors of the two Provinces resulted. 

In the fall of 1733, Cresap came up to Wright’s Ferry and com¬ 
menced to build boats and erect a house. Wright and Blunston had 
placed a number of men in the ferryhouse, who sallied forth and took 
Cresap’s men prisoners. 

John Emerson, a lawyer, who lived in Lancaster, was appointed 
ranger and keeper of the Conestoga Manor. He also owned a ferry at 
Blue Rock. On January 29, 1734, accompanied by Knowles Daunt and 
five others, Emerson went down to Cresap’s house to arrest him. Cresap 
shot Daunt in the leg, from the effects of which he died. They failed to 
capture Cresap and he afterward made frequent raids into Kreitz Val¬ 
ley with bands of armed men. 

In July, 1735, when John Wright was harvesting his grain, Cresap 
appeared with twenty men, women and lads, armed with guns, swords, 
pistols, blunderbusses and drums beating. 

Wright approached Cresap and demanded the reason of their military 
display. Cresap replied that they came to fight the Pennsylvanians, drew 
his sword and aimed his pistol at Wright’s breast, who, by his courage, 
completely cowed Cresap and captured his wagons. Wright and his 
men then made a fort of the ferryhouse on the west side of the river. 

Cresap reported these doings to Governor Ogle, who ordered out the 
Maryland militia. Wright learned of this martial movement and en¬ 
gaged Benjamin Chambers to ascertain their designs. Chambers was 


THOMAS CRESAP ARRESTED 


823 


suspected as a spy and arrested, but escaped to Wright’s Ferry and made 
a full report. He then went to Donegal and collected a number of 
Scotch-Irish, and marched them to Wright’s Ferry, where they repelled 
two or three hundred Marylanders, under Colonel Hall. 

Cresap built a fort from which bands of armed men went out to raid 
plantations, destroy houses and take the settlers prisoners to Maryland. 
Joshua Minshal and John Wright, Jr., were the only two men left in 
Kreitz’s Valley. 

Cresap had surveyed forty tracts of land, which were owned by 
Germans. This state of affairs became so critical that Provincial Council 
concluded to have Cresap arrested for the murder of Knowles Daunt. 

On November 23, 1736, a warrant was placed in the hands of 
Sheriff Samuel Smith, who lived at Donegal. He called upon John 
Kelley, Benjamin Sterratt, Arthur Buchanan, Samuel Scott, David 
Priest, John Sterratt, John Galbraith, James, John and Alexander 
Mitchell, James Allison and nineteen others to assist him. 

On the night of November 24, 1736, they surrounded Cresap’s 
house, in which he had a number of armed men, who fired upon Sheriff 
Smith and his party. Laughlin Malone, of Cresap’s party, was killed, 
and John Copper, of the Sheriff’s party, was wounded. 

Finding that Cresap would not surrender, the Sheriff set his house 
on fire, when Cresap attempted to escape, but was overpowered and 
carried in triumph to Philadelphia and placed in prison. 

Colonel Hall and Captain Higgenbotham came to Cresap’s fort with 
300 men, and at different times marched through the valley in martial 
array. In January, 1737, a company attacked these Marylanders in 
Cresap’s fort, but were repulsed with the loss of eight men. 

The Governor of Maryland offered £100 reward for the arrest of 
John Wright, Samuel Blunston, Sheriff Samuel Smith, John Ross, 
Michael Tanner, Joshua Minshal and Charles Jones. The last three 
persons were arrested and taken to Annapolis jail. 

The Marylanders were finally driven back to their State, and all 
efforts to colonize that part of Pennsylvania with Marylanders was 
abandoned in 1738, and the Cresap invasions into Pennsylvania ceased. 


824 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Moravians Slaughtered in Indian Village of 
Gnadenhutten, November 24, 1755 

HE first settlement in what is now Carbon County was made 
by the Moravian missionaries in the year 1746. 

The converted Mohican Indians having been driven out 
of Shekomeko, N. Y., near the border of Connecticut, and 
from Pochgatgach, in the latter State, found an asylum for a 
short time at Friedenshutten, near Bethlehem. 

The missionaries considered it unwise to maintain a large Indian 
congregation so near Bethlehem, and they purchased two hundred acres 
on the north side of Mahoning Creek, about a half mile above its 
junction with the Lehigh. Here the Indian town of Gnadenhutten 
became a regular fixture, and in it each Indian family possessed its own 
lot of ground. 

The paths to Wyoming and other Indian towns passed through the 
settlement. A church stood in the valley, the Indian houses formed a 
crescent upon the higher ground, and on the open end stood the home of 
the missionary and the burying ground. 

In September, 1749, Baron John de Watteville, a noted bishop of 
the Moravian Brethren, went to Gnadenhutten and laid the foundation 
of a new church, replacing the one built in 1746, which was too small 
for the growing congregation, which then consisted of 500 Indians. 

About this time Reverend David Brainerd and several Indian con¬ 
verts visited Gnadenhutten. The congregation continued in this pleasing 
and regular state until 1754. 

The Delaware and Shawnee on the Susquehanna began to waver in 
their allegiance to the English. They were preparing to take up the 
hatchet on the side of the French, and it became a matter of concern to 
them to withdraw their Indian brethren in the Moravian settlements 
beyond the reach of the whites, that the hostile savages might more 
freely descend upon the white settlements. 

The Christian Indians for some time resolutely refused to move to 
Wyoming or Shamokin. At length, however, a considerable part of 
them were seduced by the influence of the Delaware King Tedyuskung 
to move. 

The Mohicans who remained were joined by other Christian Dela¬ 
ware and soon the land upon which they lived became so impoverished 
that, the inhabitants of Gnadenhutten removed to the north side of the 
Lehigh River. 

The dwellings were removed and a new chapel built in June, 1754. 
This place was called New Gnadenhutten, and stood where the borough 
of Weissport now stands. 





GNADENHUTTEN MASSACRE 


825 


In New Gnadenhutten the Mohican lived on one side of the street, 
the Delaware on the opposite side. The cultivation was under the 
direct charge of the Moravian missionaries. 

The Indians who had gone over to the French interests became 
incensed that any of the Moravian converts among their people should 
choose to remain at Gnadenhutten, and they determined to cut off the 
settlement. 

After Braddock’s defeat, July, 1755, the whole frontier was open 
to the inroads of the savage foe. Every day disclosed new scenes of 
barbarity committed by the Indians. The whole country was in terror; 
the neighbors of the brethren in Gnadenhutten forsook their dwellings 
and fled, but the brethren covenanted together to remain undaunted in 
the place they believed Providence had allotted them. 

In that decision they neglected no caution whatever. But it was 
not to be as the Moravians had planned. 

Late in the evening of November 24, 1755, the mission house on the 
Mahoning was attacked by the French Indians, the house burned to 
the ground and eleven of the inhabitants murdered. 

The attack was made while the family was at supper. The uncom¬ 
mon barking of the dogs was noticed, upon which Brother Senseman 
went out to the back door to ascertain what was the matter. The re¬ 
port of a gun was heard, when several of the family rushed to the open 
door, where they were confronted with the Indians who stood with 
their firearms pointed toward the door, who simultaneously fired upon 
the Moravians. 

Martin Nitschmann was instantly killed, his wife and several others 
were wounded, but were able to flee with the rest of the household up¬ 
stairs into the garret, where they barricaded the door with bed¬ 
steads. Brother Partsch escaped by jumping out of a rear window. 
Brother Worbass, who was ill in bed in an adjoining house, also 
escaped by a window, although the savages had placed a guard before 
his door. 

The savages pursued those who had taken refuge in the garret and 
finding the door too strongly secured, they set fire to the house. A lad, 
named Sturgis, jumped from the blazing roof and escaped, but not 
before he was severely burned by the flames and shot in the face in 
making his escape. 

Soon as Sturgis was, seen to get away, Sister Partsch took courage 
and jumped from the burning roof, and escaped unhurt. Brother 
Fabricius attempted to flee in the same manner, but was observed by 
the Indians and twice wounded and captured. He was immediately 
tomahawked and scalped. The rest of the household were all burnt 
alive. 

Brother Senseman witnessed his wife being consumed by the flames. 
The scene was terrible to behold. 


826 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Soon as the house was destroyed the savages set fire to the barns and 
stables, by which all the corn, hay and cattle were destroyed. 

The Indians then divided the spoils, soaked some bread in milk, 
made a hearty meal, and departed—all this being observed by Sister 
Partsch looking on from her hiding place behind a tree upon a hill 
near the house. 

This melancholy event proved to be the delivery of the Indian con¬ 
verts at Gnadenhutten; for upon the first crack of the guns and seeing 
the flames, they sensed the cause and would have rushed to the defense 
of the Moravians had not a missionary advised them to the contrary. 
Instead they all fled to the woods, and in a few minutes, Gnaden¬ 
hutten was cleared of everything worth while. 

Reverend David Zeisberger, who had just arrived at Gnadenhutten 
from Bethlehem, hastened back to give notice of this terrible event to 
a body of English militia which had marched within five miles of the 
spot, but they did not venture to pursue the savages in the dark. 

The fugitive congregation arrived safely at Bethlehem. After the 
French and Indians had retired, the remains , of those killed on the 
Mahoning were carefully collected from the ruins and solemnly in¬ 
terred. 

A broad slab of marble placed there in 1788, now marks the grave, 
which is situated on the hill a short distance from Lehighton, and a lit¬ 
tle north of a small hamlet which occupies the site of the ancient mis¬ 
sionary village. The following is the inscription on the marble: 

“To the memory of Gottleib and Joanna Anders, with their child, 
Christiana; Martin and Susanna Nitschmann, Anna Catherine Sense- 
man, John Gattenmeyer, George Fabricius, clerk; George Schweigert 
and Martin Presser, who lived here at Gnadenhutten unto the Lord, and 
lost their lives in a surprise from Indian warriors, November the 24th, 
1755. 

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints—Psalms 
cxvi, 15.” 


PITTSBURGH NAMED 


827 


General Forbes Invested Fort Duquesne and 
Named It Pittsburgh, November 
25, 1758 

FTER the humiliating defeat of Major Grant, September 14, 
1758, when he disobeyed his orders and attacked the French 
and Indians at Fort Duquesne and was himself taken pris¬ 
oner, the French, exulting over their unlooked-for victory, 
believed that a successful attack could now be made upon the 
main army of General John Forbes in camp at Loyalhanna. 
By this bold stroke, in which they would use their entire force, they 
could, in the discomfiture of the English, end all hostilities, as they had 
done in the fateful defeat of Braddock. 

General Forbes was wiser than his predecessor, and better appre¬ 
ciated the talents and experience of Colonel George Washington, and 
did not fail to seek his counsel. 

General Forbes had joined Colonel Henry Bouquet at Loyalhanna 
and determined to advance upon Fort Duquesne. Washington drew up 
the plan, illustrating the proper disposition of the troops in the line of 
march, so the English would not again be overwhelmed by a surprise 
attack. 

At this moment the forces of the French and their Indian allies 
rushed through the woods toward Loyalhanna, dragging some light can¬ 
non with them. They reached their objective before the British army 
had moved. An attack was made and long sustained, but the English, 
under General Forbes, repulsed the French, who returned to Fort 
Duquesne. 

The battle of Loyalhanna has never been given its proper place in 
history for it was a noteworthy affair, important in its consequences. 

The French had beaten Braddock by the aid of their Indian allies, 
and they hoped to defeat Forbes in the same way, but Colonel Bouquet 
had adopted the provincial practice of fighting Indians, which was the 
means of bringing them to a realization of their inability to conquer the 
English, and they abandoned hopes of success and quit the French. 

The strength of the French garrison in Fort Duquesne in Septem¬ 
ber, 1758, was 4000 troops, but by October this number was reduced 
to less than 2000, including the Indians. On September 22, Christian 
Frederic Post, the noted Moravian missionary and friend of the English, 
who had visited the garrison, reported its strength as 1400, but added 
he believed “there would be full 3000 French and Indians, almost all 
Canadians, who would be ready to meet the army under Forbes.” 

The militia of Louisiana and Illinois left the fort early in Novem- 






828 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


ber and went home. The Indians of Detroit and the Wabash country 
would remain no longer, and, what was even worse, the supplies des¬ 
tined for Fort Duquesne had been destroyed by Bradstreet at Fort 
Frontenac. Hence M. de Ligneris, the commandant, was compelled by 
prospective starvation to dismiss the greater part of his force, and await 
the approach of the English with those that remained. 

The French had always depended on the aid of the Indians to hold 
this fort. But it was the custom of the Indians after a battle, whether 
successful or not, to go home. 

Colonel James Smith, at that time a prisoner who had been adopted 
into one of the tribes, in his very valuable narrative, says that after the 
defeat of Major Grant the Indians held a council, in which their opin¬ 
ions were divided. Some believed General Forbes would now turn back 
and go home the way he came, as Dunbar had done after the Braddock 
defeat; others supposed he would press forward and make the attack. 
The French urged the Indians to remain, but many returned to their 
squaws, children and hunting. 

These things were unknown to the English. But when the actual 
condition of affairs in Fort Duquesne reached General Forbes, he con¬ 
cluded, late as it was, to advance. 

On November 13 Colonel John Armstrong with one thousand men 
was sent forward to assist Colonel Washington in opening the road, 
and four days later General Forbes pressed forward. He met with no 
opposition, but the extremely disagreeable weather impeded his progress. 
The wagons and all the artillery, except a few light pieces, were left 
behind. 

The force consisted of 2500 picked men, who marched without shel¬ 
ter or baggage and burdened only with knapsack and blankets. There 
were in addition the pioneers, wagoners and provincials engaged to work 
on the roads. Friendly Indians were kept out as scouts, and the greatest 
vigilance was exercised to avoid surprise. Washington and Armstrong 
opened the way to within a day’s march of the fort. 

On the evening of November 24, the army encamped among the hills 
of Turtle Creek. That night they were informed by an Indian scout 
that he had discovered a cloud of smoke above the fort and soon after 
another scout came with the certain intelligence that the fort was burned 
and abandoned by the enemy. A troop of horse was sent forward im¬ 
mediately to extinguish the fire. At midnight the men on guard heard 
a dull and heavy booming over the western woods. 

In the morning the march was resumed, the strong advance guard 
leading the column. Forbes came next, carried in his litter, as he was 
quite ill. The troops followed in three parallel columns, the High¬ 
landers, under Montgomery, in the center, the Royal Americans on the 
right and the provincials on the left under Colonels Bouquet and Wash¬ 
ington. It was dusk when they emerged upon the open plain and saw 


CAPTAIN SMITH AND “BLACK BOYS” 


829 


Fort Duquesne before them, with the background of wintry hills be¬ 
yond the Monongahela and Allegheny. 

When the fort was invested on November 25 it presented a sorry 
appearance. It had consisted of two fortifications, about 200 yards 
apart. One, built with immense labor, was small but strong; the other 
stood on the bank of the Allegheny, in form of a parallelogram, but 
weaker than the other. There were about thirty chimneys standing, the 
houses being destroyed by fire. 

The French had also blown up one of the magazines, but in the other 
was found sixteen barrels of ammunition, a large quantity of iron, gun 
barrels, guns and a cartload of scalping knives. It has never been made 
known if they buried their cannon in the river or carried them away 
in their hasty retreat. 

A boy twelve years old who had been an Indian prisoner two years 
escaped during the retreat and told General Forbes that the French 
had carried a large quantity of wood into the fort and that they burned 
five of the prisoners they took at Major Grant’s defeat on the parade 
and delivered the others to the Indians, who tomahawked the men on 
the spot. 

There were many dead bodies found within a short distance of the 
fort, and many evidences of French inhumanity. 

The Indians remaining about the fort were only too eager to treat 
with General Forbes. 

Bancroft says: “Armstrong’s own hand raised the British flag on 
the ruined bastions of the fortress. As the banner of England floated 
over the waters the place, at the suggestion of Forbes, was with one 
voice called Pittsburgh.” 


Captain James Smith, of the “Black Boys,” 
Born in Chester County, November 
26, 1737 

NE of the first captives of the French and Indian War in 1755 
was James Smith, of the Conococheague frontier, in what is 
now Franklin County. 

He survived a long captivity and afterward wrote a re¬ 
markable account of his experiences which were published in 
Archibald Loudon’s “Indian Narratives.” 

He was born in Chester County November 26, 1737, and spent his 
early youth in that neighborhood. In 1755 he was living along the 
frontier in the vicinity of McDowell’s Mill, in present Franklin 
County, where he was employed by his brother William, who was a com¬ 
missioner to build a road from the above mill to the Three Forks of 










830 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the Youghiogheny, over which it was intended to transport supplies for 
General Braddock. 

When the builders reached the base of the Alleghenies a storehouse 
for supplies was placed in charge of Robert McCoy. The supply of 
meat was almost exhausted and McCoy dispatched young Smith to meet 
the wagons, bringing a fresh supply, and hurry along the cattle and 
provisions. 

Before reaching the Juniata Smith met Arnold Vigorus, who ad¬ 
vised him that the wagons were near at hand. Smith then started 
back with Vigorus, but when the wagons arrived at McCoy’s the wag¬ 
oners reported they had seen nothing of Smith or his companion. 

McCoy sent out a searching party, who soon found the boy’s hat 
and Vigorus’s gun, and a short distance away his scalped body. 

James Smith was a captive for five years and experienced a most 
varied and severe ordeal. 

He effected his escape and returned to the Conococheague in 1760. 
As his family and friends believed him dead, their surprise over his re¬ 
turn was the greater and even his gait and manners of the Indians did 
not lessen their joy in his return. 

Smith learned that the sweetheart of his boyhood, believing him 
long since dead, had married only three days before his return, when 
his thought was to claim her. 

Smith had no sooner returned to his home than he organized a com¬ 
pany of Indian fighters, who wore Indian clothes, and were trained 
to Indian methods. This company soon became known as the “Black 
Boys,” because they painted their faces in the Indian colors—red and 
black. Smith was the captain. 

During the Pontiac War these “Black Boys” were put under regu¬ 
lar pay, and two other Indian captives served as Captain Smith’s lieu¬ 
tenants. This company rendered effective service in the Cumberland 
Valley. 

As Smith had served with Colonel John Armstrong and Colonel 
Henry Bouquet, he had become familiar with the attitude of the 
Provincial authorities in their treatment of the Indians. 

It so happened that one day he overheard an interview in the Great 
Cove which revealed the arrogance of the traders and the unfairness of 
those at the seat of government. He took matters in his own hands, 
and determined food, clothing and other goods should not be sent to the 
Western Indians if he could prevent it. 

Captain Smith assembled ten of his command. They painted their 
faces in the Indian fashion and waylaid a pack train at Sideling Hill, an 
episode in frontier history which has been misunderstood and misrepre¬ 
sented in history. 

The engagement was brief and decisive. The horses fell one after 
the other until the drivers were compelled to surrender. 


CAPTAIN SMITH AND “BLACK BOYS 


831 


The goods were assembled on one side, and the drivers led off some 
distance, under guard. The “Black Boys” examined the contents of the 
packs, and, as they suspected, found them to consist of blankets, shirts, 
vermilion, lead, beads, wampum, tomahawks, scalping-knifes, etc. The 
whole lot was burned. 

The English soldiers thought the “Black Boys” were rioters, but the 
inhabitants viewed their acts with general satisfaction. 

Lieutenant Grant attempted to effect the arrest of Captain Smith 
and his command, but the latter soon raised a force of 300 frontiersmen 
and promptly captured two British soldiers of the garrison at Fort 
Loudoun for every one of the “Black Boys” they held as prisoners. 

The result of this action was that very few pack trains passed through 
that valley carrying goods to the Indians along the Ohio. 

In 1769, when the Indians became troublesome in the vicinity of 
Fort Bedford, a new company of “Black Boys” was organized, but 
members were arrested and confined in irons, as they were not under¬ 
stood. 

Captain Smith determined to release the men, and by a ruse man¬ 
aged to apprize the British of his approach and intended attack, which 
was to occur at midday. But at dawn his command was under the 
bank of the Juniata awaiting word from William Thompson who had 
entered the fort as a spy. 

At the given signal the little band rushed the fort and secured the 
arms which were stocked in the center of the parade. 

The prisoners were released and the first British fort in America 
was then and there captured by what they termed “American rebels.” 

Captain Smith was afterward arrested in Bedford and confined in 
jail, on a trumped up charge of murder. 

His “Black Boys” would have rescued him but Smith was conscious 
of his innocence and stood trial. In spite of the fact they desired it 
otherwise he was acquitted. 

Smith afterwards became a valued officer in the Revolution, attain¬ 
ing the rank of colonel, and was several terms in the General Assembly 
and a most distinguished citizen. 

After the Revolution Colonel Smith removed to Kentucky where he 
again earned an enviable reputation as an able member of the Legisla¬ 
ture of that State. 

He died there in 1812. 


832 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Pioneer Postoffice of Pennsylvania Estab¬ 
lished in Philadelphia, November 
27,1700 

N JULY, 1683, a post was established from Philadelphia to 
Maryland by William Penn. Henry Waldy, of Tacony, had 
authority to run the post and supply the passengers with 
horses. 

The rates of postage were: Letters from the Falls to 
Philadelphia, three pence; to Chester, five pence; to N^w 
Castle, seven pence; to Maryland, nine pence; from Philadelphia to 
Chester, two pence; to New Castle, four pence; to Maryland, six pence. 
It went once a week, notice having been placed on the meeting-house 
door and at other public places. Communication was frequent with 
Manhattan and New York, the road starting on the eastern side of the 
Delaware at about Bordentown, New Jersey. 

But the pioneer postoffice in the Province of Pennsylvania was es¬ 
tablished in Philadelphia under an act of Assembly, November 27, 1700. 

The act by which this postoffice was established recited that 
“Whereas, The King and the late Queen Mary, by their royal letters 
patent under the great seal of England, bearing date the seventeenth 
day of February, which was in the year one thousand and six hundred 
and ninety-one, did grant Thomas Neal, Esquire, his executors, admin¬ 
istrators and assigns, full power and authority to erect, settle, establish 
within the King’s colonies and plantations in America, one or more office 
or offices for receiving and dispatching of letters and packets by post, 
and to receive, send and deliver the same, under such rates and sums of 
money, as shall be agreeable to the rates established by act of Parlia¬ 
ment in England, or as the planters and others should agree to give on 
the first settlement, to have, hold and enjoy the same for a term of 
twenty-one years, with and under such powers, limitations and conditions 
as in and by the said letters patent may more fully appear. 

“And whereas, The King’s Postmaster General of England, and at 
the request, desire and nomination of the said Thomas Neale, hath 
deputed Andrew Hamilton, Esquire, for such time and under such con¬ 
ditions as is his deputation is for that purpose mentioned to govern and 
manage the said General Post Office for and throughout all the King’s 
plantations and colonies in the mainland or continent of America and the 
islands adjacent thereto, and in and by the said deputation may more 
fully appear. 

“And whereas, The said Andrew Hamilton hath, by and with the 
good liking and approbation of the Post Master General of England 





FIRST POSTOFFICE 


833 


made application to the proprietary and Governor of this Province and 
Territories and freemen thereof convened in General Assembly, that 
they would ascertain and establish such rates and sums of money upon 
letters and packets going by post as may be an effectual encouragement 
for carrying on and maintaining a general post, and the proprietary and 
Governor and Freemen in General Assembly met, considering that 
maintaining of mutual and speedy correspondencies is very beneficial to 
the King and his subjects, and a great encouragement to trade, and that 
the same is best carried on and managed by public post, as well as for 
the preventing of inconveniences which heretofore have happened for 
want thereof, as for a certain, safe and speedy dispatch, carrying and 
recarrying of all letters and packets of letters by post to and from all 
parts and places within the continent of America and several parts of 
Europe, and that the well ordering thereof is matter of general concern¬ 
ment and of great advantage, and being willing to encourage such a 
public benefit. 

“Section 1. Have therefore enacted and be it enacted, etc. That 
there be from henceforth one general letter office erected and established 
within the town of Philadelphia, from whence all letters and packets 
whatsoever may be with speed and expedition sent into any part of the 
neighboring Colonies and plantations on the mainland and continent of 
America, or into any other of the King’s kingdoms or dominions, or unto 
any kingdom or country beyond the seas; at which said office all returns 
and answers may likewise be received, etc.” 

Thus Governor Andrew Hamilton, of New Jersey, first devised the 
postoffice scheme for America, for which he obtained a patent, and the 
profits accruing. He afterwards sold it to the Crown. 

The Assembly appropriated £20 yearly as a salary to Andrew Ham¬ 
ilton, “the postmaster of North America under the Crown.” 

Thus was the postal system established, and the postmaster em¬ 
powered to deliver mail to every corner of the Western World. 

The first list of letters advertised appeared in the Pennsylvania 
Gazette, March 21, 1738. It contained about 150 names of all the let¬ 
ters collected and uncalled for in the previous six months, mostly for 
non-residents. 

In July, 1762, the following advertisement appeared in Bradford’s 

Journal: 

“The lad who was lately employed at the Postoffice as penny 
post having run away, the gentlemen who expect letters are requested 
to call for them until a suitable person can be procured to carry them. 
William Dunlap.” 

In November, 1756, the first stage was established between New 
York and Philadelphia by John Butler. The Philadelphia terminal was 
at the sign of the Death of the Fox in Strawberry Alley. It was to go 
via Trenton and Perth Amboy, and to arrive in New York in three days. 


27 


834 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Butler was started in business by the old Hunting Club, to which he 
had been huntsman and keeper of the kennels. 

In 1765 a line of stage vessels and wagons was established between 
Philadelphia and Baltimore, via Christiana and Frenchtown on the Elk 
River. These trips were made weekly. 

In 1773, Messrs. C. Bessonett & Co., of Bristol, started a stage coach 
line which made the trip to New York in two days and charged $4 fare. 

The old Postoffice was afterwards the Congress Hall Hotel. It was 
kept by Robert Patton, postmaster from 1791 to 1814. 

The first postmaster of Philadelphia who received a newspaper notice 
as such was Peter Baynton in the Pennsylvania Gazette, of November 

27, 1776. 

When the Government was removed from New York to Philadel- . 
phia in 1791 the departments were located in private homes, and the 
“General Postoffice was on the east side of Water Street, a few doors 
below High Street.” 

An early pioneer mail route through the wilderness, across the State 
was over the old State road. It was established in 1805. The mail was 
carried on horseback from Bellefonte to Meadville. The first con¬ 
tractor was James Randolph, of Meadville, the second was Hamilton, of 
Bellefonte. 


Conway Cabal Started in Reading by General 
Mifflin on November 28, 1777 

HEN the British marched triumphantly into Philadelphia there 
was gloom over America such as to make people lose all con¬ 
fidence in- General Washington, the commander-in-chief, and 
as General Gates had but recently, on October 19, 1777, 
achieved such a brilliant victory over Burgoyne at Saratoga, 
the one event to bring joy to their hearts, it was but natural 
to suggest that Gates was the more competent. Many letters appeared 
in the public press favoring a change of commanders and Pennsyl¬ 
vanians were clamorous for the retaking of Philadelphia. 

General Conway had written, “Heaven has been determined to save 
your country or a weak general and bad counselors would have ruined 
it.” The words reached Washington’s ears, and he let Conway know 
the fact. A personal interview ensued, but Conway refused to 
apologize, and he boastfully told General Mifflin of his interview 
with the commander-in-chief. He was commended by Gates, Mifflin 
and others. 

The Gates faction in Congress procured Conway’s appointment as 
inspector general of the Army and made him independent of the chief. 

General Thomas Mifflin at this time was head of the Board of 








CONWAY CABAL 


835 


War, but on November 27 Gates became its president and the following 
day Mifflin declared to Gates that Conway’s letter was a “collection of 
just sentiments. This produced what has been known in history as the 
“Conway Cabal.” 

The principal events which led up to this cabal transpired in Read- 
ing, which during the British occupation of Philadelphia became a favor¬ 
ite place of resort for Philadelphians who wished to retire a little from 
the stormy political atmosphere of the city. 

More than a score of fugitive families made their homes there, 
among them being General Thomas Mifflin, who at that moment was 
out of command in the army, complaining, though not ill, considerably 
restive, and apparently not in high favor at headquarters. He was rest¬ 
ing at his country estate, “Angelica,” three miles distant from Reading. 

There were other officers of the Continental Army there and many 
gay social gatherings were held. 

It was in these dissipations that gossip among the high officers fre¬ 
quently turned against General Washington, who, according to Mifflin, 
would only counsel with General Greene. 

They said Greene was not the wisest, the bravest, nor the most 
patriotic of counselors. 

y In short, they averred that the campaign in this quarter was 
stigmatized as a series of blunders, and those who conducted it were 
incapable. 

The better fortune of the northern army was ascribed to the superior 
talents of its leader; and it began to be whispered that General Gates 
was the man who of right should have the station sustained by Wash¬ 
ington. 

A cabal was soon formed, in which Gates, Mifflin and Conway were 
already engaged, and in which the congenial spirit of General Charles 
Lee, on his exchange as a prisoner of war, immediately took a share. 

The well-known apostrophe of General Conway to America, im¬ 
parting that “Heaven had passed a decree in her favor, or her ruin must 
long before have ensued from the imbecility of her military counsels,” 
was at this time familiar wherever officers congregated. 

On a visit which Conway made to Reading he expressed himself to 
the effect that “no man was more a gentleman than General Washing¬ 
ton, or appeared to more advantage at his table, or in the usual inter¬ 
course of life, but as tci his talents for the command of an army, they 
were miserable, indeed.” 

These and similar expressions repeated frequently could not fail to 
create an unfavorable sentiment against the commander-in-chief. 

It is also fortunate that the general population did not yet believe any 
of the officers busy in the cabal against Washington to be superior to 
Washington. 

Without the knowledge of Washington, the Board of War devised 


836 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


a winter campaign against Canada, and gave the command to Lafayette. 
It was a trick of Gates to detach the marquis from Washington. It 
failed. 

Lafayette was summoned to York to receive his commission from 
Congress, then in session there. That distinguished patriot met Gates, 
Mifflin and others at table. The wine flowed freely and toasts abounded. 

At length the marquis, thinking it time to show his colors, said: 
“Gentlemen, I perceive one toast has been omitted, which I will now 
propose.” They filled their glasses, when he gave praise to “the com- 
mander-in-chief of the American armies.” 

The coldness with which that toast was received confirmed Lafay¬ 
ette’s worst opinion respecting the men around him, and he was dis¬ 
gusted. 

The conspirators, finding they could not use the marquis, aban¬ 
doned the expedition. So, also, was the conspiracy abandoned soon 
afterward. 

There is no doubt that the duel which subsequently took place be¬ 
tween General Conway and General Cadwalader, though immediately 
proceeding from an unfavorable opinion expressed by the latter of the 
conduct of the former at the Battle of Germantown, had, perhaps, 
deeper origin, and some reference to this intrigue, for the brave and com¬ 
petent Philadelphian was an ardent champion of General Washington. 

Some of Gates’ New England friends became tired of him. Con¬ 
way, found out, was despised, left the army and returned to France. 

So the cabal resulted happily, in a thorough vindication of the wis¬ 
dom of Washington, and brought deserved censure on those who had not 
done their full duty. 

Bancroft says “that those who had caviled at Washington, being un¬ 
able to shake the confidence of the people, wished their words benevo¬ 
lently interpreted or forgotten, and Gates and Mifflin asked to be excused 
from serving on the committee,” meaning the committee which had been 
appointed by Congress to consult with Washington upon a complete 
reform in his administration of the army. 

Mifflin became a major general in the following February and Gen¬ 
eral Greene was made quartermaster general a few days later. Mifflin 
made a request to join the army in the field, but Congress desired Wash¬ 
ington to make an inquiry into his conduct, which Washington did not 
do, and Mifflin then tendered his resignation, which Congress refused 
to accept, and, although Mifflin’s health was miserable, he served 
throughout the war. 

The internment of the army at Valley Forge called forth remon¬ 
strances of the Continental Congress, the Supreme Executive Council 
and the Assembly of Pennsylvania and furnished much of the subject- 
matter by which Washington was censured by those who were partisans 
of other generals who coveted the high and important office. These 


FEDERAL PARTY BROKEN UP 


837 


discouragements weighed heavily upon the anxious commander, who had 
quite enough trouble without those in authority adding thereto. 

The men in camp erected huts of logs and mud, but blankets and 
clothing were scantily provided. Yet amid all this suffering, day after 
day, surrounded by the frosts and snows of a severe winter, patriotism 
was still warm and hopeful in the hearts of the soldiers. It has often 
been recorded that Washington considered his experiences at Valley 
Forge as the most trying scenes of his life. 


Federal Party Is Broken Up in Closing Days 
of November, 1823 

T WAS during the administration of Governor John Andrew 
Shulze, of Lebanon County, that in 1823, President Monroe 
made his celebrated declaration in favor of the cause of liberty 
in the Western Hemisphere and the noninterference of Euro¬ 
pean Powers in the political affairs of this continent. 

The determined stand taken by President Monroe was 
warmly indorsed by the people of Pennsylvania, and the Legislature of 
the State at the subsequent session adopted resolutions to the effect that 
it afforded them “the highest gratification to observe.the President of 
the United States, expressing the sentiments of millions of freemen, pro¬ 
claiming to the world that any attempt on the part of the allied sov¬ 
ereigns of Europe to extend their political systems to any portion of the 
continent of America, or in any other manner to interfere in their in¬ 
ternal concerns, would be considered as dangerous to the peace and 
safety of the United States.” 

Governor Shulze, in transmitting the resolutions to the President, 
expressed his hearty indorsement of the doctrines therein set forth. 

Soon after the election of Shulze, in the closing days of November, 
1823, the old parties were broken up, none after that calling themselves 
Federalists. Indeed, the term Federalist became odious; but from the 
ashes there sprang a party that became more powerful than any which 
before or since has borne sway in this country, the great Democratic 
Party. 

Every Federal newspaper in Pennsylvania except three—the 
United States Gazette, of Philadelphia; The Village Record, of West 
Chester, and the Pittsburgh Gazette—joined in its support. 

In the national election of 1824, parties being in a disorganized state, 
there was no choice for President by the people. Crawford, Adams, 
Clay, Calhoun and Jackson were supported. John Quincy Adams was 
elected to the House of Representatives. But in 1828 Jackson was 
chosen, receiving a majority of 50,000 in Pennsylvania. His brilliant 






838 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


victory at New Orleans, gained with scarcely a casualty on our side, 
created immense enthusiasm among the people in his favor. 

In 1824 and 1825 the Nation’s early friend and benefactor, General 
Lafayette, revisited the scenes of his former trials and final triumphs. 
Governor Shulze had the satisfaction of welcoming the hero to the soil 
of Pennsylvania, which he did at Morrisville in a brief but eloquent and 
impressive speech. 

This was Lafayette’s second visit to Pennsylvania and was an event 
which produced marked and spontaneous enthusiasm among the entire 
population. Next to the great Washington he was hailed as the deliv¬ 
erer of this country, and nowhere was he made more welcome than in 
Philadelphia, Harrisburg and other parts of Pennsylvania. 

This was the era when stupendous plans for the internal improve¬ 
ment of the Commonwealth were adopted and put into execution. The 
Schuylkill navigation canal, which had been projected almost thirty 
years previously, although not commenced until 1815, was completed 
in 1825. The occasion was one of great rejoicing and the success of 
the enterprise gave an impetus to other improvements. 

Shortly afterward the Union Canal was also finished, and the great 
Pennsylvania Canal was prosecuted with vigor. Governor Schulze hes¬ 
itated somewhat at this stupendous plan of internal improvements by the 
State and opposed the loan of $1,000,000 authorized by the Legislature. 
He was obliged to yield, however, to the popular will, and before the 
close of his second term $6,000,000 had been borrowed. 

At the session of the General Assembly in 1826 a Board of Com¬ 
missioners for internal improvements was established. The Legislature 
authorized the Commissioners to contract for a canal from Middletown 
extending up the Susquehanna River as far as the mouth of the Juniata, 
and from Pittsburgh to the mouth of the Kiskiminitas, a navigable 
feeder of a canal from French Creek to the summit level of Conneaut 
Lake, and to survey a canal from there to Erie. These enterprises 
were started with the modest appropriation of $300,000, which was to 
be borrowed. 

The board made two contracts, one for twenty-two and one-half miles 
along the Susquehanna and twenty-four miles along the Allegheny. At 
the following session the canals authorized were to be extended farther 
up the Susquehanna, the Juniata, and up the valley of the Kiskiminetas 
and the Conemaugh, another between Bristol and Easton and others 
of lesser importance.- 

In 1826 Governor Shulze was renominated and received within 1000 
of all the votes cast for Governor. This was the nearest to a unanimous 
election ever known in Pennsylvania, and was an evidence of the con¬ 
fidence the people had in him, his fine character and intelligence. 

Previous to 1827 the only railroads in America were a short wooden 
railroad constructed at Leiper’s stone quarry, in Delaware County, Pa., 


WASHINGTON MEETS JONCAIRE 


839 


and a road three miles in length opened at the Quincy granite quarries 
in Massachusetts in 1826. 

In May, 1827, a railroad nine miles in length was constructed from 
Mauch Chunk to the coal mines. This was, at the time, the longest 
and most important railroad in America. 

In 1828 the State determined to engage in railroad building. The 
canal extending through the center of the State was to be connected by 
a railroad crossing the Allegheny Mountains, and with Philadelphia by 
a railroad extending to Columbia. Thus by railroad and canal a system 
of highway improved communication would extend from the Delaware 
to the Ohio. 

The expenditures were now so rapid and enormous that the State be¬ 
gan to suffer. Governor Shulze convened the Assembly in November, 
1828, a month before retiring from office, and explained the tense situa¬ 
tion. Funds had given out, the work was stopped and something must 
be done. But as he was soon to retire, he smoothed over the situation, 
leaving his successor to wrestle with the problem. 

On December 15, 1829, George Wolf, of Northampton County, 
was inaugurated as Governor of Pennsylvania. He had defeated Joseph 
Ritner, who attempted to seek this high office on the rising wave of the 
anti-Masonic era, which at this time changed the political horizon of the 
State and Nation. 

Governor Wolf stepped into office at the time, the financial affairs 
were in a deplorable condition. His only remedy was to push the public 
works to rapid completion. This was done, and in a few years he, with 
others, had the proud satisfaction of beholding how far these needed im¬ 
provements went toward developing the natural resources of Pennsyl¬ 
vania. 


Major George Washington Meets French 
Commander Joncaire at Logstown, 
November 30, 1753 

HE contention between Great Britain and France for the pos¬ 
session of what is now Western Pennsylvania began about the 
middle of the eighteenth century. The Treaty of Aix la 
Chapelle, signed October 18, 1748, while it nominally closed 
the war between those two countries, failed to establish the 
boundaries between their respective colonies in America, and 
this failure, together with the hostile and conflicting attitude of the 
colonists in America, was the cause of another long and bloody war. 

An association was formed in Virginia about 1748, called the Ohio 
Company, which was given a royal grant. The object of the company, 







840 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


according to its charter, was to trade with the Indians, but its actual 
purpose was to settle the region about the forks of the Ohio, now Pitts¬ 
burgh, with English colonists from Virginia and Maryland. 

All the vast territory from the Mississippi to the Alleghany Moun¬ 
tains, south of the Great Lakes, had been explored and partly occupied 
by the French. They had forts, trading posts and missions at various 
points and they made every endeavor to conciliate the Indians. It was 
apparent they intended to extend their occupancy to the extreme tribu¬ 
taries of the Ohio, which they claimed by virtue of prior discovery. 

So it was but natural when the English sought to gain a permanent 
occupancy of the Ohio Valley that the French should begin actively to 
assert their claims to the same region. 

The Governor-General of Canada, the Marquis de la Galissoniere, 
sent Captain Bienville de Celeron in 1749 down the Allegheny and Ohio 
Rivers to take possession in the name of the King of France. His com¬ 
mand consisted of two hundred and fifteen French and Canadian sol¬ 
diers and fifty-five Indians. The principal officers under him were Cap¬ 
tain Contrecoeur, who afterwards built Fort Duquesne, Coulon de 
Villiers, and Joncaire-Chabet. 

They planted leaden plates, properly inscribed, at different points, 
beginning at the present town of Warren, and then along the Allegheny 
River, then along the Ohio, and up the Miami, and they reached Lake 
Erie, October 19, 1749. 

The French affairs were actively pushed by Joncaire-Chabet, who 
occupied the house at the mouth of French Creek, or Venango, which 
had been built by John Frazer, a Pennsylvania trader, whom Celeron 
drove off when he found him there. 

Early in January, 1753, a French expedition consisting of 300 men 
under command of Monsieur Babier set out from Quebec. Traveling 
over land and ice, they reached Fort Niagara in April, then pushed on 
to the southeastern shore of Lake Erie, at the mouth of Chautauqua 
Creek. In May Monsieur Morin arrived with an additional force of 
500 men, and he assumed command. 

It was intended to build a fort here, but the water was found to be 
too shallow and the expedition moved to a place which, from the peculiar 
formation of the lake shore, they named Presqu’ Isle, or the Peninsula. 
This is now the City of Erie. 

Here the first fort was built and named Fort la Presqu’ Isle. It 
was constructed of square logs, was about 120 feet square and fifteen 
feet high. It was finished in June, 1753 and garrisoned by about 100 
men under command of Captain Depontency. 

The remainder of the forces cut a road southward about fifteen miles 
to Le Boeuf River, or French Creek. Here they built a second fort, 
which they called Fort Le Boeuf, similar to the first, but smaller. This 
is the site of the present Borough of Waterford, Erie County, Pa. 


WASHINGTON MEETS JONCAIRE 


841 


In 1752 a treaty had been entered into with the Indians which se¬ 
cured the right of occupancy, and twelve families, headed by Captain 
Christopher Gist, established themselves on the Monongahela, and sub¬ 
sequently commenced the erection of a fort where the City of Pittsburgh 
now stands. 

The activity of the French alarmed these settlers, and soon all their 
proceedings were reported to Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia. He 
determined to send an official communication to the commander of the 
French, who had established his headquarters at Fort Le Boeuf, pro¬ 
testing against the forcible interference with their chartered rights, 
granted by the Crown of Britain, pointing to the late treaties of peace 
entered into between the English and French, whereby it was agreed 
that each should respect the colonial possessions of the other. 

George Washington, then only twenty-three years old, was selected 
for this mission by Governor Dinwiddie. He performed his duty with 
the greatest tact and to the satisfaction of his Government. 

With a party of seven besides himself, among whom was Christo¬ 
pher Gist, he set out November 15, 1753, from Wills Creek, the site of 
Fort Cumberland, in Maryland, which was the limit of the road that 
had been opened by the Ohio Company. 

The first place of importance was Logstown, where they arrived on 
November 30. This important Indian village was on the right bank of 
the Ohio River, about fourteen miles below the present Pittsburgh. It 
was at Logstown where the Treaty of 1752 was made. Here Wash¬ 
ington enlisted the services of the chief Indians and proceeded on his 
mission. 

Washington writes in his journal that they set out from Logstown 
for Venango about 9 o’clock in the morning, with Tanacharison, the 
Half-King, Jeskakake, White Thunder and the Hunter, and arrived at 
Venango on December 4. 

Soon as Captain Joncaire had finished his greetings wine was passed 
and after much drinking all restraint was banished, which gave license 
to their tongues and their true sentiments were revealed. 

The French officers told young Washington that it was their abso¬ 
lute design to take possession of the Ohio, to which they had undoubted 
right from a discovery made by LaSalle sixty years since. They also 
told him they had raised an expedition to prevent the English from 
settling on the river. 

Joncaire endeavored by every means to win the Half-King from the 
English, but the chief remained true to his mission, and accompanied 
Washington to Le Boeuf, to which place he was referred, as the com¬ 
manding officer of the French had his headquarters there. 

The party arrived at Fort Le Boeuf on December 11. Washington 
was received with courtesy by the commandant, Legardeur de Saint- 
Pierre. 


842 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


In regard to the message of Governor Dinwiddie, Saint Pierre re¬ 
plied that he would forward it to the Governor-General of Canada, but 
that in the meantime, his orders were to hold possession of the country, 
and this he would do to the best of his ability. 

With this answer Washington retraced his steps, enduring many 
hardships and passing through many perils, until he presented his report 
to the Governor at Williamsburg, Va., January 16, 1754. 


William Penn and Family Arrive in Province 
on His Second Visit, December 1, 1699 

APTAIN JOHN BLACKWELL, an officer and one of the 
heroes under Cromwell, was commissioned Deputy Governor 
of the Province of Pennsylvania July 25, 1688, while he was 
in New England, but did not present himself before the 
Council until the following March. He and the Council 
never acted in harmony, and nothing of importance was ac¬ 
complished during his short and stormy term, which ended the follow¬ 
ing December. 

Thomas Lloyd again became the Chief Executive. During 1691 the 
six Councilors from the Lower Counties, without Lloyd’s knowledge, 
formed themselves into a separate Council, appointed Judges for those 
counties and made ordinances. 

The President and Council of the Province immediately published 
a proclamation declaring all the acts of the six seceding members illegal. 
The latter made counter-proposals, but they were rejected. 

Penn tried to restore better understanding between the two sections 
of his Province and gave them the choice of three modes of executive 
government, viz., by Joint Council, by five Commissioners or by a 
Lieutenant Governor. 

The members from Pennsylvania preferred the last, but those of the 
Lower Counties declared for the Commissioners, but they could not 
agree upon any plan, so the counties of Pennsylvania elected Thomas 
Lloyd for their Governor and three lower counties rejected him. 

Penn confirmed the appointment of Lloyd and sent William Mark¬ 
ham, who had joined with the protesting members, as the head of the 
government in the Lower Counties. This was done against Penn’s 
judgment and had the consequences he predicted. 

These dissensions served to furnish the Crown with a pretext to 
deprive Penn of his Province. William and Mary seized this oppor¬ 
tunity to punish him for this attachment to the late King, and they com¬ 
missioned Benjamin Fletcher, Governor General of New York, 
also to be the Governpr of Pennsylvania and the territories. The 
Council of the Province was officially advised of his appointment 
April 19, 1693. 

Governor Fletcher was empowered to summon the General Assem¬ 
bly, require its members to subscribe to the oaths and tests prescribed by 
acts of parliament, and to make laws in conjunction with the Assembly, 
he having a vote upon their acts, etc. No mention was made of Wil¬ 
liam Penn, nor of the Provincial constitution, yet, on the arrival of 
Colonel Fletcher at Philadelphia, the Government was surrendered to 

843 






844 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


him without objection, but most of the Quaker magistrates refused to 
accept from him the renewal of their commissions. 

William Penn condemned this ready abandonment of his rights, 
and addressed a letter to Colonel Fletcher, warning him of the illegality 
of his appointment, which might have restrained the latter from exer¬ 
cising his authority had it been timely received, as he was attached to 
Penn by many personal favors. 

Trouble arose when Fletcher attempted a new form of election con¬ 
trary to the laws of the Province, and the rejection of eight of the old 
laws, chiefly penal. The Assembly insisted that their rights should first 
be redressed. 

Fletcher claimed the right to alter laws without even the assent of 
Assembly, and to strengthen his position threatened to annex the Prov¬ 
ince to New York. The moderate party, rather than submit to this, 
preferred receiving the confirmation of their rights and liberties as a 
favor at the hands of the Governor. 

Prior to his departure for New York, in 1694, Fletcher appointed 
William Markham, the Proprietary’s cousin, to be Lieutenant Governor. 
Governor Fletcher attended the second session of the Assembly and 
insisted upon further appropriations for public defense. The Assembly 
refused to comply with Fletcher’s demand and was dissolved. 

The Proprietary was not wholly in accord with the resolute refusal 
of the Assembly, nor was he unmindful of the effects which such oppo¬ 
sition to the wishes of the Crown might have upon his particular 
interests. 

William Penn was now no longer under the cloud of suspicion. He 
had many friends among the nobles who surrounded the King, and his 
true character was at last made known. 

He succeeded in obtaining a hearing before a Privy Council and was 
honorably acquitted and restored to his Proprietary rights by a patent 
dated August, 1694, in which the disorders in the Province were 
ascribed solely to his absence. Shortly before his reinstatement, Wil¬ 
liam Penn’s wife, Gulielma Maria, died. 

Penn appointed Markham his Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania 
and Territories September 24, 1694. The restoration of the former 
government was not happy, for Governor Fletcher had made himself 
unpopular, and it was not an easy matter for Markham to immediately 
gain their confidence, even though he had called the Assembly according 
to the forms prescribed by the charter. 

The great bone of contention was the subsidy to be granted to the 
King. Finally a joint committee of the two branches of the Legislature 
was acceded to, when it was agreed to accept the new Constitution, and 
a new subsidy of £300 was granted for the support of the Royal Gov¬ 
ernment and of the suffering Indians. This was raised by a tax of one 
penny on the pound on all assessed property. 


MORGAN POWELL MURDERED 


845 


The new Constitution was more democratic. The Council con¬ 
sisted of two from each county, elected biennially. The Assembly had 
four members from each county, elected annually. The latter was 
given the right to originate bills, to sit on its adjournments and to be 
indissoluble during the term for which it was elected. 

This instrument was never formally sanctioned by the Proprietary 
and continued in force only until after his second arrival, when a new 
and more lasting one was substituted in its place. Under it the people 
were content. 

William Penn, accompanied by his second wife and children, sailed 
from England in the ship Canterbury in September, 1699, and on ac¬ 
count of adverse winds had a tedious voyage of more than three months, 
arriving in the Delaware, December 1, 1699. Penn was cordially wel¬ 
comed, it being generally understood that he intended to spend the re¬ 
mainder of his life in the Province. 

The Proprietary believed the time was ripe for an entirely new form 
of government and labored earnestly to obtain additional legislative re¬ 
strictions upon intercourse with the Indians in order to protect them 
from the artifices of the whites. Penn conferred frequently with the sev¬ 
eral nations of the Province, visiting them familiarly in their forests, 
participating in their festivals and entertaining them with much hos¬ 
pitality and state at his mansion at Pennsbury. 

He formed a new treaty with the tribes located on the Susquehanna 
and its tributaries and also with the Five Nations. This treaty was 
one of peace. In 1701, William Penn took a second trip into the in¬ 
terior of the Province. 


Morgan Powell Cruelly Murdered by Mollie 
Maguires, December 2, 1871 

HE bloody record of the Mollie Maguires began about the time 
the Civil War was brought to a close and continued until 
James McParlan, the able detective in the employ of the Pink¬ 
erton agency, ferreted out these criminals and brought the 
guilty to trials which resulted in their execution or long terms 
of imprisonment. 

The anthracite coal regions were not free of this scourge until 1877. 

The Mollies were unusually active and bloodthirsty in 1865. Au¬ 
gust 25 of that year, David Muir, colliery superintendent, was killed 
in Foster Township, shot to death on the public highway, in broad day¬ 
light, within two hundred yards of the office in which he was employed. 

January 10, 1866, Henry H. Dunne, of Pottsville, superintendent of 
a colliery, was murdered on the turnpike, while riding to his home in 
his carriage. 







846 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


October 17, 1868, occurred the tragic death of Alexander Rae, near 
Centralia, Columbia County. 

The next important outrage of this character was the murder of 
William H. Littlehales, superintendent of the Glen Carbon Coal Min¬ 
ing Company, March 15, 1869. He was killed on the highway in 
Cass Township, Schuylkill County, while enroute to his home in Potts- 
ville. 

Then occurred the murders of F. W. S. Langdon, George K. Smith 
and Graham Powell, each of whom was a mining official. 

But the crowning act of the Mollie Maguires, up to the time James 
McParlan was engaged by Mr. Allen Pinkerton to investigate the 
workings of this nefarious organization, and the one reaching the culmi¬ 
nation of many previous and similar events, was the murder of Morgan 
Powell. 

This event exasperated the good people of the anthracite region to 
the pitch where endurance ceases to be a virtue, and where only des¬ 
perate methods to put a stop to these crimes can be put in operation. 

This unprovoked murder occurred December 2, 1871. Morgan 
Powell was assistant superintendent of the Lehigh and Wilkes Barre 
Coal and Iron Company, at Summit Hill, Carbon County. 

The murder was committed about seven o’clock in the evening, on 
the main street of the little town, not more than twenty feet from the 
store of Henry Williamson, which place Powell had but a few minutes 
earlier left to go to the office of Mr. Zehner, the general superintendent 
of the company. 

It seems that one of three men, who had been seen by different parties 
waiting near the store, approached Mr. Powell from the rear, close 
beside a gate leading into the stables, and fired a pistol shot into the left 
breast of the victim. The assassin reached over the shoulder of Powell 
to accomplish his deadly purpose. 

The bullet passed through Powell’s body, lodged in the back near the 
spinal column, producing immediate paralysis of the lower limbs, and 
resulting in death two days afterward. 

The wounded man was carried back to the store by some of his 
friends and his son, Charles Powell, the latter then but fourteen years 
of age, and there remained all night. The next day he was removed 
to the residence of Morgan Price, where he died the following day. 

Hardly had the smoke from the murderer’s pistol mingled with the 
clear air of that star-lit winter evening, when the assassins were dis¬ 
covered rapidly making their way from the scene of their savage deed 
toward the top of Plant No. 1. 

They were met by the Reverend Allan John Morton and Lewis 
Richards, who were hurrying to the spot to learn what had caused the 
firing. 

Mr. Morton asked, as they halted on the rigging-stand, what was the 


MORGAN POWELL MURDERED 847 

trouble, when one of the three strangers answered: “I guess a man 
has been shot!” 

Descriptions of the three men were remembered by the Reverend 
Morgan and Mr. Richards, and the trio started forward in the direction 
in which Mr. Powell had pointed when asked which way the attacking 
party had gone. 

“I’m shot to death! My lower limbs have no feeling in them!” 
exclaimed Mr. Powell, when Williamson first raised his head. 

No one could tell who shot him. The three suspects were strangers. 

Patrick Kildea, who was thought to resemble one of them, was ar¬ 
rested and tried, but finally acquitted, from lack of evidence to convict. 
This, for the time, was the end of the matter. 

When McParlan, disguised as James McKenna, was working on 
the case of the murder of B. F. Yost, of Tamaqua, in 1875, he learned 
first-handed from John Donahue, alias “Yellow Jack,” that he was the 
murderer of Morgan Powell. 

Donahue related the circumstances to his “friend” and named his 
two confederates. He bragged of the affair as being a clean job. 

He said the escape was easy, as they did not go ten yards from the 
spot where Powell dropped, until the excitement cooled down, when, 
in the darkness, they quietly departed from the bushes, and reached their 
homes in safety. 

The detective made mental notes of this disclosure, and his report 
subsequently transmitted to his superiors was the first light upon this 
crime, which had, for four years baffled the best efforts of the officers 
of justice. 

The time was not ripe to press Donahue for more details, but as 
the detective was supposed to have recently assisted in a murder, Dona¬ 
hue talked freely with him about others who were soon to be victims 
of the Mollies. 

In the fall of 1876, when the arrests of the Mollies were made, John 
Donahue, Thomas P. Fisher, Patrick McKenna, Alexander Campbell, 
Patrick O’Donnell, and John Malloy were taken in Carbon County, 
charged with the murder of Morgan Powell, at Summit Hill, Decem¬ 
ber 2, 1871. 

The defendants were tried at different terms of the Carbon County 
Court, at Mauch Chunk. James McParlan, the detective, now in his 
true character, frequently appeared as a witness and testified to the con¬ 
fessions of the Mollies. 

They were found guilty as follows: Donahue of murder in the first 
degree, Fisher of murder in the first degree, McKenna of murder in 
the first degree, and O’Donnell as an accessory. McKenna served nine 
years and O’Donnell five years’ imprisonment. 

Thus was the death of Morgan Powell avenged. 


848 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


General Anthony Wayne Defeats Indians; 
Congress Ratifies Treaty, December 
3, 1795 

ONGRESS ratified the treaty made at Greenville by General 
Anthony Wayne, December 3, 1795. This is one of the few 
such treaties the provisions of which were respected. 

Anthony Wayne was a member of the convention which 
met in Philadelphia and adopted a paper, drawn by John Dick¬ 
inson, which recommended the Assembly to appoint delegates 
to a Congress of the Colonies. He was one of four members of that 
committee who became distinguished generals in the Revolution. His 
father had been an officer in the French and Indian War and Anthony 
studied surveying, but his attention was more centered on things military. 

At the age of twenty he managed an expedition sent to Nova Scotia 
in the interest of Great Britain. On the very day that the battle of 
Lexington was fought he was made a member of the Pennsylvania Com¬ 
mittee of Safety. 

He was made a colonel of one of the first regiments raised by Penn¬ 
sylvania and soon was engaged in the perilous Canadian campaign. 

Wayne then was given command of Fort Ticonderoga, which Ethan 
Allen had captured “in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Con¬ 
tinental Congress.” During this tour of duty he was made a brigadier 
general and begged General Washington for more active service. 

He was called to general headquarters at Morristown and given 
command of eight Pennsylvania regiments. These he taught to fight. 

General Wayne fought bravely at Brandywine, and after Howe cap¬ 
tured Philadelphia Washington posted him to watch the British and 
annoy them while the main army was being put in better condition to 
meet the enemy. 

Through the betrayal of his position by a Tory, Wayne’s command 
was surprised at Paoli, when more than sixty of his soldiers were stabbed 
to death by the British bayonets. It was due to no fault of General 
Wayne and he managed to march away most of his men in good order. 

Two weeks later the Battle of Germantown was fought and 
Wayne’s troops had a chance to make a bayonet attack upon the same 
soldiers who had rushed into their camp at Paoli. “They took ample 
vengeance for that night’s work,” said Wayne. He was delighted to 
see his Pennsylvanians beat the British at their own style of fighting. 

Wayne’s troops suffered through the long winter following at Val¬ 
ley Forge, and none worked harder to relieve their distress than did 
the popular general. 






GENERAL WAYNE DEFEATS INDIANS 


849 


Washington dispatched Wayne on a foraging expedition through 
New Jersey for much-needed supplies, and in spite of several skirmishes 
with British troops on the same mission Wayne brought back the sup¬ 
plies. 

When Howe evacuated Philadelphia and Washington followed him 
across New Jersey, it was W^ayne who encouraged Washington to fight 
the enemy. The Battle of Monmouth resulted, and it was Wayne’s 
line which held back the British until Washington could move up the 
rest of his army. 

In Washington’s report to Congress about this battle he mentioned 
only one general by name, General Anthony Wayne. 

Wayne’s most daring exploit was the capture of Stony Point, on 
the Hudson. This was accomplished by 1300 men in a bayonet attack 
at night. Wayne was wounded and afterward was spoken of by 
envious officers as “Mad Anthony.” 

He performed conspicuous service at Yorktown, and was afterward 
sent to Georgia, where he fought Indians as well as British. The State 
of Georgia gave Wayne a rice plantation in token of gratitude. 

After Washington resigned the active command of the army, Gen¬ 
eral Josiah Harmar, one of a family living along the Perkiomen, suc¬ 
ceeded him. Harmar led an expedition against the Miami Indians 
in the Northwest in 1790, but was defeated. 

General Arthur St. Clair, who had been a major general of the 
Pennsylvania Line and President of the Continental Congress, suc¬ 
ceeded Harmar. St. Clair at the time was also Governor of the North¬ 
western Territory. He, too, suffered a humiliating defeat in a serious 
engagement November 4, 1791, by the Miami, led by their chiefs and 
aided by Simon Girty, the notorious Tory and renegade, another Penn¬ 
sylvanian. 

After his reverse Washington appointed Anthony Wayne a major 
general and put him in command of the Army of the United States. 
The Indians were aided by the British. 

Within seven years they had killed 1500 people, and their object was 
to prevent the settlements beyond the Ohio River. 

General Wayne organized an army of 2631 men at Pittsburgh. A 
large proportion of the soldiers were Pennsylvanians. 

The war lasted more than two years. Wayne moved his army 
down the Ohio, thence to the site of Cincinnati, to the Miami River, 
400 miles into the wilderness. 

On August 20, 1794, at the Fallen Timbers he encountered a force 
of 2000 Indians and won the most important victory ever secured oyer 
the Indian foes. Almost all the dead warriors were found with British 
arms. 

Wayne laid waste their country and by the middle of September 
moved up to the junction of the St. Mary’s and St. Joseph s Rivers, 


850 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


near the present City of Fort Wayne, Ind., and built a strong fortifica¬ 
tion, which he named Fort Wayne. The little army wintered at Green¬ 
ville, O. The barbarians realized their weakness and sued for peace. 

Wayne returned to Philadelphia to report his operations. As he 
approached the city the cavalry troops met him as a guard of honor. 
When he crossed the ferry over the Schuylkill a salute of fifteen guns 
was fired, and the bells of the city pealed their acclaim. The people 
crowded the sidewalks to catch a glimpse of the victorious general. 
Congress voted him its thanks. 

The following summer 1130 sachems and warriors, representing 
twelve tribes or nations, met at Greenville on August 3 and concluded 
a treaty the basis of which was that hostilities should permanently cease 
and all prisoners be restored. The boundary line between the United 
States and the lands of the several tribes was fixed. It made possible 
the settlement of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and the West. 

When this treaty was successfully concluded Wayne embarked in a 
schooner at Detroit for his home in Chester County. He was taken ill 
with his old complaint, the gout, and landed at Presqu’ Isle in great 
physical distress. Before an army surgeon could reach him he died 
in the Block-House there, December 15, 1796. 

Bury me at the foot of the flagstaff, boys,” he ordered, and his 
command was obeyed. Thirteen years later his son, Colonel Isaac 
Wayne, removed his remains to Radnor churchyard, in Delaware 
County, over which the Pennsylvania State Society of Cincinnati erected 
an elegant white marble monument. 


Anti-Masonic Period Terminates in Trouble 
on December 4, 1838 

N THE campaign of 1838 Governor Joseph Ritner was re¬ 
nominated by the Fusionist Whig-Anti-Masonic-Abolitionist 
Party for the office of Governor, and David R. Porter, of 
Huntingdon, was the nominee of the Democratic organization 
for the same office. 

The campaign was one of vituperation and personal abuse 
of the candidates unparalleled in the history of politics. 

When the news of the election became known it showed that Porter 
had been elected by a majority of 5540 votes. 

Immediately thereafter Secretary of the Commonwealth Thomas H. 
Burrowes, who was also chairman of the Anti-Masonic State Commit¬ 
tee, issued a circular to the “Friends of Governor Ritner,” calling upon 
them to “treat the election held on October 9 as if it had never taken 
place.” This circular had the desired effect and the defeated Anti- 










ANTI-MASONIC TROUBLE 


851 


Masonic and weak candidates for the Legislature contested the seats of 
their successful Democratic competitors on the slightest pretext. 

Thaddeus Stevens said at a public meeting in the Courthouse at 
Gettysburg that “the Anti-Masons would organize the House, and if 
Governor Porter were declared elected the Legislature would elect 
Canal Commissioners for three years and then adjourn before date 
fixed by the new Constitution for the inauguration, and that Porter 
would never be Governor.’/ 

As the time approached for the meeting of the Legislature on De¬ 
cember 4, trouble was anticipated and “Committees on Safety” were 
appointed in nearly all of the counties, while many persons, especially 
from the districts in which contests were expected, flocked to Harris¬ 
burg to witness the result of the struggle. 

It may not be generally known, but there had been a secret meeting 
composed of Burrowes, Stevens and Fenn, none of whom was born in 
Pennsylvania, at which were suggested some strong revolutionary meas¬ 
ures. 

After the excitement was over the Legislature settled down to busi¬ 
ness, and Governor Porter having been inaugurated, it was seriously 
considered whether these men should not be tried for treason. 

The House then consisted of 100 members, eight of whom were from 
Philadelphia, whose seats were contested, and of the remaining number 
forty-eight were Democrats and forty-four anti-Masonic Whigs. The 
majority of the Senate belonged to the latter party, and conse¬ 
quently promptly organized by the election of Charles B. Penrose as 
Speaker. 

In the House the clerk read the names of the members as given him 
by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. 

Upon reading the returns from Philadelphia County it was dis¬ 
covered that the legal returns had been withheld and fraudulent ones 
substituted. This had been anticipated, as the Secretary of the Com¬ 
monwealth had determined to seat the minority members, thus com¬ 
pelling the majority to be contestants and to witness the organization of 
the House. The Democrats produced and read the true returns, as duly 
certified by the Prothonotary of Philadelphia. This seated both sets of 
contesting delegates and caused the wildest excitement. 

At this moment Thaddeus Stevens moved that the House proceed to 
the election of the Speaker. The clerk then called the roll of the Whig 
and Anti-Masonic members and declared Thomas S. Cunningham, of 
Beaver County, elected. He was conducted to the Speaker s chair and 
took his seat. 

The Democrats paid very little attention to the movements of the 
opposition and elected William Hopkins, of Washington County, 
Speaker. Two members escorted Mr. Hopkins to the platform, where 
Mr. Cunningham had already been seated. 


852 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The Pennsylvania House of Representatives thus enjoyed a double¬ 
headed organization. The members of the House of each party were 
then sworn in by their respective officers—fifty-two members who had 
elected Mr. Cunningham and fifty-six members who elected Mr. Hop¬ 
kins. 

After some necessary routine the Governor and the Senate were in¬ 
formed the House was ready to proceed to business; then both bodies 
adjourned their respective organizations to meet next day at 10 o’clock. 

The Cunningham party did not wait until its appointed time. In 
the afternoon they met again in the hall, and after being called to order 
by their Speaker, he called Mr. Spackman, of Philadelphia, to act as 
Speaker pro tern. Some Philadelphians who were in the lobby as spec¬ 
tators, feeling indignant at the proceedings of the Cunningham party, 
went up to the platform and carried Spachman off and sat him down 
in the aisle. 

This interference from outsiders could not be resented by the rump 
House and it immediately adjourned amid great confusion. They after¬ 
wards met in Matthew Wilson’s Hall, until recently known as the 
Lochiel Hotel. During these exciting scenes large crowds gathered out¬ 
side the Capitol and became boisterous. The aspect of affairs appeared 
alarming. 

While the foregoing incidents were transpiring in the House, there 
were contests for seats in the Senate from several districts. Upon the 
floor were members of the House, among them Thaddeus Stevens and 
Secretary of the Commonwealth Burrowes, of Lancaster, who had gone 
there with minority returns. These two individuals, who controlled the 
Executive, were of the opinion that the first returns received were to 
have precedence. 

A large crowd in the rear of the Senate Chamber was composed of 
excited and enraged citizens, especially toward those who were working 
to seat Hanna and Wagner, of Philadelphia, in place of those legally 
entitled to the seats. Threats of violence were heard. 

The clerk had opened and read the returns, as far as Philadelphia. 
When those were reached, Charles Brown, who had been elected on the 
majority return, arose and presented to the Speaker what he said was a 
copy of the true return, alleging the other false. The Speaker attempted 
to stop him, but the crowd insisted that Brown be heard. Brown was 
allowed to proceed, and during his remarks the crowds in the lobby and 
gallery shouted, threatening violence to Penrose, Burrowes and Stevens. 

The scene was now one of fearful confusion, disorder and terror, 
and at last Speaker Penrose, unable to stem the current any longer, 
abandoned his post, and with Stevens and Burrowes escaped through a 
window in the rear of the Senate Chamber. The Senate adjourned until 
next day. 

On the night of the first day of the session a large public meeting 


BUCK SHOT WAR” 


853 


was held in the Courthouse over which General Thomas Craig Miller, 
of Adams County, presided. 

The Governor then issued a proclamation which stated that “a law¬ 
less, infuriated, armed mob, from the counties of Philadelphia, Lan¬ 
caster, Adams and other places, have assembled at the seat of govern- 
ment with the avowed object of disturbing, interrupting and overawing 
the Legislature of this Commonwealth and of preventing its proper or¬ 
ganization and the peaceful and free discharge of its duties. This mob 
had entered the Senate Chamber and threatened the lives of the members 
and it still remained in the city in force, etc.” 

The Governor called upon the civil authorities, the military force 
of the Commonwealth and the citizens to hold themselves in readiness 
for instant duty. 


Troops Called Out in “Buck Shot War” on 
December 5, 1838 

MID all the excitement of the first day of the “Buckshot” War, 
December 4, 1837, at the moment Governor Joseph Ritner had 
issued his proclamation calling upon the people to disperse the 
lawless element and to add further excitement, the State 
Arsenal was seized by friends of the Governor, where large 
quantities of powder and cartridges were stored. The procla¬ 
mation and call for troops and the seizure of the arsenal filled the city 
of Harrisburg with intense alarm. 

William Cochran, Sheriff of Dauphin County, issued a proclamation 
in which he stated that at no time had there been any riotous proceed¬ 
ings, nor any disturbances which rendered necessary his interposition as 
a civil officer to preserve peace. 

The following day, December 5, the Governor made a requisition 
on Major General Robert Patterson, commanding the First Division 
Pennsylvania Militia to furnish sufficient of his command to “quell this 
insurrection.” 

General Patterson obtained from the Frankford Arsenal a supply 
of the regular ammunition for infantry, which was then buckshot. About 
a hundred of General Patterson’s command arrived in Harrisburg, on 
Saturday night, December 8, and the next afternoon 800 troops arrived. 
They were paraded through the streets to the public grounds in front 
of the State Arsenal. 

The general and his staff reported to the Governor. The door was 
locked and barred, and the general could not gain admittance until the 
Governor learned from a second-story window who was seeking an en¬ 
trance. 







854 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The Governor sent for his Cabinet, and five responded. They asked 
the General many questions, among others, if he would obey an order 
of the Speaker of the Senate, to which he replied in the negative. He 
said he had not come on a political mission, and anyway, would not sus¬ 
tain a party clearly in the wrong. 

He was asked if he would obey an order from the Speaker of the 
House. He replied he would not, for two reasons: They had two 
Speakers, he did not know the right one, and he would not obey the 
regular Speaker anyway, as he had no right to give him an order. He 
said he would obey only the Governor, and then only when the Gov¬ 
ernor gave him an order he had a right to give. 

General Patterson refused to help seat either Speaker. He said 
the House alone could do that. If ordered to fire, he would refuse to 
issue the order. Nor would he permit a single shot to be fired except 
in self-defense, if assailed by the rebels, or in the protection of public 
property. The conference ended abruptly. 

The Governor had called upon Captain Sumner, then in command 
of the Carlisle Barracks, for troops, but he refused to send them to in¬ 
terfere in political troubles. 

Governor Ritner also wrote to President Van Buren, laying before 
him a full account of the affair, requesting the President to take such 
measures as would protect the State against violence. The Governor 
named several Government officials who were active in the trouble. 

The Governor’s party finding they could not get General Patterson 
to install them in power, his troops were ordered home and a requisition 
was made upon Major General Alexander, of the Eleventh Division 
of State Militia, a citizen of Carlisle, and an ultra-Whig in politics. 

Out of three companies only sixty-seven men responded. The bat¬ 
talion, under the command of Colonel Willis Foulk, marched from 
Carlisle to Harrisburg, December 15, arriving on the following day. 

There never had been occasion for soldiers and now as the Carlisle 
troops arrived the disturbance in the Legislature was nearing an end. 
The soldiers regarded the trip as a frolic. 

On December 17 Messrs. Butler and Sturdevant, of Luzerne, and 
Montelius, of Union County, three legally elected Whig members, 
abandoned their Anti-Masonic associates and were sworn in as members 
of the “Hopkins House,” which gave it a legal quorum over and above 
the eight Democrats from Philadelphia whose rights the “Rump 
House” disputed. 

Finally on December 27, Mr. Michler, of Northampton County, 
submitted a resolution which recognized that the House was now 
legally organized, and it was adopted, by the close vote of seventeen yeas 
to sixteen nays. 

The committee called for in the resolution was named and waited 
on the Governor, informing him the Legislature was organized. 


BUCK SHOT WAR 1 


855 


With this reconciliation the returns were opened and read; the 
amendment to the Constitution was declared carried and the election of 
David R. Porter as Governor of the Commonwealth promulgated. 
However, the animosity still existed, and resulted in the appointment by 
both Houses of select committees to inquire into the causes of the dis¬ 
turbances and other matters. 

Mr. Stevens, the ring leader, refused at first to be reconciled, and 
absented himself several months from the sessions of the House. It was 
not until May 8 that his colleague in the House announced that Mr. 
Stevens was now in his seat and ready to take the requisite qualifications. 

Objection was made, and a resolution offered declaring that Mr. 
Stevens had “forfeited that right by act in violation of the laws of the 
land, by contempt to the House, and by the virtual resignation of his 
character as a representative.” Action was postponed. 

On the following day Mr. Stevens again appeared, and, through his 
colleague, demanded that the oath be administered. This was on motion 
postponed by a vote of forty-eight to thirty. Two days afterward Mr. 
Stevens appeared a third time, but by a vote of fifty-three to thirty-three 
the question was postponed, and a committee appointed to examine 
whether he had not forfeited his right to a seat as a member. 

On the 20th this committee reported that he was “not entitled” to 
his seat. 

The House, however, by declaring his seat vacant, caused an election, 
when Mr. Stevens was again returned and appearing, was duly qualified. 

Mr. Penrose, the Speaker of the Senate, issued a manifesto “To the 
People of the State,” explaining his participation in the proceedings of 
December 4. 

Subsequently a number of pamphlets appeared, chiefly of the facetious 
class, which attempted to make a farce of what might have resulted in a 
very serious affair. One of these severely criticized Secretary Burrowes 
for withholding the correct and legal returns; Speaker Penrose for the 
violation of his duty; the six Senators who were denounced as traitors 
and the last paragraph was: 

“Finally, if the leaders of the party who claimed to be ‘all the de¬ 
cency,’ and were the first to cry put mob, had behaved themselves honor¬ 
ably and honestly there would have been no ‘Buckshot War,’ and perhaps 
they would not have so soon been compelled to witness the ‘Last Kick 
of Anti-Masonry.’ ” 

The piper was now to pay and it took many years to heal the political 
sores. The Anti-Masonic crusade had come to an end, and from that 
date Masonry and Odd Fellowship, those “twin sisters of iniquity,” as 
Thaddeus Stevens designated them, thrived more than ever. The term 
“Buckshot War,” was a thorn in the side of its leaders. 


856 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


De Vries Finds Entire Dutch Colony De¬ 
stroyed, December 6, 1632 

dE Dutch were the first Europeans to pursue explorations in 
the New World, and as early as 1609, sent Henry Hudson on 
an expedition to America, where he arrived at the head of 
Delaware Bay, August 28 of that year. Hudson later sailed 
up the New Jersey Coast and anchored off Sandy Hook, Sep¬ 
tember 3; nine days later entered New York Bay through the 
Narrows, and entered the great river that since has borne his name. 

The Dutch East India Company received glowing reports from its 
navigator and immediately set in motion other expeditions to the New 
Netherlands. 

Before 1614 a fleet of five vessels, under command of Captain Corne* 
lius Jacobson Mey, arrived in Delaware Bay, and two years later 
Cornelius Hendrickson sailed up the Delaware and discovered the mouth 
of the Schuylkill, the present site of Philadelphia. 

In 1621 the Dutch West India Company was chartered and in 1623 
Captain Mey built Fort Nassau about five miles above Wilmington, 
Del., on the eastern shore. Another settlement of a few families was 
made farther north upon the same side of the river, but in 1631 no 
white man had made a settlement on the west bank of the Delaware 
River. 

In that year there came to the southern cape, now Henlopen, a 
party of colonists from Holland, under David Pieterson De Vries, of 
Hoorn, “a bold and skillful seaman,” and the finest personage in the 
settlement of America. 

On December 12, 1630, a ship and a yacht for the Zuydt Revier 
(South River) were sent from the Texel “with a number of people and 
a large stock of cattle,” the object being, said De Vries, “as well to 
carry on a whale fishery in that region, as to plant a colony for the cul¬ 
tivation of all sorts of grain, for which the country is well adapted, and 
of tobacco.” 

These colonists made a settlement near the present town of Lewes 
and called it Swanendael, or the Valley of the Swans. They built a 
substantial house, surrounded it with palisades, and began their settle¬ 
ment. A few weeks later the Walrus sailed on its return to Holland 
with De Vries aboard, who left the colony in charge of Gilles Hosset, 
who had come out as “commissary.” This colony was destined to be the 
most unfortunate and of short duration. 

Early in 1632 De Vries agreed with his associates in Holland to go 
out to Swanendael himself. He fitted out two vessels, and with them 





SWANENDAEL DESTROYED 


857 


set sail from the Texel, May 24, 1632, to be in good time at his colony, 
for the winter fishery. The whales, he understood, “come in the win¬ 
ter, and remained until March.” 

As he was leaving Holland the bad news reached him that Swanen- 
dael had been destroyed by the Indians. The expedition proceeded, 
however, and it was December 5 when they reached Cape Cornelius 
and found the melancholy report only too true. 

On the 6th De Vries went ashore to view the desolate place. He 
says: 

“I found lying here and there the skulls and bones of our people, 
and the heads of the horses and cows which they had brought with 

them.” 

No Indians were visible, so he went aboard the boat and let the 
gunner fire a shot to see if he could find any trace of them. The next 
day some Indians appeared. 

In the conferences which followed, De Vries obtained some explana¬ 
tion of the disaster. It seems to have been the result of a misunder¬ 
standing. An Indian, who was induced to remain on board all night 
December 8, rehearsed the story. Commissary Hosset set up a pole, 
upon which was fastened a piece of tin bearing the arms of The Nether¬ 
lands, as an evidence of its claim and profession. 

An Indian, seeing the glitter of the tin, ignorant of the object of this 
exhibition and unconscious of the right of exclusive property, appro¬ 
priated to his own use this honored symbol “for the purpose of making 
tobacco pipes.” 

The Dutch regarded the offense as an affair of state, not merely a 
larceny, and Hosset urged his complaints and demands for redress with 
so much vehemence that the perplexed tribe brought him the head of 
the offender. This was a punishment which Hosset neither wished 
nor had foreseen, and he dreaded its consequences. 

In vain he reprehended the severity of the Indians, and told them 
had they brought the delinquent to him, he would have been dismissed 
with a reprimand. The love of vengeance, inseparable from the Indian 
character, sought a dire gratification; and, though the culprit was 
executed by his own tribe, still they beheld its cause in the exaction of 
the strangers. 

Availing themselves of the season in which many of the Dutch were 
engaged in the cultivation of the fields, at a distance from their house, 
the Indians entered it, under the amicable pretense of trade, and mur¬ 
dered the unsuspicious Hosset, also a sentinel who attended him. They 
proceeded to the fields, fell upon the laborers and massacred every in¬ 
dividual. 

De Vries did not put the blame on Hosset, but the colony was ruined. 
Neither did he chastise the natives nor send out a punitive expedition 
against them; more bloodshed would not heal the wounds already 


858 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


made. With a view to future fishing, he exchanged some goods with 
the Indians, and made an engagement of peace. 

On January 1, 1634, he proceeded up the river and on the 6th ar¬ 
rived at Fort Nassau. It was now deserted, except by Indians. He 
was suspicious of these, and traded with extreme caution. He re¬ 
mained in the vicinity of the fort for four days, ever on the alert. He 
nearly fell a victim here to the perfidy of the natives. 

They directed him to haul his yacht into the narrow Timmer-Kill, 
which furnished a convenient place for an attack, but he was warned by 
a female of the tribe of their design, and told the English crew of a 
vessel which had been sent from Virginia to explore the river the Sep¬ 
tember previous had been murdered. De Vries then hastened to Fort 
Nassau, which he found filled with savages. 

On January 10 he drifted his yacht off on the ebbtide, anchored at 
noon “on the bar at Jacques Island” and on the 13th rejoined his ship 
at Swanendael. 

Jacques Island has been identified as Little Tinicum, opposite the 
greater Tinicum which is now part of Delaware County. The kill in 
which he lay was therefore Ridley, or perhaps Chester Creek. In either 
case, it seems, De Vries was then within the State of Pennsylvania. 

In April De Vries returned to Holland. Thus at the expiration of 
twenty-five years from the discovery of the Delaware by Hudson, not a 
single European remained upon its shores. 


Fires of Early Days; First Fire Fighting 
Company Organized December 7, 1736 

HE City of Philadelphia had not been laid out one year until 
it was visited by a fire, the sufferers being some recently arrived 
Germans and for whose relief a subscription was made. 

From this time until 1696 no public precautions seem to 
have been taken against fire. In the latter year the Provincial 
Assembly passed a law for preventing accidents that might 
happen by fire in the towns of Philadelphia and New Castle, by which 
persons were forbidden to fire their chimneys to cleanse them, or suffer 
them to be so foul as to take fire, under a penalty of forty shillings, 
and each house owner was required to provide and keep ready a swab 
twelve or fourteen feet long, and a bucket or pail, under a penalty of 
ten shillings. 

No person should presume to smoke tobacco in the streets, either by 
day or night, under a penalty of twelve pence. All such fines were to be 
used to buy leather buckets and other instruments or engines against 
fires for the public use. 








FIRES OF EARLY DAYS 


859 


An act was passed in 1700, applying to Philadelphia, Bristol, Ger¬ 
mantown, Darby and Chester, which provided for two leather buckets, 
and forbade more than six pounds of powder to be kept in any house 
or shop, unless forty perches distant from any dwelling house, under the 
penalty of ten pounds. A year later the magistrates were directed to 
procure “six or eight good hooks for tearing down houses on fire.” 

As the city grew, fires became more frequent, through faulty con¬ 
structed chimneys and the general use of wood for fuel. Mayor Samuel 
Preston in 1711 recommended the purchase of buckets, hooks and an 
engine. In December, 1718, the City Council purchased of Abraham 
Bickley a fire engine he had imported from England for £50. This 
fire engine was then in Bethlehem. It was the first fire engine pur¬ 
chased by the city of Philadelphia. 

The first “great fire” took place between 10 and 11 o’clock on the 
night of April 24, 1730. The fire started in a store along the wharf 
and burned several stores under one roof, two cooper shops and an im¬ 
mense quantity of staves on King Street, and two new tenement houses, 
all owned by Mr. Fishbourne; a new house of Mr. Plumstead’s; John 
Dickinson’s fine new house, and Captain Anthony’s house. Several 
other buildings were damaged and much property fell prey to thieves. 

This disastrous fire made the whole population realize that new fire¬ 
fighting apparatus was needed. The City Council at once ordered three 
fire engines and 400 leather buckets to be purchased in England and 
provided twenty ladders and twenty-five hooks and axes. 

A year elapsed, however, before two of the engines and 250 buckets 
were receiyed, and Mayor Hassel directed one to be stationed in the 
yard of the Friends’ Meeting House, Second and Market Streets, and 
the other on the lot of Francis Jones, corner Second and Walnut Streets. 

The old Bickley engine was stationed in the yard of the Baptist 
Church, on Second near Arch Street. As late as 1771 only six fire en¬ 
gines comprised the entire force of the city. 

A third engine was built in Philadelphia by Anthony Nichols, in 
1733, and other buckets were manufactured there. This is the first fire 
engine ever built in Pennsylvania. 

At a fire in January, 1733, this engine threw a stream higher than 
any other engine had been able to do, but Nichols was not given another 
order because his price was too high, he had “used wood instead of 
brass and they feared it would not last long.” 

In December, 1733, there appeared in Franklin’s Pennsylvania 
Gazette an article on fires and their origin, and the mode of putting 
them out. Another article suggested that public pumps should be built, 
and gave a plan for the organization of a club or society for putting out 
fires, after the manner of one in Boston. 

Franklin was the author of both articles, and they caused such in¬ 
terest that a project of forming such a company was soon undertaken. 


860 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Thirty joined the association, and every member was obliged to keep in 
order and fit for service a certain number of buckets. They were to 
meet monthly and discuss topics which might be useful in their conduct 
at fires. 

The advantages of the association were so apparent they became so 
numerous as to include quite all the inhabitants who were men of 
property. 

Out of this movement started by Benjamin Franklin was organized 
the Union Fire Company, December 7, 1736, this being the first fire 
company in Philadelphia. Among the early members were Franklin, 
Isaac Paschal, Philip Syng, William Rawle and Samuel Powell. 

The second company was the Fellowship Fire Company, organized 
March 1, 1738; the third the Hand-in-Hand, organized March 1, 1742; 
the fourth the Heart-in-Hand, organized February 22, 1743; the fifth 
the Friendship, organized July 30, 1747; the sixth the Britannia, or¬ 
ganized in 1750. 

Richard Mason in 1768 manufactured engines which were operated 
by levers at the ends instead of the side of the engine. These were 
successful, and he continued to produce his engines until 1801. 

Patrick Lyon, about 1794, became the greatest fire-engine builder, 
when he invented an engine which would throw more water and with 
greater force than the others. He built fire engines as late as 1824. 
The “Reliance” and “Old Diligent,” built by him, performed useful 
service until the introduction of steam fire engines in 1855. 

The first truly great fire in Philadelphia occurred July 9, 1850, when 
367 houses were destroyed on Delaware Avenue, near Vine Street. 

On November 12, 1851, three lives were lost in a fire which de¬ 
stroyed Bruner’s cotton factory. 

The borough of Somerset was almost totally destroyed in 1833, and 
again on May 9, 1872. In the latter conflagration 117 buildings were 
destroyed. 

On April 10, 1845, the city of Pittsburgh was visited by its first 
great fire, which burned over a space of fifty-six acres of the business 
and residential section. 

December 15, 1850, the greater portion of the borough of Carbon- 
dale was wiped out. 

Chambersburg suffered first in Stuart’s rebel raid, October 10, 1862, 
and again when General McCausland destroyed the beautiful Franklin 
County seat, July 30, 1864. 

Selinsgrove was visited by a terrible fire February 22, 1872, and 
another fire almost wiped out the town October 30, 1874. 

Mifflintown suffered by a great fire in 1871, again on August 23, 
1873, and the borough of Milton was almost destroyed May 14, 1880, 
when 644 houses and business blocks were burned from noon until 4 
o’clock in the afternoon. 


WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS 


861 


Washington’s Headquarters in Several Bucks 
County Mansions Began December 
8, 1776 

URING the Revolution General Washington established his 
headquarters in no less than three of the old-time dwellings of 
Bucks County. 

When Washington crossed the Delaware into Bucks 
County, Pennsylvania, with the rear guard of his army, Sun¬ 
day, December 8, 1776, he took up his quarters in the country 
house of Mrs. Berkley, while the troops were stationed opposite the 
crossing. 

This dwelling was built in 1750, in the village of Morrisville. The 
house is still in a fine state of preservation, occupies a commanding situ¬ 
ation, with a farm of one hundred and sixty-two acres belonging to it, 
and is within the site once selected by Congress for the capital of the 
United States. 

In this house, George Clymer, a signer of the Declaration of Inde¬ 
pendence, lived and died. It was then owned by his son, Henry Clymer, 
afterwards it became the property of the Waddells. 

Local tradition, seldom at fault in such cases, points this house out 
as Washington’s quarters immediately after he crossed the river, and 
mementos of the troops have been found in the adjacent fields. 

After Washington had placed his troops in position to guard the 
fords of the Delaware and prevent the enemy crossing, the headquar¬ 
ters of the army, and the quarters of the commander-in-chief’s most 
trusted lieutenants, were fixed at farm houses in the same neighborhood 
in Upper Wakefield Township, where they were always within easy 
communication. 

General Washington occupied the dwelling of William Keith, on 
the road from Brownsburg to the Eagle Tavern; General Green was at 
Robert Merrick’s, a few hundred yards away across the fields and 
meadows; General Sullivan was at John Hayhurst’s; and Generals 
Knox and Hamilton were at Doctor Chapman’s over Jericho Hill. 

The troops belonging to the headquarters were encamped in sheltered 
places along the creeks, and not far removed from the river. 

This position for headquarters was selected on account of its seclu¬ 
sion, its nearness to the river and because of its proximity to Jericho 
Mountain. From the top of this mountain in the winter, signals may 
be seen a long distance up and down the river. 

Here, too, Washington was near the fords, at which the enemy 




862 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


would attempt to cross, if pursuit was intended, and he was also within 
a half hour’s ride of Newtown, the depot of supplies. 

The three old mansions in which Washington, Greene and Knox 
quartered, are still standing. 

The Keith mansion was a two-story, pointed-stone house, twenty- 
four by twenty-eight feet in size, built by William Keith in 1763. 

The pine door, in two folds, set in a solid oaken frame, is garnished 
with a wooden lock, fourteen by eighteen inches, the same which locked 
out intruders when Washington occupied the house. The interior is 
finished in yellow pine. At the time Washington used the dwelling the 
yard was inclosed with a stone wall. The property, containing two hun¬ 
dred and forty acres, and purchased by William Keith, of the London 
Company, December 3, 1761, has never been out of the family. 

The Merrick house, a quarter of a mile distant to the east, on the 
road from Newtown to Neely’s Mill, is a pointed-stone dwelling, twenty 
by twenty feet, and kitchen adjoining. It was bought by Samuel Mer¬ 
rick in 1773, and was for many years owned by Edward, a descendant. 

When General Greene occupied the dwelling, the first floor was 
divided into three rooms, and the family lived in the log end on the 
west. As the house was not then finished, the General had the walls of 
the rooms on the ground floor painted in a tasteful manner, with a pic¬ 
ture of the rising sun over the fireplace. 

At that time Samuel Merrick had a family of half-grown children, 
who were deeply impressed with passing events, and many traditions 
have been handed down to the present generations. 

General Greene purchased the confidence of Hannah, a young 
daughter, by the gift of a small tea canister, which was kept many years 
in the family. They told how the Rhode Island blacksmith lived on 
the fat of the land while quartered at the house of their ancestor, de¬ 
vouring his flock of turkeys, and monopolizing the only fresh milk cow, 
besides eating her calf. 

At the last supper which General Washington took with General 
Greene at the Merrick house, at which the daughter Hannah waited 
upon the table, she kept the plate from which the commander-in-chief 
ate as a memento of the occasion. 

The Hayhurst house, where Sullivan quartered, was on the adjoin¬ 
ing farm to Keith’s, where this plain member of the Wrightstown meet¬ 
ing lived with his family of five small children. 

The Chapman mansion, the quarters of General Knox, is on the 
north side of the Jericho Mountain, a mile from Brownsburg. It is 
still in excellent condition. 

Knox occupied the first floor of the east end, then divided into two 
rooms. Alexander Hamilton, then a youthful captain of artillery, lay 
sick in the back room. 

A considerable portion of the Continental army found shelter in this 


RAILROAD RIOTS IN ERIE 


863 


neighborhood immediately preceding the attack on Trenton, Christmas 
Day, 1776, and Washington had his headquarters at a quiet farm house 
in the shadow of Jericho Hill. 

In August, 1777, the Continental Army tarried thirteen days on 
the Neshaminy Hills, Bucks County, on the York road from Coryell’s 
Ferry, now New Hope, until it received notice of the departure of the 
British fleet, which had recently sailed from New York, and which was 
destined for the capture of Philadelphia. 

During this time Washington was quartered in the stone house not 
far from the north end of the bridge over the Neshaminy, and on the 
left side of the York road going south. It was long since known as the 
Bothwell home. 

A whipping post was erected on the opposite side of the road. 

While Washington was quartered in this house Lafayette reported to 
him for service in the Continental army; and in it was held the first 
council of war at which Lafayette had a seat. 

The army marched hence August 22, through Philadelphia, and 
then engaged the enemy on the field of Brandywine. 


Railroad Riots in Erie; Bridges Destroyed 
December 9, 1853 

NE of the most interesting and irritating episodes that became 
interwoven with the administration of Governor James Pollock 
was what was then known as the Erie Riots. 

Pollock was seriously handicapped at the outset of his ad¬ 
ministration by the only Know Nothing Legislature % in the 
history of the State. Nothing constructive came out of this 
session, but a movement was begun which led to the sale of the Main 
Line of the public works. In this the Governor was a strong advocate, 
and two years later the Legislature passed the enabling acts by which 
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company became the purchaser. 

The Erie and Northwestern Railroad Company had built a short line 
to connect with the New York Central at Buffalo, and with the Lake 
Shore Line at Erie, by which a continuous railway line was made to the 
West. The several railroads at that time did not have uniform gauge, 
and the road west of Erie was of a different gauge than those east of that 
city, which was the most important connecting point; and all passengers 
and traffic were required to be transferred at Erie. 

The necessities of the growing commerce required that the causes of 
this detention in transfer should be removed, both on account of the 
delay and the cost of handling of the freight, and the annoyance to the 







864 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


passengers in changing cars, all of which was because there was a differ¬ 
ence of one or two inches in the gauge of the rails of the two lines. 

The railroads therefore changed the gauge. This action aroused 
the hostility of the people of the city of Erie, whose sympathies the rail¬ 
way company seemed to have generally alienated and the battle pro¬ 
gressed little by little until the entire community became involved in 
one of the mast disgraceful local conflicts of the history of Pennsyl¬ 
vania. 

On December 9, 1853, two railroad bridges and many crossings 
were destroyed by a mob of women, and a great parade of the rioters was 
held amid the shouts of their sympathizers and jeers of their opponents. 

The people, however, were not alb on one side. They were in fact, 
about equally divided. 

The contending forces were popularly known as “Rippers” and 
“Shanghais.” The former term was applied to those who favored the 
break of the gauge, as they repeatedly ripped up the tracks of the road. 

This contest continued for several years and so completely inflamed 
the entire community that the prominent citizens became divided on the 
issue and ceased all social intercourse. They even carried that feeling 
so far that they would not worship at the same church. 

Erie was an important county, and although reliably Whig, all 
political ties were disregarded and only those could be elected to the 
Legislature who would work for the repeal of the charter of the Erie 
and Northwestern Road. 

After a long and bitter conflict the bill transferring the custody of 
the road to the State was passed and approved by Governor Pollock. 
The charter powers passed to the Commonwealth and the road in conse¬ 
quence was operated by State authorities. 

The Governor appointed *ex-Congressman Joseph Casey as State 
superintendent to operate the road. After struggling for a few months 
in vain efforts to harmonize the people and to maintain an open line of 
communication between the East and West, he resigned in disgust. 

Governor Pollock then appointed General William F. Small, of 
Philadelphia, a veteran of the Mexican War and an experienced mem¬ 
ber of the State Senate, in the expectation that he would be able to calm 
down the belligerents and operate the line. After a few weeks on the 
job he resigned. The Governor urged his close friend, Colonel Alex¬ 
ander K. McClure, of Philadelphia, but formerly of Chambersburg, to 
assume the uninviting task. 

Colonel McClure was given full authority to handle the situation 
as he thought best. He went to Erie and soon won the confidence of 
leaders of both factions, with many of whom he already had personal 
acquaintance. 

Lined up against the railroad were such men of importance as Judge 
James Thompson, afterward Chief Justice of the State; State Senator 


RAILROAD RIOTS IN ERIE 


865 


James Skinner, Mr. Morrow B. Lowrey, later a member of the State 
Senate, and a large number of men prominent in the business circles of 

the city. 

On the other side were men of like distinction, such as John H. 
Walker, former State Senator and president of the last Constitutional 
Convention; Senator J. B. Johnson, who was also editor of the Consti¬ 
tution, one of the leading papers of the city; Milton C, Courtright, a 
principal stockholder of the railroad company, and many others. 

Each faction entertained Colonel McClure. The city was in dis¬ 
tress ; even its population had dwindled to about 5000. Business was at 
a standstill. The only question discussed in the home, shop, store, 
church or on the street was the railroad issue. 

Colonel McClure endeavored to hold conferences with the leaders, 
but when one faction was willing to attend the other rebelled and vice 
versa. Finally he worked out a plan by which it appeared the road 
could be operated without interference. 

Colonel McClure started East on a vacation, but only two days 
later received a dispatch stating that rioting had again broken out afresh, 
that Senator Johnson’s printing office had been destroyed and the mate¬ 
rials burned in a bonfire on the street. 

McClure returned and immediately got into communication with the 
leaders. It was learned that the mob spirit was to blame; the leaders 
had endeavored to restrain them, but without avail. 

Colonel McClure determined that no further efforts be made to har¬ 
monize the difficulty but that he would operate the road if it required 
a soldier upon every cross-tie to protect the property, whether the 
offenders wore 'trousers or petticoats. 

Two leaders of each faction were invited to the Colonel’s room with¬ 
out either knowing the others were invited. Judge Thompson arrived 
on the hour, and soon ex-Senator Walker entered. Walker and Court- 
right on the one side and Thompson and Skinner on the other had had 
no social, business or personal intercourse for more than a year. 

With unusual diplomacy Colonel McClure induced these leaders to 
shake hands and drink a friendly glass with him. Soon the others ar¬ 
rived and then before many moments the five were enjoying the genial 
hospitality of the colonel and the best supper that Brown’s Hotel could 
furnish. A game of cards was enjoyed until the sun appeared in the 
morning, when they all shook hands, each repaired to his own home and 
the Erie riots became only a bit of the history of Pennsylvania. 


28 


866 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Count Zinzindorf, Moravian Church 
Founder, Arrives December 
10,1741 

OUNT ZINZINDORF arrived in Philadelphia December 
10, 1741. He was full of enthusiasm, eager to preach the gos¬ 
pel to all men. His idea was to unite all Protestant denomina¬ 
tions into a Christian confederacy. 

Nicholas Ludwig, Count von Zinzindorf, was born at 
Dresden, Germany, May 26, 1700. In August, 1727, on his 
estate at Herrnhut (“The Lord’s Keeping”), in Saxony, he organized 
some three hundred persons, emigrants from Moravia and Bohemia, 
into a religious organization known indiscriminately as “The Church of 
the Brethren” and “Herrnhutters”—the forerunner of the United 
Brethren, or Moravian Church in America. 

In 1733 this society had become a distinct Church and in 1737, 
Zinzindorf was consecrated Bishop, and was the “Advocate” of the 
Church until his death. 

He came to America to inspect the Moravian establishments in gen¬ 
eral here, and especially to acquaint himself with the fruits of the Breth¬ 
ren’s labors among the Indians. He certainly did not come to this coun¬ 
try with a view of founding Moravian congregations. 

The nobleman’s activity consisted chiefly in preaching in Philadel¬ 
phia and the neighborhood, and holding seven synods or free meetings 
of all denominations, most of them at Germantown, each lasting two or 
three days. These meetings were without practical results, but they 
surely served to awaken a greater interest in religious matters. 

December 31, 1741, he appeared for the first time in an American 
pulpit, preaching to a large congregation in the German Reformed 
Church at Germantown. A few months later the Hon. James Logan 
wrote to a friend concerning Zinzindorf as follows: 

“He speaks Latin and French, is aged I suppose between forty and 
fifty years, wears his own hair and is in all other respects very plain 
as making the propagation of the gospel his whole purpose and business.” 

Zinzindorf’s stay in this country was a period of varied and strenu¬ 
ous activity. Few men could have accomplished in the same time what 
he did. 

Dr. Gill, in his “Life of Zinzindorf,” says the Count gave the In¬ 
dians among whom he went on his several missionary tours “a practical 
insight into the religion he came to teach by simply leading a Christian 
life among them; and, when favorable impressions had thus been made 
and inquiry was excited, he preached the leading truths of the gospel, 







COUNT ZINZINDORF ARRIVES 


867 


taking care not to put more things into their heads than their hearts 
could lay hold of. His mode of approaching them was carefully adapted 
to their distinctive peculiarities.” 

Early in the spring of 1741 David Zeisberger and his son David, 
John Martin, Mack and some four or five more of the Moravian 
Brethren, who had already established several missions in this country, 
began a new missionary settlement near the “Forks” of the Delaware, 
on land derived from William Allen, Esq., of Philadelphia, and lying 
at the confluence of the Lehigh River and Monacasy Creek, in Buck’s 
(now Northampton) County. 

On Christmas Eve of the same year this settlement received the name 
of “Bethlehem” from Count Zinzindorf, who had arrived there a few 
days previously. Ever since then Bethlehem has been the headquarters 
in this country of the Moravian Church, now known as the “Church of 
the United Brethren in the United States of America.” 

From Bethlehem and other Moravian mission, stations the Brethren 
went out among the Indians, making converts and establishing new mis¬ 
sions. The Indian wars had hardened the hearts of the New England 
Puritans against the aborigines, and it was left to the Moravians to 
preach a gentler creed to the Indians. 

In May, 1742, Zinzindorf was called by the Lutherans of Philadel¬ 
phia to be their pastor, but he declined, as he intended to journey to the 
Indian country. 

Reverend John C. Pyrlaeus, a minister of the Moravian Church, was 
called in his stead. There was a strong faction in the Lutheran Church 
hostile to the Moravians, and July 9, 1742, Pyrlaeus was forcibly 
ejected by a gang of ruffians from the church. Some of the congrega¬ 
tion followed him, and this event led to the erection of the First Morav¬ 
ian Church in Philadelphia. Zinzindorf paid for its erection out of his 
own purse. 

August 3, 1742, Count Zinzindorf visited Conrad Weiser at his 
home, oh Tulpehocken, and there met the chief deputies of the Six 
Nations and some other Indians, who had been at the Philadelphia con¬ 
ference, and on their way home were paying Weiser a visit. Among 
them were Shikellamy and Canassatego. 

With those chiefs the Count ratified a covenant of friendship in be¬ 
half of the Brethren, stipulating for permission for the latter to pass to 
and from and sojourn within the domains of the Iroquois Confederacy; 
not as strangers, but as friends and without suspicion, until such times 
as they should have “mutually learned each other’s peculiarities.” 

In reply to the speech made by Zinzindorf, Canassatego said: 
“Brother, you have journeyed a long way from beyond the sea in order 
to preach to the white people and the Indians. You did not know we 
were here (at Tulpehocken). We had no knowledge of your coming. 
The Grekt* Spirit has brought us together. Come to our people; you 


868 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


shall be welcome. Take this fathom of wampum; it is a token that 
our words are true.” 

This “fathom” was composed of 186 white wampums, and was pre¬ 
served by the Brethren for a long time, and was often used in confer¬ 
ence with Indians. 

September 24, 1742, Zinzindorf and Weiser set out on horseback 
for Shamokin and Wyoming. They were also accompanied by the 
Count’s daughter, Benigna, Anna Nitschmann, two Indians and John 
Martin Mack. 

The Count kept a journal of his trip which is most interesting. The 
little company spent several days the guests of the great vicegerent, 
Shikellamy at Shamokin (now Sunbury), and then proceeded along the 
West Branch to what is now Montoursville, where they met the cele¬ 
brated Madame Montour and her son, Andrew. 

The Count and his companions remained with the Montours for 
four days, during which several religious services were held. 

The party left October 9, under the guidance of Andrew Montour, 
and at the mouth of Warrior Run they took a southeasterly direction, 
striking the North Branch at what is now Bloomsburg, and thence 
traveled to Wyoming. 

During his stay at this place they were several times seriously threat¬ 
ened by Indians, and Weiser finally persuaded the missionaries to depart, 
which they did on October 30. Zinzindorf returned to Bethlehem via 
Shamokin, arriving there November 8. 

January 20, 1743, Count Zinzindorf set sail from New York for 
Dover, England, and never returned to this country. He died at 
Herrnhut May 9, 1760. He was the author of many sermons, hymns, 
catechisms and a number of controversial and devotional works. He 
published more than 100 works of prose and verse. 


General Washington Praises Lydia Darrah 
to Congress December 11, 1777 

HEN the British army held possession of Philadelphia, Septem¬ 
ber 26, 1777, to June 19, 1778, General Howe’s headquar¬ 
ters were in Second Street, the fourth door below Spruce, in a 
house which was before occupied by General John Cadwalla- 
der. Directly opposite resided William and Lydia Darrah, 
members of the Society of Friends. 

A superior officer of the British Army, believed to be the adjutant 
general, fixed upon one of the chambers in the Darrah home, a back 
room, for holding private conferences, and two or more officers, fre¬ 
quently met there, by candle light, and remained long in consultation. 







LYDIA DARRAH PRAISED 


869 


On December 2, 1777, the adjutant general told Lydia Darrah that 
they would be in the room at seven o’clock that evening; they would 
remain late, and that he wished the family to retire early to bed, adding 
that when they were going away they would call her to let them out and 
to extinguish their candles and fire. 

She accordingly sent all the family to bed, but as the high officer 
had been so particular, her womanly curiosity was excited. She re¬ 
moved her shoes, and walked quietly to the door, when she placed her 
ear to the keyhole and listened to the conversation of the officers, which 
was held in subdued tones. She overheard the reading of an order 
which was to call out all the British troops on the evening of the 4th 
to attack General Washington’s army, then encamped at White Marsh. 

On hearing this news she returned in her chamber and lay down. 
Soon after the officer knocked at the door, but she rose only at the third 
summons, having feigned herself asleep. Her mind was so much agi¬ 
tated that she could neither eat nor sleep, supposing it to be in her power 
to save the lives of thousands of her fellow-countrymen, but not know¬ 
ing how she was to convey the information to General Washington, not 
even daring to communicate it to her husband. 

The time left, however, was short. She must act promptly. She 
determined to make her way quickly as possible to the American outposts. 
In the early morning she informed her family that, as she was in need 
of flour, she would go to Frankford for some. Her husband insisted 
that she take her maid servant with her, but to his surprise she politely 
refused. 

She got access to General Howe and solicited a pass through the 
British line, which was readily granted. Leaving her bag at the mill, she 
hastened toward the American lines and encountered on her way an 
American lieutenant colonel by the name of Craig, of the Light Horse, 
who, with some of his men, was on the lookout for information. 

The officer recognized Mrs. Darrah as an acquaintance, and inquired 
where she was going. She answered, in quest of her son, an officer in 
the American Army, and prayed that the colonel might alight and walk 
with her. He did so, ordering his troops to keep in sight. 

To Colonel Craig she disclosed her secret after having obtained from 
him a solemn promise never to betray her individually, as her life might 
be at stake with the British. 

The colonel conducted her to a house near at hand, directed some¬ 
thing be given her to eat, and he then hastened with all possible speed 
to headquarters, where he immediately acquainted General Washington 
with what he had heard. 

Washington put in motion every possible preparation to baffle the 
meditated surprise. 

Mrs. Darrah obtained her flour and returned home; sat up alone to 
watch the movement of the British troops, heard their footsteps as they 


870 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


silently marched away; but when they returned a few days after, she 
did not dare to ask a question, though solicitous to learn of the event. 

The following evening the adjutant general came to the house and 
requested Mrs. Darrah to walk up to his room, as he wished to put 
some questions to her. 

She followed him in terror; and when he locked the door and begged 
her, with an air of mystery, to be seated, she was sure that she was either 
suspected or betrayed. 

He inquired earnestly whether any of her family was up the last 
night when he and the other officers met. She assured him that they all 
retired at 8 o’clock. He then observed: 

C ‘I know you were asleep, for I knocked at your chamber door three 
times before you heard me. I am entirely at a loss to imagine who gave 
General Washington information of our intended attack, unless the walls 
of the house could speak. When we arrived near White Marsh we 
found all their cannon mounted and the troops prepared to receive us, 
and we have marched back like a parcel of fools.” 

Among the published correspondence of General Washington is a 
letter written by him, addressed Headquarters, Whitemarsh, 10 Decem¬ 
ber, 1777, which is as follows: 

“Sir—I have the honor to inform you that in the course of last week, 
from a variety of intelligence, I had reason to expect that General Howe 
was preparing to give us a general action. Accordingly, on Thursday 
night he moved from the city with all his force, except a very inconsider¬ 
able part left in his lines and redoubts, and appeared the next morn¬ 
ing on Chestnut Hill, in front of, and about three miles distant from, 
our right wing. 

“As soon as our position was discovered, the Pennsylvania militia 
were ordered from our right, to skirmish with their light advanced 
parties; and I am sorry to mention, that Brigadier General Irvine, who 
led them on, had the misfortune to be wounded and to be taken pris¬ 
oner. Nothing more occurred on that day. 

“On Friday night the enemy changed their ground, and moved to 
our left within a mile of our line, where they remained quiet and ad¬ 
vantageously posted the whole of the next day. 

“On Sunday they inclined still further to our left; and, from every 
appearance there was reason to apprehend they were determined on an 
action. In this movement their advanced and flanking parties were 
warmly attacked by Colonel Morgan and his corps and also by the 
Maryland militia under Colonel Gist. Their loss I cannot ascertain; 
but I am informed it was considerable. 

“On Monday afternoon they began to move again, and instead of 
advancing, filed off from their right; and the first certain account that 
I could obtain of their intentions was, that they were in full march 
toward Philadelphia. 


FEDERAL CONSTITUTION ADOPTED 


871 


The enemy s loss, as I have observed, I cannot ascertain. One ac¬ 
count from the city is that 500 wounded had been sent in; another is 
that eighty-two wagons had gone in with men in this situation. These, 
I fear, are both exaggerated, and not to be depended upon. We lost 
twenty-seven men in Morgan’s corps, killed and wounded, besides Major 
Morris, a brave and gallant officer, who is among the latter.” 

In a second letter to Congress, dated Headquarters near the Guelph, 
11, December, 1777, General Washington referred to the bravery of a 
Pennsylvanian as being the means of saving the army. There is hardly 
a doubt but that he had in mind the brave action of Lydia Darrah, one 
of the heroines of our country. 


Federal Constitution Adopted by Pennsyl¬ 
vania December 12,1787 

HE establishment of a free nation resulted through the close of 
the war of independence, yet it also brought anxious solicitude 
to every patriot’s mind, and this state of apprehension increased 
with each succeeding year. 

The State debts operated severely on all classes, to meet the 
payment of which was impossible. This and kindred troubles, 
financial and governmental, impressed the people with the gloomy con¬ 
viction that the great work of independence was only half done. It was 
felt that above all things a definite and organic form of government— 
reflecting the will of the people—should be fixed upon, to give energy 
to national power and success to individual and public enterprise. 

So portentous a crisis as this formed another epoch for the display of 
the intellectual and political attainments of American statesmen, and the 
ordeal was one through which they passed with the highest honor and 
with ever-enduring fame at home and abroad. 

A change was now to be wrought. The same hall which had re¬ 
sounded with words of patriotic defiance that shook the throne of King 
George III and proclaimed to an astonished world the Declaration of 
Independence, that same hall in which the Congress had continued to sit 
during the greater part of that war, the State House in Philadelphia, 
was soon to witness the assembling of such a body of men as in point of 
intellectual talent, personal integrity and lofty purpose had perhaps 
never before been brought together. 

On the proposition of uniting the water of the Ohio and Potomac 
Rivers deputies from five States met at Annapolis in September, 1786. 
Their powers were too limited, and nothing was accomplished. This 
meeting was not, however, without its beneficial effect, for there were 









872 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


assembled men who deeply felt the depressed and distracted condition of 
the country, and put their sentiments into action. 

They drew up a report and an address to all the States strongly 
representing the inefficiency of the. present Federal Government, and 
earnestly urging them to send delegates to meet in Philadelphia in May, 
1787. Congress responded to this proceeding in February by adopting 
resolutions recommending the proposed measure. 

On the day appointed for the meeting, May 14, 1787, only a small 
number of delegates had arrived in Philadelphia. The deliberations did 
not commence, therefore, until May 25, when there were present twenty- 
nine members representing nine States. Others soon arrived, until there 
were fifty-five to respond to their names. Never, perhaps, had any body 
of men combined for so great a purpose, to form a constitution which was 
to rule a great people for many generations. 

Washington was the outstanding figure, and then the idol of the 
whole people. And there was Rufus King, Gerry and Strong, of Massa¬ 
chusetts; Langdon, of New Hampshire; Ellsworth and Sherman, of 
Connecticut; Hamilton, of New York; Livingston and Dickinson, of 
New Jersey; Randolph, Wythe and Madison, of Virginia; Martin, of 
Maryland; Davies, of North Carolina; Rutledge and Pickens, of South 
Carolina. 

From our own great Commonwealth were Franklin, one of the 
profoundest philosophers in the world, and, though nearly fourscore 
years of age, was able to grasp and throw light upon the complex prob¬ 
lems relating to the science of government; Robert Morris, the great 
financier, of whom it has been truthfully said, that “Americans owed, 
and still owe, as much acknowledgment to the financial operations of 
Robert Morris, as to the negotiations of Benjamin Franklin, or even 
to the arms of George Washington.” Gouverneur Morris conspicuous 
for his accomplishments in learning, his fluent conversation, and sterling 
abilities in debate; George Clymer, distinguished among Pennsylvanians 
as one of the first to raise a defiant voice against the aribitrary acts of 
the mother country; Thomas Mifflin, ardent almost beyond discretion, 
in zeal for his country’s rights and liberties; James Wilson, the most 
distinguished lawyer in that body, and Jared Ingersoll, another of the 
great lawyers of that day. 

When the convention proceeded to organize, Robert Morris nom¬ 
inated General Washington to preside, and he was unanimously elected. 
Standing rules were adopted, one of which was that nothing spoken 
during the deliberations be printed or otherwise published or made 
known in any manner without special permission. 

The delegates to the convention had been appointed merely with a 
view to the revision or improvement of the old Articles of Confedera¬ 
tion, which still held the States together as a Nation. 

Mr. Randolph, of Virginia, in opening the great discussion, laid 


FEDERAL CONSTITUTION ADOPTED 


873 


bare the defects of the Articles of Confederation, and then submitted a 
series of resolutions embodying the substance of a plan of government, 
similar to that suggested in letters of Washington, Madison and Jef¬ 
ferson a few months previous. 

The plan in question proposed the formation of a general govern¬ 
ment, constituted as follows: The national legislature to consist of 
two branches, the members of the first branch to be elected by the people 
of the several States, and the members of the second branch to be elected 
by the first branch; a national chief executive to be chosen by the na¬ 
tional legislature; and a national judiciary. Provision also was made 
for the admission of new states into the Union. 

Mr. Randolph’s plan had many supporters, but other projects were 
brought forward, which occasioned angry debates for some days, and 
but for the timely and healing wisdom of Dr. Franklin, the mentor of 
the Constitution, might have broken up the body. 

The debate closed September 17, and the result of the convention’s 
labors was the formation of a constitution establishing a national gov¬ 
ernment on the principles that the affairs of the'people of the United 
States were thenceforth to be administered not by a confederacy or 
mere league of friendship between the Sovereign States, but by a govern¬ 
ment, distributed into three great departments—legislative, judicial and 
executive. 

The final draft of the Constitution was signed by all members 
present except Randolph and Mason, of Virginia and Gerry, of Massa¬ 
chusetts. Washington signed first, and as he stood, pen in hand, said: 
“Should the States reject this excellent Constitution, the probability is 
that an opportunity will never again be offered to cancel another in 
peace—the next will be drawn in blood.” The other members solemnly 
signed the historic document. 

The convention, however, was not clothed with legislative power, 
nor was the Continental Congress, competent to accept or reject it. It 
was referred to the several States to be the law of the Nation when 
ratified by nine of the States. 

It was not until the summer of 1788 that ratification of the nine 
States was obtained, beginning with Delaware, December 7, 1787, 
closely followed by Pennsylvania, five days later, December 12, 1787, 
some by large and some by very small majorities. 

In New York the opposition resulted in serious riots. Of the 
thirteen original states, Rhode Island was the last to accept the Consti¬ 
tution, which she did in May, 1790. 


874 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Attempt to Impeach Justices Yeates, Shippen 
and Smith Fails, December 13,1803 

HOMAS McKEAN became Governor of Pennsylvania De¬ 
cember 17, 1799. 

With the election of McKean there was at once a lively 
commotion concerning the disposition of offices, and for the 
first time in the history of the State the Governor found him¬ 
self confronted with this new and perplexing problem. 

There never had been any radical change in the offices during the 
long period of the Provincial Government, while the party of the Revo¬ 
lution, after the war, with the single exception of Dickinson’s term, 
had been in power until this time. But now the political ax was to be 
swung. McKean knew how to swing it and the work suited his strong 
nature. His course was sharply criticized, and party feeling during his 
entire administration was exceedingly warm and bitter. 

The Federalists in the Legislature made an attack upon the Gov¬ 
ernor for holding the principles he enunciated, and the address of the 
Senate was one of accusation instead of congratulation. 

Governor McKean, made a long reply, declaring that the objection¬ 
able expressions were uttered before he assumed office, and that as re¬ 
gards the removals from office he relied upon his right to make such 
changes as he deemed proper, without accountability to any person or 
party. 

In the address of the Democratic nominee for 1803 is used the fol¬ 
lowing language: “As Pennsylvania is the keystone of the Democratic 
arch, every engine will be used to sever it from its place”—being prob¬ 
ably the first instance in which the comparison of the Commonwealth 
to the keystone of an arch was used, and the origin of a figure of 
speech since very common. 

During the session of the Legislature, December 13, 1803, a 
memorial was presented from Thomas Passmore, of Philadelphia, 
charging Justices Jasper Yeates, Edward Shippen and Thomas Smith of 
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, with oppression and false imprison¬ 
ment, the complainant having been committed for contempt of court. 

The matter was considered in General Assembly and the House 
recommended that the court be impeached for high misdemeanors. 
Articles of complaint were prepared and the impeachment sent to the 
Senate. It was not until the subsequent session that proceedings were 
had when upon the final vote in the Senate, 13 voted guilty and 11 not 
guilty. The constitutional majority of two-thirds not being obtained 
the accused were acquitted. 






ATTEMPT TO IMPEACH JUSTICES FAILS 875 

In this proceeding the chief point in connection was the extent to 
which the common law of England was applicable or in force in Penn¬ 
sylvania; whether the justices had exceeded their authority in constru¬ 
ing its provisions and harmonizing them with the statutes then in force, 
and also with peculiar exigencies of the case out of which the impeach¬ 
ment had grown. 

As an element of State history the affair of the impeachment of the 
justices was of minor importance. In its relation to the jurisprudence 
of the Commonwealth, it was a subject of great moment, and was dis¬ 
cussed and commented upon in all the populous States of the country, 
as the beginning of a movement to set aside the strict teachings of Eng¬ 
lish common law and to establish precedents applicable to our own neces¬ 
sities without especial regard to those which originally had been im¬ 
ported from the Mother Country. 

The time had come when an independent judicial system in this 
State was made necessary, and this was one of the beginnings. 

It can hardly be questioned but that partisan politics played some 
part in the impeachment proceedings, as Justices Yeates, Shippen and 
Smith belonged to the Federalist Party, and their impeachment would 
have made three fine places for their opponents. It was ever thus. 

A movement was started in 1805 by a faction of the Democratic 
Party for revision of the Constitution. It grew out of the impeach¬ 
ment proceedings, and the advocates of the measure, proposed to make 
the election of Senators annual, to reduce the patronage of the Gover¬ 
nor and to limit the tenure of the judiciary. 

This new party assumed the name of “Constitutionalists,” while 
those opposed styled themselves “Friends of the People.” The con¬ 
troversy for some reason was carried on with much bitterness. 

Governor McKean strongly opposed another constitutional conven¬ 
tion, and in a message expressed his views as follows: 

“The organization of the judicial power of Pennsylvania has been 
long and fairly condemned. But there is not a defect suggested from 
any quarter which the Legislature is not competent to remedy. The 
authority of the Judges may be restricted or enlarged. The law they 
dispense, whether statute law or common law, may be annulled or modi¬ 
fied. The delay of justice may be obviated by increasing the number of 
judges in proportion to the obvious increase of judicial business or by 
instituting local tribunals, where local cases demand a more constant 
exercise of jurisdiction.” 

Although the constitutional convention was not held, the proposi¬ 
tion found many supporters in all parties. Under the changed condi¬ 
tions McKean’s friends knew that Editor Duane’s influence would seek 
to defeat his renomination for Governor if possible. The nomination 
for Governor was then made by a legislative caucus. 

The legislative nominating caucus at Lancaster dissolved in con- 


876 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


fusion. Some were for McKean, while others equally enthusiastic were 
for Simon Snyder, the speaker of the House. The “Freeman’s Journal” 
characterized Snyder as a “Pennsylvania Dutchman” and intimated that 
even Duane in the “Aurora” did not give him a very hearty support. 
The campaign was spirited. Numerous societies were formed and ad¬ 
dresses in German broadcast. 

Governor McKean was elected by 5601 majority and once more 
found himself supported by those from whom he had broken away only 
a few years before. The Constitutionalists soon disappeared from the 
political stage. 

The re-election of the Governor was not without its losses, how¬ 
ever, for soon afterward he became involved in libel suits with Duane, 
Dr. Leib and others, while they in the spirit of retaliation presented the 
Governor for impeachment on charges of abuse of the executive power. 

The impeachment proceedings were hardly more than a revival of 
the old political troubles in which envy and jealousy played the leading 
roles. The committee of the House investigated the charges and re¬ 
ported to the House, when a vote was taken which resulted in a tie. 
The division was strictly on party lines, and the matter was therefore 
indefinitely postponed. The Governor’s reputation was in no wise in¬ 
jured in the unfortunate action. 

The Governor, in a message to the General Assembly, reminded the 
members that “libeling had become the crying sin of the Nation and 
the times.” He strongly denounced a condition which permitted the 
prostitution of the liberty of the press, the overwhelming torrent of 
political dissension, the indiscriminate demolition of public characters, 
and the barbarous inroads upon the peace and happiness of individuals, 
etc. 


John Binns and Samuel Stewart Fight Last 
Duel in Pennsylvania December 
14,1805 

UELING was prohibited by an act of Assembly in Pennsyl¬ 
vania March 31, 1806, and it is a fact that the passage of this 
prohibitory measure was due wholly, or in a great degree, to 
a duel which had occurred between John Binns and Samuel 
Stewart December 14, 1805. 

The prominence of the antagonists had much to do with 
the public feeling which followed this affair. 

Binns was the owner and editor of the Republican Argus, of North¬ 
umberland, the most influential newspaper published at that time in the 






LAST DUEL IN STATE 877 

State save the Aurora, of Philadelphia, and Binns was the agency which, 
a few years later, drove that paper out of publication. 

Samuel Stewart was a resident of Williamsport, where he enjoyed 
a wide political influence, which made him the, object of attack in the 
opposition newspapers. 

John Binns in his autobiography says: “On Saturday, November 
2, 1805, while I was in the public ball alley, in Sunbury, with a yellow 
pine bat in my right hand, tossing a ball against a wall, waiting for 
Major Charles Maclay to play a game, a very tall, stout stranger came 
to me and said: 

“‘My name is Sam Stewart, of Lycoming County; your name, I 
understand, is John Binns, and that you are the editor of the Republican 
Argus.’ I answered: ‘You have been correctly informed.’ ‘I wish,’ 
said he, ‘to know who is the author of the letters published in that 
paper signed “One of the People.” ’ ‘For what purpose?’ said I. ‘Be¬ 
cause,’ said he, ‘there are some remarks in one of them which reflect 
upon my character, and I must know the author.’ 

“With this demand I declined to reply, but said: ‘If there be any¬ 
thing in them untrue it shall be corrected.’ Stewart, who was standing 
at my right side, instantly threw his left arm across my breast and with 
it held both my arms tight above the elbows and at the same time threw 
his right arm across the back of my head, violently pushing the end of 
his forefinger into the corner of my right eye, evidently with intent to 
tear it out of my head. 

“Upon the instant I struck him, with all the strength I could com¬ 
mand, over the shin with the edge of the yellow pine bat, which I for¬ 
tunately had in my right hand. This severe blow made Stewart in¬ 
stantly snatch his finger from my eye, and seizing me around the waist 
with both arms lifted me from the ground and endeavored to throw me 
down. 

“This attack and struggle took place in the ball alley of Henry 
Schaffer, into whose hotel I went and wrote a note, which was handed 
to Mr. Stewart forthwith by Major Maclay, Sunbury, November 2, 
1805. ‘After threatening me like a bravo, you have attacked me like a 
ruffian. Some satisfaction ought to be rendered for such conduct. If 
you have the spirit and the courage to meet me as a gentleman, and will 
appoint time and place, and meet me with pistols, accompanied by a 
friend, what has passed shall be overlooked by John Binns.’ 

“To this note Mr. Stewart returned a verbal answer, by Major 
Maclay, that he was going to the city, but would be back in two or 
three weeks, when he would acquaint Mr. Binns of his arrival and 
give him time to send to Buffalo (Union County) for Major Maclay, 
who, he presumed, would attend Mr. Binns as his friend on the occasion. 

“On the day of its date I received a note, of which the following 
is a copy, from Andrew Kennedy, the printer of the Northumberland 


878 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Gazette, who informed me Mr. Stewart was at his house, and requested 
that any answer I thought proper to send should be sent there. 

“ ‘Northumberland, Dec. 13, 1805. 

“ ‘When I received your challenge I was at that time on my way 
to the city, and had it not in my power to meet you, but now I am here, 
ready to see you. You will therefore, mention the time and place, and 
you will have it in your power to try my spirits that you so much 
doubted; it must be immediately; let me hear from you/ 

“To this note I forthwith returned the following answer: 

“ ‘Yours I have just received. You are aware that my friend Major 
Maclay is to attend me; so soon as he arrives, I shall be ready; I shall 
send for him immediately, and expect he will lose no time in coming to 
Northumberland, in which case I presume every necessary arrange¬ 
ment can be made between him and your friend this evening and we 
can meet tomorrow morning/ 

“Immediately after writing the above note, I wrapped a pair of pis¬ 
tols in my great-coat pocket and walked about half a mile to the house 
of William Bonham, where I had directed that my horse, and any 
answer sent to my note, should be forwarded. While waiting at Bon¬ 
ham’s, Major Maclay arrived. I made him a statement of all that had 
passed between Stewart and myself, put him in full possession of my 
opinion and wishes, and he went to Northumberland to settle the time 
and place. 

“On Maclay’s return, he informed me that the meeting was to be 
at 7 o’clock the next morning behind Lawshe’s house, opposite Derrs- 
town, where we agreed to sleep that night. 

“We were on the ground at 7 o’clock just at the gray of the morn¬ 
ing. In a few minutes, we saw Stewart and Kennedy coming down the 
lane. After mutual salutations, Maclay and Kennedy then retired and 
after some conversation; stepped eight paces and placed Stewart and 
myself at the extreme ends of the line. Maclay then said: ‘Gentlemen, 
it is agreed between Kennedy and myself, that if either of the parties 
shall leave his ground until the affair is finally settled, such party shall 
be regarded as disgraced.’ 

“The seconds then tossed up to determine which of whom should 
give the word. Maclay won. The pistols were presented and dis¬ 
charged so simultaneously that but one report was heard. Neither of 
the balls took effect. Maclay then addressed Kennedy and said, ‘You 
had better consult your principal, and I will do the same/ Maclay’s 
first words to Binns were, ‘Kennedy is a scoundrel. He is determined, 
if he can, to have you shot.’ Binns said, ‘Very well, you know the 
terms agreed upon and we will carry them out.’ 

“Mr. Maclay came between the antagonists and said, ‘Gentlemen, I 
think this business has gone far enough and may be amicably and honor¬ 
ably adjusted. To effect this I propose that Mr. Stewart shall apologize 


MUSTERED FOR MEXICAN WAR 


879 


for the attack he made upon IVIr. Binns, and then IVIr. Binns declare 
that the publication which gave offense to Mr. Stewart was not made 
from any wish to wound the feelings or injuriously affect the character 
of Mr. Stewart, but because Mr. Binns believed it to be true and that 
it was a matter proper for public publication.’ ” 

After a pause Mr. Stewart made the required apology and Binns 
made the declaration which his friend proposed. 

The matter being thus satisfactorily arranged, the parties shook 
hands and at a tavern in the neighborhood they and their friends break¬ 
fasted together. Stewart and Binns continued friends. 

Stewart was elected to the Assembly from Lycoming County by the 
Federal Party and every year voted for John Binns, then editor of the 
Democratic Press, of Philadelphia, as a director of the Pennsylvania 
Bank. 


Pennsylvania Troops Mustered for Mexican 
War, December 15, 1846 

URING the second year of Governor Francis R. Shunk’s ad¬ 
ministration the war with Mexico was begun. Pennsylvania 
was authorized to furnish six regiments of infantry. Two 
were mustered into the service, the first on .December 15, 1846, 
at Pittsburgh, under command of Colonel Wynkoop, the sec¬ 
ond on January 5, 1847, also at Pittsburgh, under command of 
Colonel Roberts, who was succeeded by Colonel Geary. 

The gallant services of the troops on the fields of Mexico at Vera 
Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Chepultepec and the City of Mexico, their bravery 
and valor, secured the highest commendation of their venerated chieftain. 

During Governor Shunk’s administration the economic condition of 
the State was greatly improved. The financial storm was passed and 
men were recovering from their reverses. Banks were clamoring for 
charters, but the Governor limited the number and refused to sponsor 
the establishment of a system of free banking, such as was in operation 
in several States. 

It was during Governor Shunk’s term that the Legislature enacted 
the first law extending to women the rights of property. There also 
was a change made in the law relating to the separation of married 
persons. 

In 1847, Governor Shunk was re-elected for a second term. Early 
in the year 1848 he was attacked with a pulmonary trouble which soon 
assumed a serious character. Just as the remnants of our brave and 
heroic troops were returning from the battlefields of Mexico with their 
laurels, Governor Shunk suffered a severe hemorrhage of the lungs, on 
the morning of July 9. On that day, feeling that his days were num- 







880 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


bered, the Governor wrote a letter of resignation to the people of Penn¬ 
sylvania and a few days later, July 20, 1848, died. His body was laid 
to rest in the old Lutheran burying ground at the Trappe. 

Governor Shunk was succeeded by William Freame Johnston, the 
Speaker of the Senate, according to the provisions of the Constitution, 
the vacancy occurring three months before the general election. The 
Acting Governor issued the necessary writs for the election of a Chief 
Magistrate, which resulted in the election of Senator Johnston. The 
new Governor was a native of Greensburg, Westmoreland County. 

The attention of the Legislature having been called to the neglected 
and suffering condition of the insane poor of the State, in 1844, there 
was provision made for the establishment of an asylum to be located 
within ten miles of the seat of Government. The citizens of Harris¬ 
burg, with the aid of a liberal appropriation by Dauphin County, pur¬ 
chased a farm adjoining that city, and in 1848, the commissioners ap¬ 
pointed by the State began the construction of the first building erected 
by the Commonwealth for the reception and care of the indigent insane. 

The Fugitive Slave Law was passed by Congress during Governor 
Johnston’s administration, and the excitement incident to the return of 
fugitives under it, soon became a subject of heated discussion. In 1851 
a serious riot occurred at Christiana, Lancaster County, and in other 
localities the arrest of fugitive slaves led to bloodshed. 

Under the administration of Governor Johnston, the records of the 
Provincial and State Government, which had remained in single manu¬ 
script copy in a very confused condition, were preserved. 

In compliance with the Governor’s recommendation, an act was 
passed authorizing the appointment of a suitable agent to select and 
superintend their publication. Samuel Hazard, of Philadelphia, was 
delegated, and under his supervision twenty-eight volumes of colonial 
records and Pennsylvania archives, containing a vast amount of original 
papers of incalculable value and interest were published. 

They form almost complete details of the transactions of Govern¬ 
ment from 1682 to 1790, invaluable in their importance to a full com¬ 
prehension of the early history of Pennsylvania. The work has been 
continued and only recently the seventh series of the Archives appeared. 

In 1849 considerable excitement existed in Pittsburgh and in the 
western part of the State, occasioned by the erection of a bridge over 
the Ohio River at Wheeling, W. Va., which obstructed the river to 
navigation in time of high water. Appeals for relief were made to the 
Legislature, and to Congress, and finally to the Supreme Court of the 
United States. Measures, however, were adopted which removed all 
objections. 

Governor Johnston was renominated for a second term. His Demo¬ 
cratic opponent was William Bigler, of Clearfield. The campaign was 
unusually spirited and was carried on vigorously from midsummer 


MUSTERED FOR MEXICAN WAR 


881 


until the day of the election in October. State questions were for¬ 
gotten, the Fugitive Slave law and slavery in the Territories now de¬ 
manded universal attention. Bigler was elected by ,a good majority, 
and was inaugurated January 20, 1852. 

By a remarkable coincidence his own election as Governor of Penn¬ 
sylvania was simultaneous with the election of his elder brother, John, 
also a native of Pennsylvania, to the same dignity in the new State of 
California. 

Governor Bigler’s Administration is marked with stronger features 
than any one of his immediate predecessors. Several very important 
measures were adopted by the Legislature, the principle of which were 
the establishing of the office of the County Superintendent of Common 
Schools and the founding of the Pennsylvania Training School for 
Feeble-Minded Children. 

The completion of the Pennsylvania Railroad from Harrisburg to 
Pittsburgh in February, 1854, added a powerful impulse to the develop¬ 
ment of the resources of the State. 

The County of Philadelphia was merged with the city February 2, 
1854, a measure of great importance, as it enlarged the sphere of muni¬ 
cipal action. 

Governor Bigler urged the payment of the public debt, and used his 
great influence in behalf of the public schools with beneficent results. 

In March, 1854, Bigler was unanimously nominated for a second 
term and immediately entered upon another hard campaign for re- 
election. Opposed to him was James Pollock, of Milton, a man of 
rare culture and ability. In the midst of the campaign Governor Bigler 
was stricken down with sickness, and he lay ill at his home in Clearfield 
during most of the canvass, thus being unable to stir up his followers by 
his personal presence and earnestness. Pollock’s campaign was allied with 
the Native American or Know-Nothing Party. He also was an active 
leader in the Free Soil movement. Bigler had violently opposed the 
Know-Nothing Party from its first organization, and his attitude toward 
the Kansas-Nebraska Bill cost him many votes. As a result Pollock was 
elected Governor by a large majority. 


882 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


General U. S. Grant Leaves Philadelphia on 
Trip Around World, Arriving There on 
Return December 16, 1879 

HERE were several incidents in life of General Ulysses Simp¬ 
son Grant which are of especial interest to Pennsylvanians. 

On June 10, 1865, he was tendered a formal reception at 
the Union League Club house in Philadelphia, at which he was 
received with such enthusiasm, the general was engaged more 
than three hours in shaking hands with his visitors. 

When the great fair was held at the Academy of Music, commenc¬ 
ing October 23, 1865, to aid the Soldiers and Sailors’ Home, the in¬ 
auguration ceremonies were conducted by Lieutenant-General Grant, 
Major General Meade, and Admiral Farragut, and an executive com¬ 
mittee, including the most distinguished officers and civilians. 

As these three most distinguished officers appeared together, the en¬ 
tire audience rose and saluted them with long continued applause. They 
each made short addresses. 

August 14, 1866, General Grant accompanied President Johnson 
and other distinguished citizens to Philadelphia, where they were re¬ 
ceived by a great procession of militia and firemen. 

The burial of General George G. Meade at Laurel Hill, Philadel¬ 
phia, November 11, 1872, was the occasion of much mourning. 

General Meade was the one conspicuous Philadelphian who stood 
out above all other Pennsylvanians in the Civil War, and in the years 
after the Rebellion he was an object of admiration to all the people. His 
death was regarded as a genuine public loss, and his funeral was at¬ 
tended with most impressive ceremonies. 

The procession contained many of the greatest soldiers and civilians 
in the country, chiefest among whom was General Grant, President of 
the United States. 

On December 18, 1875, President Grant, members of his cabinet 
and a large number of senators and representatives in Congress made 
a trip to Philadelphia to inspect the Centennial buildings, then nearly 
completed. They were entertained at a sumptuous banquet in 
Horticultural Hall, at which President Grant delivered the principal 
address. 

President Grant was the guest of honor at the opening of the great 
exhibition, May 10, 1876, when simple but appropriate exercises were 
held. Four thousand soldiers escorted the President to the grounds. 
One hundred and fifty thousand people acclaimed the President and the 
Centennial Exposition. 







GENERAL GRANT TOURS WORLD 


883 


On May 15, 1877, ex-President Grant started on his memorable 
trip around the world. 

He sailed from the port of Philadelphia in the ship “Indiana/’ His 
departure attracted much attention, and on the day previous he had 
held a public reception in Independence Hall. 

He was accompanied down the Delaware River on the steamboat 
“Twilight” by a crowd of distinguished citizens, among whom were 
General Sherman, Senator Zachariah Chandler, Senator Simon Cam¬ 
eron, and others prominent in State and Nation. 

He was accompanied by his wife and one son, and they made a tour 
of the whole civilized world, visiting especially the great countries of 
Europe and Asia, and receiving, as a soldier and civilian and the first 
citizen of the United States, all the honor which rulers and people could 
bestow. As the unofficial representative of his country, his bearing was 
such as to win universal admiration and respect. 

When he arrived in the Mersey River, England, the ships of all 
nations gathered there displayed their flags to greet him. 

In England a grand reception was accorded him in every city he 
visited. He was received by Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales 
in London, and later visited the Queen in Windsor Castle. 

After visiting the other countries of Europe and being entertained 
by all the crowned heads, the United States man-of-war “Vandalia” 
was placed at his service and on board her he made a cruise of the 
Mediterranean Sea. 

He then visited Bombay and Calcutta in India, Hong Kong, Can¬ 
ton and Peking in China, and finally Japan. 

On September 20, 1879, he arrived at San Francisco, where a mag¬ 
nificent demonstration was made in his honor, and during his route 
East, across the United States, he was given public receptions and 
greeted with every mark of honor wherever he stopped. 

His circuit around the world was accomplished in two years and 
seven months, and when he arrived back in Philadelphia, December 16, 
1879, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, a great procession awaited him. 
All business was suspended by general consent. 

The decorations along the route of the parade were unprecedented 
in number, variety and costliness. 

The procession under the marshalship of Colonel A. Loudon Snow¬ 
den, took nearly half the day in passing a given point, and it is sup¬ 
posed that hardly less than 40,000 men were in line. 

For several days and nights the ex-President and great general had 
hardly any time that he could call his own; receptions, entertainments, 
banquets, and other methods of welcome and hospitality being kept up 
in rapid succession. 

He was placed on the retired list of the army by a special act of 
Congress, March, 1884, with the rank and pay of General. 


884 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


During the last few months of his life he wrote his “Memoirs, 
which was published soon after his death, which occurred on Mount 
McGregor, near Saratoga, N. Y., July 23, 1885. 

His body found its final resting place in a magnificent mausoleum 
in Riverside Park, New York City, overlooking the Hudson River. 


Shikellamy, Vicegerent of Six Nations, Died 
in Shamokin, December 17,1748 

HIKELLAMY is the most picturesque and historic Indian 
character who ever lived in Pennsylvania. His early life is 
shrouded in mystery. 

It has been claimed that he was a Susquehannock by birth, 
but others claim his father was a Frenchman. John Bartram, 
who accompanied Conrad Weiser and Lewis Evans to Onon¬ 
daga in 1743, wrote of Shikellamy in his journal: “July 10, 1743— 
He was of the Six Nations, or rather a Frenchman born at Montreal, 
and adopted by the Oneidoes after being taken a prisoner, but his son 
told me that he (the son) was of the Cayuga Nations.” 

Dr. Crantz, in the “History of the Brethren,” 1768, writes of 
Shikellamy: 

“When he was spoken to concerning baptism, he said he had been 
baptized in infancy. We were informed afterward that he was born of 
European parents in French Canada, taken prisoner when a child two 
years old and brought up among the Indians. He was so much 
altered in his way of life that he was hardly distinguished from other 
savages.” 

His name, according to Dr. George P. Donehoo, State Librarian 
and an eminent authority on the Indians of Pennsylvania, is a much 
corrupted form of the Oneida chieftain title, Ongwaternohiat-he, mean¬ 
ing, “It has caused the sky to be light for us.” The other name, Swat- 
aney, is a corrupt form of Onkhiswathe-tani, “He causes it to be light 
for us.” 

The official spelling of the name is Skikellamy. 

He was early trained in war, and for his valor was rewarded by 
adoption into the Oneida tribe, of which he eventually became the chief, 
an exceptional distinction for one not a member of the tribe and pos¬ 
sibly not a full-blooded Indian by birth. It is not probable that he was 
appointed vicegerent before 1728. He was not present at the treaty 
with the Five Nations in Philadelphia in July of the preceding year, 
and James Le Tort does not mention him among the Indians of conse¬ 
quence whom he met “on the upper parts of the River Susquehanna” 
in the winter of 1727-28. 








SHIKELLAMY 


885 


The first conference that he attended in Philadelphia was that of 
July 4-5, 1728, but it does not appear that he took any part in the 
proceedings. He was present on a similar occasion in the following 
October, when, after the close of the conference, the Council considered 
“what present might be proper to be made to Shikellamy, of the Five 
Nations, appointed to reside among the Shawnese, whose services had 
been and may yet further be of great advantage to this Government.” 

At the close of a conference several years later, the Governor having 
represented that Shikellamy was “a trusty good man and a great lover of 
the English,” commissioned him as a bearer of a present to the Six 
Nations and a message inviting them to visit Philadelphia. This they 
accordingly accepted, arriving August 18, 1732. 

Shikellamy was present on this occasion and he and Conrad Weiser 
were employed to transact business between the Indians and the Provin¬ 
cial Government. He was a great friend of James Logan, and named 
one of his sons after this popular provincial officer. 

In August, 1740, he went to Philadelphia to inquire against whom 
the British were making preparations for war, rumors of which had 
reached the great council at Onondaga. He was also present at the 
conference in Philadelphia July, 1742, at the treaty in Lancaster in 
June and July, 1744, and at Philadelphia conference in the following 
August. On April, 1748, accompanied by his son and Conrad Weiser, 
he visited Philadelphia for the last time, but no business of a public 
nature was transacted. 

One of the chief facts of his life as vicegerent of the Iroquois con¬ 
federation was his great friendliness to the cause of the Moravian mis¬ 
sionaries among the Indians. All the prominent leaders of the Moravian 
Church who came to the Susquehanna region, visited him at his home 
at Shamokin, and were kindly received. Count Zinzindorf was among 
these and none was more favorably impressed with the old Oneida dip¬ 
lomat. His journal for September 22, 1742, reads: 

“He was truly an excellent and good man, possessed of many noble 
qualities of mind, that would do honor to many white men, laying claims 
to refinement and intelligence. He was possessed of great dignity, so¬ 
briety and prudence, and was particularly noted for his extreme kind¬ 
ness to the inhabitants with whom he came in contact.” 

Loskiel, who knew him well, thus speaks of him: “Being the first 
magistrate, and head chief of all the Iroquois Indians living on the banks 
of the Susquehanna, as far as Onondaga, he thought it incumbent upon 
him to be very circumspect in his dealings with the white people. He 
assisted the missionaries in building, and defended them against the in¬ 
sults of the drunken Indians; being himself never addicted to ^drinking, 
because, as he expressed it, he never wished to become a fool. 

He had built his house upon pillars, for safety, in which he always 
shut himself up when any drunken frolic was going on in the village. 


886 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


He had been taken ill on a trip to Philadelphia, but so far recovered 
that he had visited Conrad Weiser at Tulpehocken, April, 1748, and 
completed the trip to Philadelphia. 

He was again taken ill upon his return to Shamokin, and, in June, 
Council was advised he was so ill that he might lose his eyesight, but he 
recovered sufficiently to make a trip to Bethlehem early in December. 
On his return he became so ill that he only reached his home by the 
assistance of Bishop Zeisberger. 

His death occurred December 17, 1748, and was extremely pathetic. 
His daughter and the Reverend David Zeisberger were with him during 
his last illness and death. 

Bishop Zeisberger and Henry Fry made him a coffin, and the In¬ 
dians painted the body in their gayest colors, bedecked it with his choicest 
ornaments, and placed with him his weapons, according to Indian cus¬ 
tom. Then after Christian rites conducted by the good Bishop, he was 
buried in the Indian burying ground of his people, near the site of old 
Fort Augusta, in the present Sunbury. 

Shikellamy left to mourn him three sons and a daughter. Another 
son, Unhappy Jake, was killed in the war with the Catawba in 1743. 
The three sons who survived were Taghneghdoarus, also known as John 
Shikellamy, who succeeded his distinguished father in authority, but 
never gained the confidence in which he was held by Indians or whites; 
Tahgahjute or Sayughtowa, better known as James Logan, the most 
celebrated of the children of Shikellamy, and John Petty. His daughter 
was the widow of Cajadies, the “best hunter among all the Indians,” 
who died in November, 1747. 

After the death of Shikellamy, Shamokin declined as a center of 
Indian affairs. His death was the beginning of evil days. His son 
Taghneghdoarus was made chief, but was unable to restrain his people. 


Barbara Frietchie, Native of Pennsylvania, 
Died December 18,1862 

HERE is the person who has not been thrilled with the read¬ 
ing or recitation of John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem, “Bar¬ 
bara Frietchie?” 

It is even doubtful if the Massachusetts Quaker poet real¬ 
ized how famous he was going to make the venerable Barbara, 
and himself, when he penned his immortal poem. But there 
are few persons of the present generation who know anything about the 
personal side of Barbara Frietchie. 

This patriot was born in Lancaster County, Pa., December 3, 1766, 
when George Washington was a young man of thirty-four. She was 





BARBARA FRIETCHIE NATIVE OF STATE 887 


the third daughter of John Niclaus Hauer and Catherine Zeiler 
Hauer, who were both born in Germany. In 1753 they emigrated to 
America. 

When Barbara was two years old her parents moved to Frederick, 
Md., then a long distance away. The trip was made in old-fashioned 
ox carts. 

This noted woman was born during patriotic times. The hated 
Stamp Act had just been repealed. In fact, Frederick County, in 1765, 
was the first to officially protest against it. 

It is said of Barbara that she met many of the patriots of that day, 
and when she was twenty-five years old she had the pleasure of con¬ 
versing with George Washington. 

This event occurred one afternoon in 1791 at Kimball’s Tavern, 
now the City Hall of Frederick. 

A number of ladies were participating in a quilting bee, when a mes¬ 
senger leaped from his horse in front of the hotel and announced that 
President Washington would soon arrive and intended to pass the night 
at the tavern. 

This unusual news broke up the party, and the ladies turned in to 
assist in preparing for the reception to the great Washington. 

The tavern did not possess a suitable coffee urn, and Barbara Hauer 
hurried to her home and returned with her choice Liverpool coffee pot, 
a precious heirloom in the family. 

Barbara was the one who was specially assigned to look after the 
personal comfort of the President, and her pretty face, pleasant man¬ 
ners and vivacious spirit greatly pleased the first President of the United 
States. 

After supper he gave Barbara a beautiful china bowl, which he 
was carrying to Mount Vernon in his traveling bag. Nothing- 
that she possessed in after life did she prize so highly as this 
precious gift. 

The beginning of the one romance of her life happened in an un¬ 
usually strange manner. When she was fourteen years old, Barbara ac¬ 
companied her mother to a quilting party, where all sorts of things and 
events of that period were discussed, from parson to pig butchering, 
petticoats, pumpkin pies, sickness, deaths and births. One old maiden 
lady coyly announced that Mr. and Mrs. Casper Frietchie had that day 
been presented with a fine baby boy. None present ventured the pre¬ 
diction that some day little Barbara would become the bride of this little 
John Casper Frietchie, but nevertheless, twenty-six years later, May 6, 
1806, that is just what happened. 

Despite the somewhat unusual difference in their ages, they lived 
happily throughout their married life. It is claimed their home was one 
of the most popular in Frederick. 


888 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Young Frietchie was the pround proprietor of a prosperous glove 
factory and he enjoyed a fair income. 

Besides taking much pride in her housekeeping Barbara Frietchie 
was a great reader and kept herself well informed upon subjects of that 
period. 

The Frietchies had no children of their own, but adopted Catharine 
Stover, a niece of Mrs. Frietchie, who lived with them until she was 
married in 1825. 

Mr. Frietchie died after a very short illness in 1849. Mrs. Frietchie 
continued to reside in their old home, where she devoted her time to 
her flowers, garden and the entertainment of her young relatives. 

At the breaking out of the Civil War, Barbara Frietchie was one of 
Abraham Lincoln’s most loyal supporters. 

The story of the flag-waving incident which resulted in Whittier’s 
poem is heard in different ways, but it is a fact that the geographical 
location of Frederick caused it to figure conspicuously in the movements 
of both armies. 

Sentiment was naturally divided, there being a strong feeling both 
for and against the Union. It was a trying time, but the real bitter¬ 
ness of the war came toward the close of the summer of 1862. 

The Confederate forces had crossed the Potomac and entered Mary¬ 
land on September 5. The main body encamped at Frederick Junction, 
three miles south of Frederick, but a large portion of the army marched 
through the city on September 6 and went into camp. 

The next morning (Sunday), while his troops lay resting General 
“Stonewall” Jackson took advantage of the opportunity to attend divine 
worship. 

Early on the morning of the 10th the army broke camp and moved 
westward, going out West Patrick street, passing the home of Barbara 
Frietchie. It was at this time the flag incident occurred. 

The venerable patriot hearing the troops were approaching, took 
her silk flag from between the leaves of the old family Bible, and 
stepped out on her front porch, thinking they were Union soldiers. 
Immediately an officer rode up, saying: “Granny, give me your flag.” 
“You can’t have it,” she said, and then she noticed the gray uniforms, 
but she continued to wave the flag. 

The officer spoke to his men, and they turned facing her. She 
thought they intended to fire on her, but, instead, the officer rode off a 
short distance to Mill Alley, and returned in a moment with another 
officer and some soldiers. 

This officer said to her: “Give me your flag, Granny, and I’ll 
stick it in my horse’s head.” “No, you can’t have it,” she said. One 
of the men then called out, “Shoot her damned head off.” 

The officer turned angrily upon him, saying: “If you harm a hair 
of her head, I’ll shoot you down like a dog.” Then turning to the 


STEVENS “INVESTIGATION 


889 


trembling old lady, he said: “Go on, Granny, wave your flag as much 
as you please.” 

This version of the affair was related by Barbara Frietchie to her 
niece who was visiting her, some time after the incident. It is also 
said that this account has been certified by Confederate soldiers, who 
also stated that the episode was talked about by the troops all through 
the lines. 

McClellan’s army followed closely and none gave them a more 
joyous welcome than dame Barbara, who, with her silk flag in hand, 
stood at her front window. She attracted much attention, many sol¬ 
diers going from the ranks to speak to her. 

Mrs. Frietchie did not live to see the victorious end of the Civil 
War. Shortly after the celebration of her ninety-sixth birthday, on 
December 3, 1862, she was stricken with pneumonia and died Decem¬ 
ber 18, 1862. Her body was tenderly carried to the churchyard and 
placed by the side of her husband. 

May 30, 1913, the bodies of Barbara and her husband were re¬ 
interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery at Frederick. On September 9, 
1914, an artistic monument in honor of the famous woman was un¬ 
veiled upon which is a large tablet bearing the words of Whittier’s 
poem, “Barbara Frietchie.” 


Thaddeus Stevens Inquiry of Masonry and 
Odd Fellowship Began December 
19,1835 

T THE gubernatorial election in October, 1835, owing to an 
unfortunate defection in the Democratic ranks whereby there 
were two nominees for that office, Governor George Wolf 
and Henry A. Muhlenberg, Joseph Ritner was elected to the 
highest office of the State by a minority vote. 

In possession of both the executive and legislative branches 
of the State Government, the Anti-Masons were determined to carry 
out various measures with a high hand. 

No sooner did the session of the Legislature open in December 
following than did Thdddeus Stevens, bring in a bill entitled. An 
act to suppress secret societies, bound together by secret and unlawful 
oaths,” while both houses were deluged with petitions “praying God 
an investigation into the evils of Freemasonry. 

On December 15, the oath of office was administered to Governor 
Ritner, after which he addressed the members of both House and Sen¬ 
ate. In this inaugural he used the following: 

“The supremacy of the laws, and the equal rights of the people, 








890 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


whether threatened or assailed by individuals or by secret sworn associa¬ 
tions, I shall, so far as may be compatible with the constitutional powers 
of the executive, endeavor to maintain, as well in compliance with the 
known will of the people, as from obligations of duty to the Common¬ 
wealth. 

“In these endeavors I shall entertain no doubt of zealous coopera¬ 
tion by the enlightened and patriotic Legislature of the State. The 
people have willed the destruction of all secret bodies, and that will 
cannot be disregarded.” 

Four days later, December 19, on motion of Mr. Stevens himself, 
all the petitions were referred to a committee consisting of “Messrs. 
Stevens, Cox, Huston (of Fayette) Spackman and Frew, with power 
to send for persons and papers.” 

On the same day this committee organized and prepared a series of 
eleven questions which were to be put to each person brought before the 
committee. The questions were intended to establish the fact of mem¬ 
bership in Free Masonry or Odd Fellowship and whether or not such 
witness could repeat the several oaths of the society to which he be¬ 
longed. 

This “Inquisition” held its first meeting December 23, 1835. To 
this star chamber they obtained the evidence of a man named Shed, who 
had been imported for the purpose from the State of Ohio. He seems 
to have resided in several States, and to have arrived at Fort Niagara 
about the time of Captain Morgan’s abduction, learned all about it, and 
was acquainted with the scoundrel Giddings, who, if his story was true, 
as well as Shed’s, ought to have been hanged with him. If not true, 
they were perjured villains. But the High Court of Inquisition was 
not after martyrs, it was wire-pulling in other directions. 

A large number of prominent Masons, and citizens, were brought 
before the committee, among them being ex-Governor Wolf, Francis 
R. Shunk, George M. Dallas, Chief Justice Gibson, Josiah Randall, 
Samuel H. Perkins, Joseph R. Chandler, and the Reverend William T. 
Sproul. They invariably declined being qualified, or answering any 
questions propounded by Mr. Stevens, and for their refusal to so testify, 
several of the gentlemen were brought to the bar of the House, but 
nothing more was done to any of them. 

Mr. Stevens was obliged to depend for witnesses upon seceding 
Masons, imported from Massachusetts, New York and Northern Penn¬ 
sylvania. Their evidence, however, was only a rehash of Morgan and 
his successor, Bernard, in their so-called “Revelations of the Doings of 
Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship.” 

Mr. Stevens, unfortunately, could not control his temper, and in 
the case of Rev. Mr. Sproul, when that gentleman, in reading his 
protest, came to the expression, “Gentlemen, if you are willing to con¬ 
vert yourselves into a modern Juggernaut, then roll on,” “Stop,” thun- 


STEVENS “INVESTIGATION” 891 

dered the chairman of the “inquisition,” white with wrath and further 
reading was dispensed with. 

Governor Wolf, in his letter to the committee, wrote: 

“The Constitution is explicit and declaratory of the personal security 
of the people, and is the precious repository of the privileges of the free¬ 
men of this Commonwealth which never shall have a wound inflicted 
upon its sacred reservations, through any person, without a solemn as¬ 
severation of its principles. 

What article of the Constitution clothes the House with power 
to institute such an investigation? What article of the venerated in¬ 
strument forbids the people from associating together in pursuit of their 
own happiness? If the association is criminal, or in violation of any 
principle of the Constitution or laws, the mode and manner of sup¬ 
pressing the unlawful combination must be in accordance with the Con¬ 
stitution and laws. 

“I have yet to learn that an inquisition at whose shrine the rights 
and liberties of the citizens are to be invaded, is authorized by the prin¬ 
ciples of our institutions; or that any power exists by which a citizen 
can be coerced to give testimony before any tribunal, or for any object 
other than the investigation of matters at issue, affecting the rights of 
persons or of things.” 

An incident occurred about this period which fully exemplified to 
what length the enemies of Freemasonry would go. All sorts of crimes 
or collusions with crimes were imputed to the craft. Everything that 
was vile was blamed upon the fraternity. 

A murder was committed between Middletown and Hummelstown. 
Female apparel was found which was recognized as belonging to Sophia 
Garman, who was missing from her home. Search was made, and some 
one discovered where the earth had been recently disturbed in the center 
of which was a branch of a spruce or cedar tree. An investigation re¬ 
sulted in finding the body of the murdered girl. 

The people who had been reading everything anti-Masonic at once 
jumped to the conclusion that this was the work of one who was a 
Mason. An individual who was last seen with the unfortunate girl 
was arrested and it was broadcasted that he was a member of Perse¬ 
verance Lodge, No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons, of Harrisburg. His 
name was Tom McHenry. 

In the course of events, there not being the least evidence upon 
which to convict him, the accused was declared not guilty. 

The outside conclusion then was that the jury must have been com¬ 
posed of Masons and the result could not be otherwise. 

The fact is that McHenry was not a Mason nor was a single mem¬ 
ber of the jury which tried him. 

The Stevens investigation continued for nearly a month and ended 
in nothing. 


892 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The men whom the committee tried to impanel would not testify; 
those who did were pretended renouncers of Masonry. Concerning the 
real motive of Stevens public opinion was divided. 

Stevens would have resorted to strong measures to compel witnesses 
to testify if he had not seen that the tide of public opinion was turning 
against the inquiry. To preserve appearances a lengthy report was sub¬ 
mitted and adopted. 


Storm Stops French Refugees in Settlement 
Work December 20, 1793 

RENCHTOWN, or Asylum, was the name of a settlement 
founded in Northumberland County (now Bradford) in 1793, 
by French refugees as the residence of the doomed Queen of 
France, Marie Antoinette. But the Terrorists prevented her 
ever seeing America. 

During the French Revolution, when many of the French¬ 
men fled from their homes, not a few sought refuge in San Domingo, 
and those jumped from the frying pan into the fire. The Negro slaves 
soon heard of the success of the Revolution in France and revolted 
against their masters. That bloody conflict was termed the “Horrors 
of San Domingo.” Many of the French exiles came to America and 
took up their residence in Philadelphia, where they were cordially 
welcomed. 

So great was the number of refugees it was deemed necessary that 
some provision should be made for their settlement as a colony. 

The two most active and influential promoters of the colony scheme 
were Viscount Louis Marie de Noailles and the Marquis Antoine Omer 
Talon. The former was a distinguished military officer under Rocham- 
beau in the siege of Yorktown, Va., where he commanded a regiment. 
He was one of the Commissioners to arrange the articles of capitulation 
for the surrender of Cornwallis. He was a brother-in-law of Lafayette. 

Marquis Talon belonged to one of the most illustrious families of 
the French magistracy. He was Advocate General when the Revolu¬ 
tion broke out. In 1790 he was compromised in the flight of the King, 
Louis XVII, and was arrested and imprisoned for a time. He fled to 
Marseilles, where a wine merchant, Bartholomew Laporte, placed him 
in a large wine cask and carried him aboard a vessel sailing for America. 

Laporte sailed with Talon and they became citizens of the United 
States. The borough of Laporte takes its name from Judge John 
Laporte, son of the early immigrant. 

The refugees organized a company, and M. Charles Felix Beu 
Boulogne, and Adam Hoopes were delegated to select a site. They 









FRENCHTOWN, OR ASYLUM 


893 


proceeded to Wilkes-Barre, where they arrived August 27, 1793. Judge 
Matthais Hollenback accepted their letter of credit from Robert Morris. 

They examined several localities, and finally selected the Schufeldt 
Flats, now called French town, in the Township of Asylum, nearly op¬ 
posite Rummerfield station, in Bradford County. 

About the middle of November, M. de Noailles, who continued to 
reside in Philadelphia, visited the place which took the name of Asylum, 
or “Azilum,” as the French pronounced it. The plan of settlement 
was determined, and the town surveyed into lots. 

The tract consists of 2400 acres and, in addition, the Asylum Com¬ 
pany had secured title to a number of tracts of “wild land,” as it was 
termed, in the present Counties of Bradford, Sullivan, Lycoming and 
Luzerne, which were sold on liberal terms to actual settlers. The town, 
as laid out, contained, besides an open square and fine wide streets, 413 
house lots of an acre each. 

M. Boulogne bent every energy to get the houses ready for the 
colonists in the early spring, and was favored with mild weather until 
five days before Christmas, when the weather became stormy. The 
work, which was suspended December 20, was resumed in the spring. 
The emigrants then began to arrive. They traveled by land to Cata- 
wissa, thence in boats up the river. 

The houses were built of hewn logs two stories high, roofed with 
pine shingles, and all houses had a good cellar. To the native Ameri¬ 
cans these houses looked like palaces. 

The house built by M. Talon was the most pretentious, and is said 
to be the largest log house ever built in America. It was known as 
“La Grande Maison,” or the great house. This house stood until 1846, 
when it was torn down. 

M. Talon, who was general manager, planned improvements on a 
large scale. He built a horsepower grist mill, several stores, a tavern, 
for which a license was granted in August, 1794, to Mr. Lefevre. A 
small Catholic chapel was erected, and later a theatre was built. They 
set up a bakery and built a brewery. A post was established with 
Philadelphia. 

Most of the emigrants had been wealthy, and some of them mem¬ 
bers of the royal household, entirely ignorant of farming and unused 
to manual labor, found great difficulty in adapting themselves to their 
new conditions. Yet they endured their privations with great fortitude. 

The continuance of the Asylum settlement was less than ten years, 
but the Frenchmen set their Pennsylvania neighbors the example of bet¬ 
ter houses and roads, better gardens and orchards and courteous man¬ 
ners. 

Robespierre issued a decree commanding all emigrants to return to 
France under penalty of having their estates confiscated. When the 
strong hand of Napoleon assumed power, all Frenchmen were invited 


894 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


to return. This was joyous news at Asylum, and they returned to their 
beloved France as soon as they could dispose of their property, until 
only two remained. 

In 1796 Asylum consisted of about fifty log houses occupied by about 
forty families. Among the most noted, besides those already mentioned, 
were M. De Blacons, a member of the French Constituent Assembly 
from Dauphine; M. Le Montule, a captain of a troop of horse; M. Beau¬ 
lieu, a captain of infantry in the French service, who served in the 
Revolution in this country under Potosky; Dr. Buzzard a planter from 
San Domingo, and M. Dandelot, an officer in the French Infantry. 

But perhaps the best known of all, at least in this country, was M. 
Dupretit-Thouars, or as he was generally called by the Americans, the 
Admiral. Wrecked while on a voyage in search of La Perouse, he 
reached Asylum destitute of everything but an unfaltering courage, a 
genial temper and the chivalrous pride of a Frenchman. 

Disdaining to be a pensioner on the bounty of his countrymen he 
obtained a grant of four hundred acres in the dense wilderness of what 
is now Sullivan County, and went out literally single-handed, having 
lost an arm in the French naval service, commenced a clearing, built 
himself a house, returning to Asylum once a week for necessary food 
and change of apparel. 

He returned to his native country, obtained a position in the navy, 
saying he had yet another arm to give to France. He was placed in 
command of the ship Le Tonnant and was killed in the battle of the 
Nile. 

The borough of Dushore, which includes the clearings of this in¬ 
domitable Frenchman, was named in honor of him this being nearly the 
Anglicised pronunciation of his name. 

During the continuance of the settlement, it was visited by many 
very distinguished personages who since obtained a world-wide reputa¬ 
tion. 

Louis Philippe, a future King of France, spent several weeks at 
Asylum enjoying the hospitality of M. Antoine Talon. In 1795 Tal¬ 
leyrand spent some time there and Count de la Rochefoucauld de Lain- 
court was several days at Asylum while on his journey through the 
States in 1795-6. Another notable visitor was Mrs. Blennerhassett the 
charming woman who figured in Aaron Burr’s conspiracy. 


FIRST GOVERNOR INAUGURATED 


895 


General Thomas Mifflin Inaugurated First 
Governor of Pennsylvania December 
21,1790 

HE inauguration of the first Governor of the Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania took place December 21, 1790, when Hon. 
Thomas Mifflin was inducted into office amid all the splendor 
of that now distant day. 

The transfer of the present State of Pennsylvania from a, 
feudal province to a sovereign State was effected by the pro¬ 
mulgation on September 28, 1776, of the first Constitution. This was 
so thoroughly revolutionary that it was never fully approved of by the 
people of the State. 

The Council of Censors, to which was delegated important duties, 
met for its only meeting, November 10, 1783. This body discussed 
various amendments and strong differences of opinion were manifested. 
They sat eight months and then recommended a continuance of the 
present form of government. 

They said: “Give it a fair and honest trial, and if after all, at the 
end of another seven years (the time when this Council of Censors 
would again meet), it shall be found necessary or proper to cause any 
changes they may then be brought in and established upon a full con¬ 
viction of their usefulness, with harmony and good temper, without 
noise, tumult or violence.” 

Nevertheless the Constitution of 1776 proved inadequate for the re¬ 
quirements of a useful and an effective government, and its revision 
was imperatively demanded. The newspapers, from the close of the 
Revolution for a period of six years are filled with elaborate communi¬ 
cations in favor of, and opposed to, any change. The adoption of the 
Federal Constitution in 1787, however, and its successful working, im¬ 
pressed the people that some revisions should be made in the Constitu¬ 
tion of the State. 

The resolutions of the Assembly were adopted by the electorate and 
the convention called, and organized with General Thomas Mifflin as 
president. After a long session, the new instrument was adopted Sep¬ 
tember 2, 1790, and then by the people. 

The personnel of the Constitutional Convention of 1790 was one 
of unusual ability. Thomas Mifflin, soon to be elected the first 
Governor under its provisions; James Wilson and William Lewis, two 
of the most noted lawyers of that time; Thomas McKean, the second; 
Simon Snyder, of Northumberland County; William Findlay, of West¬ 
moreland County, and Joseph Heister, of Berks County, each of whom 








896 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


filled in their turn the gubernatorial office, were members of this body. 
General William Irvine, of Carlisle; General John Gibson, of Alle¬ 
gheny County, and Colonel Jacob Cook, of Lancaster, all of Revolu¬ 
tionary fame, and Robert Whitehill, of Dauphin County. Charles 
Smith, author of “Smith’s Laws,” was Simon Snyder’s colleague from 
Northumberland County. 

Of the seventy-one persons who composed this illustrious body 
there was not one who had not taken a prominent part in public affairs 
during the struggle for liberty. It was a body of intellectual men, such 
as any Commonwealth could be justly proud. 

At the election in October, 1790, General Thomas Mifflin and 
General Arthur St. Clair were the opposing candidates for Governor. 
The vote in the State for Mifflin was 27,118, and for St. Clair 2819. 
Under the Constitution the General Assembly met on the first Tuesday 
in December, when the Senate and House promptly organized and a 
committee of conference was appointed by both houses to consider and 
report a time, place and manner in which the election of Governor 
should be published, notified and proclaimed, and the oath prescribed 
by the Constitution administered to the Governor. 

On Friday, December 17, the House of Representatives attended in 
the Senate chamber, where Richard Peters, Speaker of the House, was 
seated on the right of William Bingham, Speaker of the Senate. The 
returns of the election for Governor were opened, when Thomas Mifflin 
was declared duly chosen Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl¬ 
vania. 

On the morning of December 21, 1790, after the members of the 
Senate and House had assembled in the Senate chamber, the Speaker 
of the Senate informed both houses that according to their order the 
certificate of the election of the Governor was recorded in the rolls 
office of this Commonwealth, whereupon the committee of both houses 
of the Legislature, three representing the Senate and three representing 
the House of Representatives, waited upon the Governor-elect and at 
the hour of 12:30 introduced Thomas Mifflin into the Senate chamber 
and he was seated in front of the Speakers. 

The Chief Justice, the Hon. Thomas McKean, in solemn form 
administered to Mr. Mifflin the oath required by the Constitution of 
the Commonwealth and also the oath required by the Constitution of 
the United States, which said oaths the Governor-elect took, and sub¬ 
scribed in the Senate chamber, and Speaker and members of the House 
of Representatives and the Governor then withdrew from the Senate 
chamber in order to proceed to the court house on High Street, agree¬ 
ably to the following order of procession: 

Constables with their staffs; sub-sheriffs with their wands; High 
Sheriff and Coroner with their wands; Judges of the Supreme Court 
and Judge of the High Court of Errors and Appeals; Attorney Gen- 


FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED 


897 


eral and Prothonotary of the Supreme Court; wardens of the Port of 
Philadelphia; Treasurer, Comptroller and Register General; Secretary 
of the Land Office; Receiver General and Surveyor General; justices 
of the peace; Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas and clerk 
of the Court of Quarter Sessions; clerk of the Mayor’s court and the 
corporation; Mayor, Recorder and aldermen; Common Council, two 
and two; Master of the Rolls and Register of Wills; Register of Ger¬ 
man Passengers and Collector of Excise in the City and County of Phil¬ 
adelphia; assistant secretary of Council, members of Council, two and 
two; the Governor-elect; sergeant-at-arms of the Senate; clerk of the 
Senate; Speaker of the Senate; members of the Senate, two and two; 
doorkeeper of the Senate; sergeant-at-arms of the House of Represen¬ 
tatives; assistant clerk; clerk; members, two and two; doorkeeper; pro¬ 
vost and faculty of the University, two and two; officers of the militia; 
citizens. 

Arriving at the court house, the certificate of the election of the 
Governor was read by the clerk of the Senate, when the official procla¬ 
mation was thrice made by the clerk of the court declaring Thomas 
Mifflin Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and com¬ 
mander-in-chief of the army and navy thereof. This being done, the 
procession reformed, returning to the Senate chamber. The Governor 
then delivered his inaugural address. 

On the days following various bodies of tradesmen and society or¬ 
ganizations waited upon the Governor and tendered their congratula¬ 
tions, and upon the first day of January following, City Councils, with 
the Mayor and Recorder, waited upon his Excellency and formally 
congratulated him on his accession to his high office. 


First Newspaper in Pennsylvania Published 
December 22, 1719 

HE first newspaper published in Pennsylvania was entitled the 
American Weekly Mercury, and was established by Andrew 
Bradford, at Philadelphia, and sold by John Copsom. The 
initial number appeared December 22, 1719. 

The Mercury was published weekly, generally on Tues¬ 
day, but the day of publication varied. 

Andrew Bradford died November 23, 1742; and the next number 
of the Mercury, dated December 2, appeared in mourning. 

The widow, Cornelia Bradford, took into partnership Isaiah War¬ 
ner in March, 1742, and they continued to publish the Mercury until 
October 18, 1744, when Cornelia Bradford resumed the publication 
alone, and until the end of 1746, when it was discontinued. 



29 





898 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


The second newspaper established in the Province was the Universal 
Instructor in All Arts and Science; and Pennsylvania Gazette, which 
continued in publication for many years, becoming the oldest newspaper 
in the United States a half century after its establishment. 

This newspaper first appeared December 24, 1728, and was edited 
by Samuel Keimer, and printed on a small sheet, pot size folio, 15j^ 
by 12inches. 

Benjamin Franklin soon after he began business formed the design 
of publishing a newspaper, but was prevented by the sudden appearance 
of this Gazette, and was so greatly disappointed that he used his en¬ 
deavors to bring it into contempt. In this he was successful, and 
Keimer was soon obliged to relinquish it, for a trifling consideration, and 
Franklin purchased the good will and fixtures. 

At this time Franklin was in partnership with Hugh Meredith. 
The first part of the title was soon dropped and the paper was called 
the Pennsylvania Gazette. It soon gained reputation, and when 
Franklin became postmaster the Gazette enjoyed a wide circulation and 
liberal advertising patronage. 

The partnership was dissolved in 1732, and Franklin in 1748 took 
into partnership David Hall. 

On May 9, 1754, the device of a snake divided into parts, with 
the motto—“Join or Die,” appeared in this paper. It accompanied an 
account of the French and Indians having killed and scalped many in¬ 
habitants along the frontiers. The account was published with this de¬ 
vice, with a view to rouse the British Colonies and cause them to unite 
in effectual measures for their defense and security against common 
enemy. 

The snake was divided into eight parts to represent first New Eng¬ 
land; second, New York; third, New Jersey; fourth, Pennsylvania; 
fifth, Maryland; sixth, Virginia; seventh, North Carolina, and eighth, 
South Carolina. 

The Gazette put on mourning October 31, 1765, on account of the 
Stamp Act, passed by the British Parliament, which was to take effect 
the next day. From that time until November 21 following the pub¬ 
lication of it was suspended. 

In the interim, large handbills, as substitutes, were published. 
When revived, it was published without an imprint until February 6, 
1766, when it then appeared with the name of David Hall, only, who 
now became the proprietor and the printer of it. 

In May, 1766, it was published by Hall and Sellers, who continued 
it until 1777; but on the approach of the British Army, the publishers 
retired from Philadelphia and the publication was suspended while the 
British possessed the city. 

On the evacuation of Philadelphia, the Gazette was again revived, 
and published once a week until the death of Sellers in 1804. After 


FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED 


899 


this event, it was printed by William and David Hall, then later by 
Hall and Pierre. When the Gazette observed its centennial of pub¬ 
lication, a grandson of David and son of William Hall was the pub¬ 
lisher. 

The next newspaper to be established in Pennsylvania was the Penn¬ 
sylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, which made its initial bow 
to the public, Tuesday, December 2, 1742. Its publisher was William 
Bradford. 

In 1776, William and Thomas Bradford were the publishers and, 
like the Gazette, suspended publication during the British occupancy 
of Philadelphia, but it was revived soon afterward. 

A newspaper in the German language was published in Philadelphia 
as early as May, 1743, by Joseph Crellius. It was called the “High 
Dutch Pennsylvania Journal.” 

In September, 1751, the “Dutch and English Gazette” was pub¬ 
lished in the two languages “at the German Printing Office,” in Arch 
Street, by Gotthan Armbruster. 

Der Wochentliche Philadelphische Staatsbote was first printed in 
the German language in January, 1762, by Henry Miller. This was 
a successful newspaper. It continued until 1779. 

Two papers printed in German were published in Germantown, 
one by Christopher Sower, in 1739, called the Pennsylvania German 
Recorder of Events. This was discontinued in 1744, when Christopher 
Sower, Jr., began the publication of the Germantown Zeitung, and 
continued until the Revolutionary War. 

The Pennsylvania Chronicle and Universal Advertiser made its ap¬ 
pearance Monday, January 6, 1767. It was published by William 
Goddard. 

This was the fourth paper in the English language established in 
Philadelphia and the first one with four columns to the page, printed 
in all the colonies. Joseph Galloway and Thomas Wharton were 
silent partners of Goddard. The Chronicle was published until Feb¬ 
ruary, 1773, when it was removed to Baltimore. 

The Pennsylvania Packet, or the General Advertiser, was first pub¬ 
lished in November, 1771, by John Dunlap. During the British oc¬ 
cupancy Dunlap continued the publication of the Packet at Lancaster, 
and in July, 1778, he published at Philadelphia, and made it a semi¬ 
weekly, and then a tri-weekly. 

In 1783, Dunlap sold his paper to D. C. Claypoole, who had 
previously been a partner, and a year later the Packet was published 
daily. This then became the first daily newspaper in the United States. 

The Pennsylvania Ledger, or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsyl¬ 
vania and New Jersey Weekly Advertiser, was first published in Phil¬ 
adelphia, January 28, 1775, by James Humphreys, Jr. Humphreys 
was deemed a Tory and his paper denounced as being under corrupt 


900 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


influence. Humphreys was obliged in November, 1776, to discontinue 
the Ledger, and leave the city. 

He returned when the British occupied Philadelphia and revived 
the publication as a semi-weekly. The last number was published May 
23, 1778, a month before the British evacuated the city. He was in 
possession of advance information, as are some editors of today. 

The Pennsylvania Evening Post by Benjamin Towne, as a tri¬ 
weekly, was first published January 24, 1775, and it was the third news¬ 
paper in the colonies which was published as an evening paper. This 
paper continued publication in Philadelphia during the British occu¬ 
pancy. 

Towne was proscribed by a law of Pennsylvania. He did not, 
however, leave the State, and continued to publish the Post until 1782, 
when it died a natural death. 

Story and Humphrey’s Pennsylvania Mercury and Universal Ad¬ 
vertiser first came before the public in April, 1775. This was the last 
newspaper to be established in Pennsylvania prior to the Revolution. 
The Mercury was short lived. The printing house, with all its con¬ 
tents, was destroyed by fire in December, 1775, and in consequence of 
the event, the paper was discontinued. 



John F. Watson, Annalist, Historian, Anti¬ 
quarian and Collector of Historical Ob¬ 
jects, Died December 23, 1860 

OHN FANNING WATSON died December 23, 1860, at 
the age of eighty-two years, and left behind him a monument 
to his mental powers in his “Annals of Philadelphia.” 

Mr. Watson was a native of Burlington County, N. J., 
where he was born June 13, 1779. His parents were of Eng- 
ligh origin; his grandfather, Thomas Watson, came to Amer¬ 
ica in 1667, settling at Salem, where William Watson, father of John 
F. was born. 

Among his ancestors were some of the earliest settlers of our coun¬ 
try. All were devoted patriots, with the exception of one, a distin¬ 
guished Tory, General Edmund Fanning, a graduate of Yale, in 1757, 
of whom The Gentleman’s Magazine, for 1818, says, “the world con¬ 
tained no better man.” 

After completing the usual course of education to qualify himself 
for mercantile pursuits, John Fanning Watson entered the counting- 
house of James Vanuxem, an eminent merchant of Philadelphia, with 
whom he remained but a short time, having offended the French inter¬ 
ests of that firm by becoming a member of the Macpherson Blues, of 







JOHN F. WATSON, ANNALIST 


901 


which body of volunteer militiamen, he was one of last six surviving 
members at the time of his decease. 

He was now nineteen years of age, and a clerkship in the War De¬ 
partment at Washington was offered him, which he accepted, and held 
until 1804, when he engaged himself in business with General James 
O’Hara, formerly Quartermaster-General to General Anthony Wayne’s 
Indian Army, and chief founder of the City of Pittsburgh. 

During this business connection Watson resided at New Orleans, 
holding the responsible position of Commissary of Provisions for the 
United States Army at all the posts in Louisiana. 

At this period there was no Protestant worship in that city, and to 
remedy this, together with Edward Livingston, he became the prime, 
mover in establishing the Protestant Episcopal Church by giving a call 
to the Reverend Mr. Chase, since the venerable Bishop of Ohio and 
Illinois. 

After a residence of two years at New Orleans sudden domestic 
affliction caused his return to Philadelphia to the support of his widowed 
mother, and to this event the public are profoundly indebted for his in¬ 
valuable services as a local historian of the olden time. As such his 
works will ever be enduring monuments of his wonderful assiduity and 
laborious research. 

Following his return to Philadelphia he made his first essay as a 
bookseller and publisher, establishing a business on Chestnut Street. 

Among the various works he published were Dr. Adam Clark’s 
Commentary on the Old and New Testament, the Select Reviews of 
Literature, etc. 

He contributed frequently to the columns of various literary, scien¬ 
tific, historical, and ecclesiastical serials. 

Besides historical works, he left some unpublished manuscript vol¬ 
umes on theology, which show great originality of thought and deep 
research. He also devoted some pages to the vindication of Cromwell. 
To his marriage with a lineal descendant of the Lord Protector may be 
attributed some of the interest he evinced on this subject. 

In 1814, Mr. Watson was elected cashier of the Bank of German¬ 
town, which position he held till 1847, when he was chosen treasurer 
and secretary of the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Rail¬ 
road Company. 

During his connection with the Bank of Germantown he resided 
in the stone bank building of which the celebrated annalist himself 
says, “The house in which I now reside was once honoured with the 
presence of Generals Washington, Knox and Greene, shortly after the 
battle of Germantown. They slept in it one or two nights.’ 

In 1859, being at that time eighty years of age, he retired from all 
active business. 

In 1820, he began*to collect antiquarian material, the first being 


902 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


history and legends of Germantown, though none of them were printed 
until about 1828, when some extracts from his manuscript books were 
printed in Hazard’s “Register of Pennsylvania.” 

In 1830 the first edition of the “Annals of Philadelphia,” was is¬ 
sued, the same “being a Collection of Memoirs, Anecdotes, and Inci¬ 
dents of the City and its Inhabitants from the days of the Pilgrim 
Fathers; also Olden Time Researches and Reminiscences of New York 
City in 1828.” It was in one volume of eight hundred pages, and 
illustrated by lithographs. 

In 1842 the work was republished in two volumes, revised and en¬ 
larged, and again, in 1856, he made a full and final revision, adding an 
appendix to the second volume. The editions subsequent to the first 
did not contain the matter relative to New York. 

A noteworthy characteristic of Watson was his reverence for the 
graves of great and good men, who had been useful in their genera¬ 
tion, as illustrated in the removal of the remains of Thomas Godfrey, 
the inventor of the quadrant, and family from a neglected spot on his 
old farm to Laurel Hill, where a suitable monument was erected by 
subscription to his memory. 

In 1832, he published “Historic Tales of Olden Time” of New 
York City, which was followed the next year by “Historic Tales of 
Olden Time, concerning the Early Settlement and Progress of Phila¬ 
delphia and Pennsylvania.” 

Then followed other volumes of both New York annals and works 
other than history. 

Mr. Watson’s first publisher and most active co-worker was Sam- . 
uel Hazard, and to them is due the awakening of that spirit of anti- 
quarianism and historical research from which sprung the great His¬ 
torical Society of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Watson was an ardent collector of all objects of historic in¬ 
terest, many of which are now deposited in the Philadelphia Library and 
with the Historical Society. 


SECOND PENNAMITE WAR 


903 


Colonel Plunket Begins Action in Second 
Pennamite War on December 24, 1775 

HE first armed conflict between the Proprietary Government 
and the Connecticut settlers in the Wyoming Valley occurred 
when the Yankees came down into the region in 1769 and 
seated themselves under the Government of Connecticut. The 
conflict lasted, with more or less intensity, until 1771, when 
the Penns were compelled to surrender and leave the in¬ 
truders in questioned possession of that territory. This series of at¬ 
tacks, assaults and real battles has since been known as the first Penna¬ 
mite War. 

For four years the Yankees lived in tranquillity, and were not even 
seriously disturbed by the Indians. 

On September 28, 1775, Colonel William Plunket, the Provincial 
commandant at Fort Augusta, at the head of a large body of troops, 
defeated the Yankees at Squire John Vincent’s in Judea Township on 
the West Branch, and marched all the men as prisoners to Sunbury. 

The old colonel was more elated than wisdom seems to have justi¬ 
fied. He became the man of the hour and, supported by a resolution of 
the Provincial Assembly, October 27, 1775, which justified the attack 
on the Yankees, he set about to muster troops for an expedition against 
the Connecticut settlers at Wyoming, in spite of the fact that the 
weather waS becoming very severe. Snow had fallen early in November. 

The Council of Safety of Connecticut learned of the determination 
to send a large armed force against their settlement at Wyoming, and 
Governor Trumbull wrote to the President of Congress, November 11, 
1775, complaining of this invasion. 

Congress adopted a resolution requesting both States to prevent hos¬ 
tilities. But the Assembly did not welcome this interference, especially 
as they had received a letter from Colonel Samuel Hunter, lieutenant 
for Northumberland County, dated Sunbury, November 20, 1775, ac¬ 
quainting the House that two of the Magistrates and Sheriff William 
Cooke had an interview with Colonel Zebulon Butler and some of the 
principal men among the Connecticut settlers at Wyoming. They read 
the late Resolves of the Pennsylvania Assembly to them, and inquired 
whether they would peaceably submit themselves to the laws of Pennsyl¬ 
vania. They answered that they despised the laws of that Province and 
never would submit unless compelled by force. 

Two days later, November 25, Governor John Penn wrote to Judge 
Plunket and his associate Justices as follows: 

“I have just now received a message from the Assembly, founded on 









904 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


a letter addressed to them from the county of Northumberland, re¬ 
specting the Connecticut settlers at Wyoming, requesting me to give 
orders for a due execution of the laws of this Province in the counties 
of Northumberland and Northampton. In consequence thereof, I do 
most cheerfully order you to use your utmost diligence and activity in 
putting the laws of this Province in execution throughout the County of 
Northumberland; and you may depend on the faith of the House, and 
my concurrence with them, that every proper and necessary expense that 
may be incurred on the occasion will be defrayed.” 

After the failure of the expedition to Squire Vincent’s the New 
Englanders in Wyoming managed, by the aid of spies, and in other ways, 
to keep themselves informed as to the movements of the Pennamites. 

There are letters extant which reveal the activities in and about 
Sunbury which were written there and sent to Colonel Butler and others 
in authority at Wyoming. One such letter advised Colonel Butler that 
the Pennamites were surely going to march against Wyoming, and 
would not be stopped even by Congress. 

It was the purpose of Colonel Plunket to recruit all the troops which 
could be raised along the West Branch settlements at Fort Augusta, and 
then form a junction with the troops which were to be raised in North¬ 
ampton County, at Fishing Creek, about a mile and a half above the 
present borough of Bloomsburg. 

The Connecticut delegates in Congress presented a memorial in that 
body on December 18, 1775, in which they complained bitterly of the 
threatened invasion, and advised Congress that the troops had begun to 
march December 11. This was accompanied by depositions from inhab¬ 
itants, tending to strengthen their statements about the number of the 
invading forces and their intentions. 

During the continuance of the first Pennamite War from 1769 to 
1771, every expedition against Wyoming was of a civil character. There 
were no direct military maneuvers. The Sheriff of Northampton 
County, of which county Wyoming was then a part, was the chief of¬ 
ficer on duty, merely supported by the military commanders, with their 
several companies; the burnished musket, the glittering bayonet, the 
four-pounder, the whole martial array being simply an appurtenant to 
a peace officer while he should serve a civil process. 

The same policy was again pursued. Colonel Plunket and his large 
force and fine equipment, were the mere accompaniments of the Sheriff, 
whose business to Wyoming was to arrest two or three individuals on 
civil writs. 

The old colonel had mustered 600 well-armed and well-equipped 
men and the march was taken up at Fort Augusta, December 15, 1775. 

In order that the proposed expedition might be considered of a civil 
rather than a military character, this small army was denominated the 
“posse comitatus of Northumberland.” Moreover it was to be accom- 


YANKEES DEFEAT PENNAMITES 


905 


panied on its march by William Scull, the newly elected Sheriff of 
Northumberland County, within whose jurisdiction the Wyoming lands 
lay, if to be considered a part of the Province of Pennsylvania. 

He was provided with a train of boats, with two small field-pieces, 
one of which was mounted on the largest and leading boat, ready for 
action on board or to be landed if necessary. There was a second field- 
piece mounted on one of the other boats, a large supply of ammunition 
for cannon, rifles and muskets, supplies and stores. 

About the time Colonel Plunket began active preparations for his 
expedition Benjamin Harvey, Jr., and another Yankee settler and trader 
of Wyoming Valley, who were returning from Harris Ferry in bateaux 
laden with supplies, and laboriously and slowly pulling their boats up 
the Susquehanna toward home, were seized by the Pennsylvanians as 
they reached Sunbury, thrown into jail, and their boats and cargoes 
confiscated. 

When Plunket was ready to proceed up the river he placed Harvey 
in the leading boat, with orders to pilot the flotilla of the expedition 
to its destination. 


Pennamites Humiliatingly Defeated by 
Yankees, December 25, 1775 

N DECEMBER 20, the very day on which Congress adopted 
resolutions calling on Pennsylvania and Connecticut to cease 
armed conflict during fhe period of the Revolution, it was 
learned by the Yankee scouts that Colonel William Plunket 
and the Pennamites had pushed their flotilla up the North 
Branch of the Susquehanna River as far as the mouth of Nesco- 
peck Creek, about nineteen miles below Nanticoke Falls, but that they 
were advancing slowly on account of the snow, which was then falling, 
and the ice which was gathering on the river. 

Colonel Zebulon Butler quickly mustered his available force, which 
numbered about 400 men and boys, on Saturday, December 23, and 
marched to the left bank of Harvey’s Creek, where he encamped for the 
night on a level stretch of land near the river. 

The vanguard of Colonel Plunket’s expedition arrived at “Har¬ 
vey’s Landing” shortly after the Yankees had gone into camp above 
Harvey’s Creek. 

Major John Garrett was dispatched under a flag of truce to Colonel 
Plunket to ascertain the meaning of his approach with armed militia. 
The answer returned to Colonel Butler was that he came peaceably as 
an attendant to Sheriff Scull, who was authorized to arrest several per¬ 
sons at Wyoming for violating the laws of Pennsylvania, and he trusted 
there would be no opposition to a measure so reasonable and pacific. 







906 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Major Garrett reported to Colonel Butler and advised him of the 
strength of the enemy. 

Colonel Butler early Sunday morning (December 24) dispatched 
Ensign Mason F. Alden with a detail of eighteen men to remain on 
guard at Harvey’s Creek. Captain Lazarus Stewart, with twenty men, 
was detached to the east side of the river, above Nanticoke Falls, with 
orders to lie in ambush and prevent the landing on that shore of any 
boat’s crew. 

Colonel Butler, with the remainder of his force, then retired up the 
river about a mile to a point of natural defense on the plantation of Ben¬ 
jamin Harvey, Sr., where a precipitous ledge of rocks extends from 
the Shawanese Mountains in a southerly direction almost to the bank 
of the river, a distance of nearly half a mile. The Yankees took up their 
position in this rocky rampart, and wherever it was defective for their 
defense they erected breastworks of logs and stones. 

Later in the morning of Sunday about 11 o’clock, Ensign Alden, 
being apprised at the mouth of Harvey’s Creek of the approach of the 
Plunket expedition, retired with his men up the river and joined Colonel 
Butler. 

Deploying his column on the flat just abandoned by the Yankees, 
Plunket directed a spirited advance in pursuit of Alden, not doubting 
but that the main force of the settlers was near and that the hour of 
conflict had arrived. In less than thirty minutes the advancing line 
was halted by Colonel Plunket, who exclaimed, “My God! What a 
breastwork!” 

Scarcely had those words been uttered when there came a discharge 
of musketry, crackling from end to end of the long-extended rampart, 
and giving no uncertain notice that the unlooked-for barricade was 
garrisoned. 

One of Plunket’s men, Hugh McWilliams, was killed and three 
others wounded, while the whole body of Pennamites was thrown into 
great confusion and without returning the fire of the Yankees imme¬ 
diately retreated to Harvey’s Creek. 

They then brought two of their boats from Harvey’s Landing past 
Nanticoke Falls by land and made preparations to cross the river in 
detachments, in order to march by way of the eastern shore against the 
village of Wyoming, the objective point of the expedition. 

After nightfall the boats, well filled with soldiers, started across the 
river some distance above the falls. In the bow of the first boat sat 
Benjamin Harvey, still held a prisoner by the Pennamites, and acting 
as pilot under compulsion, while Colonel Plunket himself occupied a 
place in the second boat. 

When the boats nearly reached the opposite shore they were, without 
warning, fired upon by Captain Lazarus Stewart and his men, who 
were concealed in the thick brush on the river’s bank. 


YANKEES DEFEAT PENNAMITES 907 

Two or three men in the first boat were wounded, one of whom, 
Jesse Lukens, subsequently died. All the occupants of the boat would 
have been killed, probably, had not Harvey made his presence known 
to the Yankees. The boats were hurriedly backed astern, whereby 
they safely shot through the rifles and into the pool at Harvey’s Land¬ 
ing. Thus ended the occurrences of Sunday. 

Early in the morning of Monday, which was Christmas, the Penna- 
mites were astir. Colonel Plunket formed his men and marched them 
into two divisions toward the breastworks held by the Yankees. While 
one division stormed the works, the other ascended the mountain on 
their left in an attempt to turn the right flank of Colonel Butler’s de¬ 
fenders. 

The conflict lasted, with frequent cessations, during the greater part 
of the day, and on the part of the Yankees three or four men were killed 
and three times as many more wounded. Toward the close of the day 
Colonel Plunket realized that the position of the Yankees was too 
strong to be carried by assault and he ordered a retreat down the west 
side of the river. 

In this movement he was closely pursued by Captain Stewart and 
his party on the east side of the river, who determined, if possible, to 
capture at least one of the boats of the Pennamites. But Harvey, who 
was still a prisoner, called to them not to fire. So the expedition was 
permitted to float peaceably downstream toward Fort Augusta. 

Colonel Zebulon Butler reported the battle to the Connecticut au¬ 
thorities under date of December 27, 1775, and stated the losses among 
the Plunket forces to have been fifty or sixty dead and wounded and 
that two were killed and three wounded of his own party and that one 
had since died. 

The Pennamites reported the affair quite differently. William 
Scull, the Sheriff; Samuel Harris, Coroner; William Plunket, Samuel 
Hunter, Michael Troy and John Weitzel, Justices, wrote to Governor 
Penn under date Sunbury, December 30, 1775, in which they related 
the expedition as one to serve legal processes. They blamed the Yan¬ 
kees for firing upon the Sheriff’s posse without warning, and even with 
firing on the wounded as they retreated down the river. 

The Governor transmitted this letter to the Provincial Assembly 
and asked them to pay the bills. 


908 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 




Four days after the battle the inhabitants of Westmoreland assem¬ 
bled in town meeting, elected officers and appointed a committee to repair 
to Philadelphia to “lay before the Honorable Continental Congress an 
account of the late invasion made by the Tory Party of the Pennsyl¬ 
vania people.” It was also voted to collect funds for three women whose 
husbands were killed in the battle. 

Jesse Lukens, who lost his life in this ill-fated expedition, was a 
young man of much promise, the son of John Lukens, who was the Sur¬ 
veyor General of Pennsylvania from 1769 till his death in 1789. Jesse 
was born August 8, 1748, and had only recently arrived at Sunbury 
on a vacation and joined the Plunket expedition as a lark. 


Pennsylvania Militia in Battle of Trenton, 
December 26, 1776 

ARLY in the Revolution Pennsylvania began .to suffer severe 
losses. Each of the battalions organized at the request of Con¬ 
gress had been sent immediately to the front, some to Canada, 
some to the defense of the Hudson, and the balance with the 
main army. 

During the summer of 1776 the necessities of the Conti¬ 
nental service were such that the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania 
placed the State battalions under Colonels Samuel Miles, Samuel J. 
Atlee and Daniel Brodhead at the disposal of Congress. These were 
marched to Long Island, where, with the Continental Regiments of the 
Pennsylvania Line, viz: Colonel Shee’s, Magaw’s and Lambert Cad- 
walader’s, they were engaged in battle August 27, which resulted in 
the defeat of the American forces and the evacuation of Long Island. 
The Pennsylvanians sustained severe loss. Lieutenant Colonel Caleb 
Perry and other officers were killed. Colonel Miles, Colonel Atlee 
and Lieutenant Colonel James Piper were among the many taken pris¬ 
oners. 

Fort Washington was reduced November 16 and again Pennsylvania 
lost heavily and the battalions of Morgan, Cadwalader, Atlee, Swope, 
Watts and Montgomery were taken prisoners, and, in addition to those 
losses, Howe was menacing Philadelphia. 

Congress made a precipitate adjournment in Philadelphia and re¬ 
moved to Baltimore. General Washington dispatched Major General 
Israel Putnam to Philadelphia to direct the defense of that place. He 
arrived December 12, and assumed military command of the city. The 
fort at Billingsport was of little consequence, and works were com¬ 
menced at Red Bank, N. J. 

General Howe returned for winter quarters in New York, leaving 






STATE MILITIA IN BATTLE OF TRENTON 909 


British troops at Trenton and Burlington, which threatened Philadel¬ 
phia from the east side of the Delaware. The Americans had brigades 
under Lord Stirling and Generals Mercer, Stephen and De Fermoy, at 
the several ferries from Coryells (New Hope) to Yardleys. General 
Ewing was farther south with the Pennsylvania Flying Camp. Phile¬ 
mon Dickinson’s troops were opposite Bordentown, Cadwalader’s were 
near Bristol, and Colonel Nixon’s Third Pennsylvania Battalion was at 
Dunks Ferry. 

On December 25 Colonel John Cadwalader and Colonel Samuel 
Miles, who was then a prisoner of war, were appointed by Pennsyl¬ 
vania to be brigadier generals. 

General Washington, with his army, was on the west bank of the 
Delaware, encamped near Taylorsville, then McConkeys Ferry, eight 
miles above Trenton. 

When Washington matured his plans to cross the Delaware River 
above the falls at Trenton with his main army, the two smaller divisions, 
under Generals Ewing and Cadwalader were ordered to cross at the 
same time at points lower down the shore. Cadwalader could not pass 
through the ice, but finally got across on the 27th from Bristol and re¬ 
mained on the Jersey side, the troops from Burlington having retreated. 
Ewing’s command crossed on the 28th and 29th and took possession at 
Bordentown. 

General Washington made the crossing on Christmas night, and the 
morning of the 26th took Trenton with more than 900 prisoners.' Gen¬ 
eral Rail, who commanded the Hessians, was mortally wounded in the 
engagement. 

General Washington thought it best to get back to the Pennsylvania 
side and before night had crossed with his forces, prisoners and other 
trophies of victory. But in several days he crossed again and joined the 
divisions of Cadwalader and Ewing. Mifflin brought to Bordentown 
1800 recruits from Pennsylvania. 

The British were alarmed by the blow at Trenton and broke up their 
encampments along the Delaware, and retired to Princeton. Washing¬ 
ton thereupon reoccupied Trenton, where he was speedily joined by 
Pennsylvania Militia. 

On January 3, 1777, Washington made an attack on Princeton. 
This battle was sharp and decisive. Mercer’s forces were furiously at¬ 
tacked with the deadly bayonet, and they fled in disorder. The enemy 
pursued until, on the brow of a hill, they discovered the American regu¬ 
lars and Pennsylvania Militia, under Washington, marching to the sup¬ 
port of Mercer, who, in trying to rally his men, had his horse disabled 
under him, and was finally knocked down by a clubbed musket and mor¬ 
tally wounded. 

Washington checked the flight and intercepted the British who were 
in pursuit. In this action the Pennsylvania militia bore the brunt of 


910 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


the attack, and but for the personal leadership of General Washington 
and the timely arrival of reinforcements, would have been compelled to 
yield the field. 

In this short but sharp battle the British lost in killed, wounded and 
prisoners about 430 men. The American loss was about 100, including 
Colonels Haslet and James Potter, Major Morris and Captains Ship- 
pen, Fleming and Neal. General Hugh Mercer died nine days after 
the battle. 

Here General Cadwalader distinguished himself as an able and 
brave officer. 

Washington in his report to the president of Congress alluded to 
General Cadwalader as “a man of ability, a good disciplinarian and a 
man of good principle and of intrepid bravery.” 

Chief Justice John Marshall, who was at that time an officer in the 
army, in a letter speaks of General Cadwallader’s “activity, talents and 
zeal.” 

General Joseph Reed in a letter to the President of Pennsylvania, 
dated Morristown, January 24, 1777, said: “General Cadwalader has 
conducted his command with great honor to himself and the province; 
all the field officers supported their character; their example was fol¬ 
lowed by the inferior officers and men; so they have returned with the 
thanks of every general officer of the army.” 

It was also in the Battle of Princeton that the Philadelphia City 
Troop, under command of Captain Samuel Morris, and the company of 
marines under Captain William Brown, belonging to the Pennsylvania 
ship Montgomery, distinguished themselves by their bravery. 

Cornwallis was about to sail for England when the Battle of Tren¬ 
ton took place, and Howe detained him and rushed him to take com¬ 
mand of the troops at Princeton. When he arrived there Washington 
and his little army and prisoners were far on their way in pursuit of 
two British regiments. 

On account of the fatigue of his soldiers, Washington gave up this 
chase and moved into winter quarters at Morristown, N. J. 

It is said that Frederick the Great of Prussia declared that the 
achievements of Washington and his little band of patriots between 
December 25, 1776, and January 4, 1777, were the most brilliant of 
any recorded in military history. 


“PAXTANG BOYS 1 


911 


Paxtang Boys Wipe Out Conestoga Indians 
on December 27, 1763 

T WAS during the Pontiac War that Governor James Ham¬ 
ilton, in reply to earnest appeals for help and protection, said 
he could give the frontiersmen no aid whatever. Neither the 
Governor nor the Assembly showed the proper spirit. It was 
a time when the tomahawk, the scalping knife and the torch 
were desolating the frontiers of the Province. 

The Indians set fire to houses, barns, corn, hay, in short, to every¬ 
thing that was combustible, so that the whole frontier seemed to be one 
general blaze. Great numbers of back inhabitants were murdered in 
the most shocking manner and their dead bodies inhumanly mangled. 

Paxtang, near what is now Harrisburg, became truly the frontier, 
for west of the Susquehanna so great was the terror that scarcely an in¬ 
habitant was left. At this juncture the Reverend John Elder, the 
revered pastor of the Paxton Presbyterian Church, at Paxtang, organ¬ 
ized his rangers under authority of the Provincial Government. They 
were mostly members of his own and the Hanover congregations. 

These brave men were ever on the alert, watching with eagle eye 
the Indian marauders. The Paxtang rangers were truly the terror of 
the red men, swift on foot, excellent horsemen, good shots, skillful in 
pursuit or in escape, dexterous as scouts, and expert in maneuvering. 

In August, 1763, Colonel John Armstrong, the “hero of Kittanning,” 
with 200 Paxtang and Hanover rangers and some soldiers from Cum¬ 
berland County, marched to the Indian town at Great Island (now 
Lock Haven). Several skirmishes were fought, and some killed in the 
Muncy Hills. These volunteers returned home enraged at learning 
that the Conestoga Indians had sent messengers to inform their friends 
of the expedition. 

Subsequently, on September 9, 1763, the rangers who were scout¬ 
ing in Berks County, were apprised by their out-scouts of the approach 
of Indians. The savages intended to take the rangers by surprise, and 
during a short engagement, it was discovered these Indians were from 
the Moravian settlement in Northampton County. The “Paxtang 
Boys” were determined to ascertain the treacherous. 

In October occurred the murder of the Stinson family and others; 
the Paxtang men solicited their colonel to make an excursion against 
the enemy. The first massacre at Wyoming occurred October 15. Two 
companies in command of Captain Lazarus Stewart and Captain Asher 
Clayton were sent by Colonel Elder to Wyoming. Upon their arrival 
they learned first handed of the awful outrages committed by the blood¬ 
thirsty savages under “Captain Bull.” 








912 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Indians had been traced by these scouts to the wigwams at Cones¬ 
toga, and some to those of the Moravian Indians at Nain and Wiche- 
tunk. The rangers insisted on captivating the murderers but the merci¬ 
ful colonel dissuaded them. It was then that Colonel Elder advised 
Governor Hamilton to remove the Indians from Conestoga. 

Colonel Timothy Green wrote to the Governor: “We live in daily 
fear of our lives. At the Indian town the incarnate devils are secreted, 
and the people here demand that those Indians be removed from among 
us.” 

John Harris wrote: “I hope Your Honor will be pleased to cause 
these Indians to be removed to some other place, as I don’t like their 
company.” 

Governor Penn replied: “The Indians of Conestoga have been mis¬ 
represented as innocent, helpless and dependent on this Government for 
support. The faith of this Government is pledged for their protection. 
I cannot remove them without adequate cause.” 

The rangers resolved on taking the law into their own hands. The 
destruction of the Conestoga Indians was not then projected. That 
was the result. Colonel Elder approved the capture of the most noto¬ 
rious Indians. 

The “Paxtang Boys” reached the Indian settlement about daybreak, 
when the barking of a dog made their approach known. The Indians 
rushed from their wigwams, brandishing their tomahawks. This show 
of resistance was sufficient excuse for the rangers to make use of their 
guns. 

In a few minutes every Indian fell before the unerring fire of 
the brave frontiersmen. Unfortunately a number of Indians were absent 
from Conestoga, prowling about the neighboring settlement. 

Soon as this attack was known some Indians were placed in the 
Lancaster workhouse and several, well known to Parson Elder’s scouts, 
were hurried to Philadelphia, where they were secreted among the 
Moravian Indians protected in that city. 

Governor Penn did not act with dispatch in removing the Indians 
from Lancaster, nor did he seem to care for them. 

The “Paxtang Boys” realized their work was only half done. Cap¬ 
tain Stewart proposed they capture the principal Indian outlaw, in the 
Lancaster workhouse, and take him to Carlisle jail, where he could be 
held for trial. This plan was heartily approved and fifty of the “Pax¬ 
tang Boys” proceeded to Lancaster on December 27, broke into the 
workhouse, and but for the show of resistance would have effected their 
purpose. 

But the rangers were so enraged at the defiance of the Indians 
that before they could be repressed the last of the so-called Conestoga 
Indians had yielded up his life. In a few minutes the daring rangers 
were safe from pursuit. 


FRANKLIN TAKES TREATY TO FRANCE 913 


The excitement throughout the Province was great. No language 
could describe the outcry which arose from the Quakers in Philadelphia, 
or the excitement along the frontiers. 

Fears were entertained for the safety of the Moravian Indian con¬ 
verts, and they were removed to Philadelphia and lodged in the city 
barracks. 

This open and avowed protection of the Indians exasperated 
the frontiersmen, and they started for Philadelphia with the avowed 
purpose of killing the Indians and punishing the Quakers. 

The city was greatly alarmed. Military companies were organized. 
Even the staid, reverent, peaceful Quakers shouldered guns and drilled. 
The wildest rumors were current as to the numbers and anger of the 
Scotch-Irish. 

But the “Paxtang Boys” when they learned the effective measures 
for protection taken in the city, halted their march at Germantown. A 
delegation of leading men composed of Benjamin Franklin, Israel Pem¬ 
berton and Joseph Galloway was sent by Governor Penn to meet the 
insurgents and hear their grievances. 

The “Paxtang Boys” presented their side, and left a committee con¬ 
sisting of Captain Matthew Smith, afterward vice president of the 
State, and James Gibson, to accompany the Provincial Commissioners 
to Philadelphia, where they met the Governor and the Assembly, to 
whom they presented their grievances in the form of a declaration. The 
remaining members of the party returned to their homes, and the inhab¬ 
itants of the city to their peaceful avocations. And thus ended the 
“Paxtang Boys’ Insurrection.” 


Benjamin Franklin Presents Treaty Plan to 
King of France, December 28, 1776 

O SOON as the idea of independence had taken the practical 
shape of a resolution and declaration adopted by the Continen¬ 
tal Congress, the Americans began to contemplate the neces¬ 
sity of foreign aid, material and moral. Congress appointed 
a Secret Committee of Correspondence for the purpose and 
sent Silas Deane, of Connecticut, upon a half-commercial, half- 
diplomatic mission to France. 

Franklin was at first opposed to seeking foreign alliances. A virgin 
state,” he said, “should preserve the virgin character, and not go. about 
suitoring for alliance, but wait with decent dignity for the application 
of others.” 

But Franklin soon became chief suitor in Europe. 

Later in the autumn of 1776 Dr. Franklin was sent by the Conti- 






914 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


nental Congress as a diplomatic agent to France. He sailed in the ship 
Reprisal. The passage occupied thirty days during which that vessel 
had been chased by British cruisers and had taken two British brigan¬ 
tines as prizes. 

Franklin landed at Nantes, December 7. Europe was not prepared 
for his arrival, having had no advance notice of his coming and the event 
was in consequence one of great surprise. By this time Franklin’s fame 
was world-wide. 

The courts were filled with conjectures, and in England the story 
was current that Dr. Franklin was a fugitive for his own personal safety. 
Burke said, “I never will believe that he is going to conclude a long life, 
which has brightened every hour it has continued, with so foul and dis¬ 
honorable a flight.” 

On the Continent it was concluded that he was in Europe on a most 
important mission. To the French he spoke frankly, saying that twenty 
successful campaigns could not subdue the Americans, that their decision 
for independence was irrevocable and that they would be forever inde¬ 
pendent states. 

On the morning of December 28, Franklin, with the other commis¬ 
sioners—Silas Deane, of Connecticut, and Arthur Lee, of Virginia— 
waited upon Vergennes, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, when 
he presented the plan as suggested by the Continental Congress for a 
treaty, by which it was hoped the states might obtain their independence. 

The Commissioners were instructed to press for an immediate decla¬ 
ration of the French Government in favor of the Americans. Knowing 
the desire of the French to widen the breach and cause a dismember¬ 
ment of the British Empire, the Commissioners were to intimate that a 
reunion of the Colonies with Great Britain might be the consequence of 
delay. 

Vergennes spoke of the attachment of the French nation to the 
American cause and requested a paper from Dr. Franklin upon the con¬ 
dition of America and that in the future intercourse with the sage might 
be in secret, without the intervention of a third person. Personal friend¬ 
ship between these two distinguished men became strong and abiding. 

The French Minister told Franklin that as Spain and France were in 
perfect accord, he might communicate freely with the Spanish Minister, 
the Count de Aranda. 

With him Franklin, Deane and Lee held secret but barren inter¬ 
views, for Spain was quite indifferent. Aranda would only promise 
the freedom of Spanish ports to American vessels. 

As for France, she was at that time unwilling to incur the risk of 
war with Great Britain, but when the defeat and surrender of Burgoyne 
was made known at Versailles late in 1777, and assured thereby that 
the American Colonies could help themselves, the French Court was 
ready to listen to Franklin. To him was chiefly due the successful 


FRANKLIN TAKES TREATY TO FRANCE 915 

negotiation of the treaty of alliance which meant so much to the Amer¬ 
ican cause at that critical period in the War for Independence. 

The presence of an agent of the British Ministry in Paris, on social 
terms with the American Commissioners, hastened the negotiations, and 
February, 1778, two treaties were secretly signed at Paris by the Amer¬ 
ican Commissioners and the Count de Vergennes on the part of France. 
One was a commercial agreement, the other an alliance contingent on 
the breaking out of hostilities between France and Great Britain. 

It was stipulated in the treaty of alliance that peace should not be 
made until the mercantile and political independence of the United 
States should be secured. 

Franklin continued to represent the States in France until 1785, 
when he returned home. He took an important part in the negotiations 
for peace. In 1786 he was elected Governor of Pennsylvania; and, in 
1787 he was the leading member in the convention which framed the 
National Constitution. 

Dr. Franklin had deserved confidence in his ability and honesty. 
To Silas Deane was intrusted the receipt and expenditure of money by 
the Commissioners to France. The jealous, querulous Arthur Lee, 
who was the third Commissioner, soon made trouble. 

Lee wrote letters to his brother in Congress (Richard Henry Lee), 
in which he made many insinuations against both his colleagues. Ralph 
Izard, of South Carolina, Commissioner to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, 
who felt offended because he was not consulted about the treaty with 
France, when he also was in Paris, sent home similar letters to those 
of Lee. 

William Carmichael, of Maryland, a secretary of the Commissioners, 
who had returned to Philadelphia, insinuated in Congress that 
Deane had appropriated the public money to his own use. Deane was 
recalled. 

Out of this incident sprang two violent parties. Robert Morris, of 
Philadelphia, and other members of Congress, who were commercial 
experts, took the side of Deane, and Richard Henry Lee, then chairman 
of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, opposed him. 

Deane published in the Philadelphia Gazette an “Address to the 
People of the United States,” in which he referred to the brothers Lee 
with much severity and claiming for himself the credit of obtaining 
supplies from France through Beaumarchais. Thomas Paine replied 
to Deane, making use of public documents in his charge. 

The statement called out loud complaints from the French Minister 
and Paine’s indiscretion cost him his place as secretary of the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs. 

This discussion among diplomatic agents soon led to the recall of 
all of them except Franklin, who remained sole Minister at the French 

Court. 

Franklin testified to Deane’s strict honesty and private worth, but 


916 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Arthur Lee had the ear of Congress, and Deane had to suffer. He died 
in obscurity and poverty at Deal, England, August 23, 1789. He has 
since been vindicated and all unjust suspicions have been removed, thus 
confirming the judgment of the wise Franklin. 

From Franklin’s advent in the French Court, December 28, 1776, 
until he sailed for his home in Philadelphia, in 1785, he was held in the 
high esteem which his talents, experience and personality entitled him. 


Franklin Begins Building Chain of Forts on 
December 29,1755 

OVERNOR ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS summoned the 
Provincial Assembly for November 3, 1755, when he laid be¬ 
fore them an account of the depredations committed by the 
enemy, and demanded money and a militia law. 

Petitions began to pour in from all parts of the Province; 
from the frontier counties praying for arms and munitions; 
from the middle counties, deprecating further resistance to the views of 
the Governor, and urging, if necessary, a sacrifice of property for the 
better defense of their lives. All wished that the religious scruples of 
the members of the Assembly might no longer prevent the better defense 
of the Province. 

By the middle of November, and while the Assembly was receiving 
these petitions, the Indians entered .the passes of the Blue Mountains and 
broke into the Counties of Lancaster, Berks and Northampton, commit¬ 
ting murder, devastation and every other kind of horrid mischief, and 
yet the Assembly debated and debated the measures for defense. 

The Governor, wearied with this delay, sent a message requesting 
the Assembly to strengthen his hands and afford assistance to the back 
inhabitants, but this time they made the excuse that in so doing they 
might alienate the affections of the Indians, and to a large degree re¬ 
fused to grant the means necessary for the protection of the frontiers. 
This was truly an unfortunate position. 

But at this time the alarming news of Braddock’s defeat reached the 
proprietaries in England, and they came forward with a donation of 
£5000 for defense, to be collected from arrears in quit-rents; but they 
refused to grant it on any other ground than as a free gift. The As¬ 
sembly waived their rights for a time, in consideration of the distressed 
state of the Province, and passed a bill to strike £30,000 in bills of 
credit, based upon the excise. This bill was approved by Governor 
Morris. 

The population of the Province was not yet satisfied with the cold 
indifference of the Assembly at such a crisis and throughout all the 






CHAIN OF FORTS STARTED 


917 


counties there were indignant protests. Public meetings were held 
throughout Lancaster and the frontier counties, at which it was re¬ 
solved that the people should “repair to Philadelphia and compel the 
provincial authorities to pass proper laws to defend the country and 
oppose the enemy.” 

In addition, the dead bodies of some of the murdered and mangled 
were sent to Philadelphia and hauled about the streets with placards 
announcing that they were victims of the Quaker policy of nonresistance. 

A large and threatening mob surrounded the House of Assembly, 
placed the dead bodies of their neighbors in the doorway and demanded 
immediate relief for the people of the frontiers. Such indeed were the 
desperate measures resorted to in their effort to obtain better defense. 

One of the results of these demonstrative measures and the protests of 
the people was the erection of a chain of forts and block-houses. These 
were designed to guard against the Indian incursions and were erected 
by the Province, at a cost of £85,000. 

This chain extended from along the Kittatinny Hills, near where 
Stroudsburg now stands, southeasterly through the Province, to the 
Maryland line. They were constructed at the important passes of the 
mountains and at important places, almost equi-distant, so that they 
would the better serve as havens of refuge when attacked suddenly. 

These forts were garrisoned by troops in the pay of the Province, 
twenty to seventy-five men always under the command of a commissioned 
officer. Even the Moravians at Bethlehem cheerfully fortified their 
town and took up arms in self-defense. 

Benjamin Franklin and James Hamilton were selected to repair to 
the forks of the Delaware and raise troops for the execution of the plan. 
They arrived at Easton, December 29, and appointed William Parsons 
to be major of the troops to be raised in Northampton County. 

In the meantime Captain Hays, with his company from the Irish 
Settlement, in that county, had been ordered to New Gnadenhutten, 
which had recently been the scene of an Indian raid, in which they 
applied the torch, many being burned to death and others escaped to 
Bethlehem in their nightclothes in the cold winter air. 

The troops erected a temporary stockade and a garrison was placed 
there to guard the Brethren’s mills, which were filled with grain, and 
to protect the few settlers who had the hardihood to return and again 
settle there. 

Captain Hay’s detachment was attacked on New Year’s Day, 1756, 
while some of the troops were amusing themselves skating on the ice 
of the river, near the stockade. They noticed some Indians in the dis¬ 
tance and thinking it an easy matter to capture or kill them the soldiers 
gave chase, and rapidly gained on these Indians, who proved to be decoys 
skilfully maneuvering to draw the untrained Indian fighters into an 
ambuscade. 


918 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


After the troops had gone some distance a party of Indians rushed 
out behind them, cut off their retreat and, falling upon them with great 
fury, as well as with the advantage of surprise and superior numbers, 
quickly dispatched them. Some of the soldiers, remaining in the 
stockade, filled with terror by the murder of their comrades, deserted, 
and the few remaining thinking themselves incapable of defending the 
place, withdrew. 

The savages then seized upon such property as they could use and 
set fire to the stockade, the Indians’ houses and the Brethren’s mills. 
Seven farm houses between Gnadenhutten and Nazareth were burned 
by those same Indians, who also murdered such of the people as they 
discovered. 

This incursion was the inception of Fort Allen. It seems that “it 
was the intention to build a fort at New Gnadenhutten, and Colonel 
Franklin started to Bethlehem to carry that plan into operation. But 
the situation required him to change his plans and he marched to what 
is now Weissport, in Carbon County, and there erected Fort Allen. 
The site of this provincial fort is now occupied by Fort Allen Hotel. 
The old well is still in existence. 

The Assembly requested Franklin’s appearance and when he re¬ 
sponded to this call he turned his command over to Colonel William 
Clapham. 

It is interesting to note that the chain of forts began with Fort 
Dupui, built on the property of Samuel Dupui, a Huguenot settler, in 
the present town of Shawnee, on the Delaware River, five and one-half 
miles from the present town of Stroudsburg. Then Fort Hamilton was 
built on the present site of Stroudsburg, where Fort Penn was also in 
the eastern part of the town. These forts were in the heart of the ter¬ 
ritory which the Minsink, or Munsee, Indians occupied. 

Fort Norris came next in the chain and was near Greensweig’s, Mon¬ 
roe County, and fifteen miles west was Fort Allen, and then Fort Frank¬ 
lin, in Albany Township, Berks County, and nineteen miles west was 
Fort Lebanon, also known as Fort William, about a mile and a half 
from the present town of Auburn, a short distance from Port Clinton. 
The next in the chain was the small fort at Deitrick Six’s, then Fort 
Henry; then Fort Swatara, both described in former stories, and then 
Fort Hunter, six miles above Harrisburg, and Fort Halifax, both on the 
Susquehanna River. 

Crossing the river was Fort Patterson, in the Tuscarora Valley, 
opposite Mexico, Juniata County; Fort Granville, near Lewistown; 
Fort Shirley, near Aughwick Creek; Fort Lyttleton, at Sugar Cabins, 
and Fort McDowell, in Franklin County, the last of the line in the 
Province of Pennsylvania. 


THE MASON AND DIXON LINE 


919 


Mason and Dixon Determined Starting Point 
for Boundary Survey, December 30,1763 

HE dispute over the boundary of the province on the south 
began with the acquisition of the charter and continued through 
the life of William Penn and his descendants, until almost the 
end of Proprietary Government in Pennsylvania. 

Charles Calvert, the fifth Lord Baltimore, drew an agree¬ 
ment, defining the boundaries between Maryland and Dela¬ 
ware and Maryland and Pennsylvania. On May 10, 1732, John and 
Thomas Penn agreed to this and signed the instrument. John Penn 
and Lord Baltimore then came to America, and, Baltimore changed his 
mind and caused every possible delay in having a survey made of this 
disputed line. 

Commissioners had been appointed by both governments and they did 
nothing but wrangle for the eighteen months allowed in the agreement, 
and Baltimore believed this made it of no effect. 

The Penn family won in court and the conduct of Baltimore was 

censured. 

Frederick, the sixth Lord Baltimore, declined to be bound by any 
act of his predecessors, and again many years were wasted. 

In 1760 a new agreement was made which was practically identical 
with the one of 1732. Commissioners on the part of Pennsylvania 
were the Governor, James Hamilton, Richard Peters, Reverend Dr. 
Ewing, William Allen, William Coleman, Thomas Willing, Benjamin 
Clew, and Edward Shippen, Jr., a selection which assured good and 
faithful performance. 

The first three years were spent by the surveyors employed in mark¬ 
ing the lines of Delaware. The circle around New Castle was drawn 
by David Rittenhouse, and added much to his reputation. 

This work proceeded too slowly and on August 4, 1763, Thomas 
and Richard Penn, and Frederick, Lord Baltimore, then being together 
in London, agreed with Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, two well 
known English astronomers, “to mark, run out, settle, fix, and determine 
all such parts of the circle, marks, lines, and boundaries, as were men¬ 
tioned in the several articles or commissions, and were not yet com¬ 
pleted.” 

Mason and Dixon arrived in Philadelphia, November 15, 1763, and 
forthwith engaged in work. 

They began their survey by ascertaining the lattitude of the south¬ 
ernmost part of the City of Philadelphia, which they agreed was the 
north wall of the house then occupied by Thomas Plumstead and Joseph 






920 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


Huddle, on the south side of Cedar Street. They determined it was 
39° 56' 37.4". This was ascertained December 30, 1763, and the actual 
survey of the boundary line properly began on this date. 

During January and February, 1764, they measured thirty-one miles 
westward of the city to the forks of the Brandywine, where they planted 
a quartzose stone, six miles west of the meridian of the court house in 
West Chester. 

With this stone as a fixed point they determined the point from 
which they should start to run the horizontal line of five degrees longi¬ 
tude to fix the southern boundary. This was of course the northeast 
corner of the State of Maryland. 

From this point they extended the line 230 miles, eighteen chains, 
and twenty-one links, or 244 miles, thirty-eight chains, and thirty-six 
links, from the Delaware River. This was done during 1766 and 1767. 

The Indians could not understand the object of an exploring expe¬ 
dition that spent every clear night gazing at the stars through big guns, 
and they soon stopped their progress. The Penns used their influence 
with the Indians and the work proceeded. 

The western extremity of Maryland was reached and passed, and the 
astronomers were encamped on the banks of the Monongahela, when 
the Indians again interposed. Their attitude was so threatening that 
many of the servants and workmen of the expedition deserted. But 
the great delight and satisfaction of running an astronomical line through 
primeval forests raised Mason and Dixon above all fears, and they 
pressed on to the Warrior Branch of the great Catawba Indian 
trail. 

This was on the borders of a stream called Dunkard Creek, about 
the middle point on the southern boundary line of the present Green 
County. Here the Indians took such a menacing stand that Mason and 
Dixon were obliged to return, and their Dunkard Creek trail, or 
Warrior trail, remained the terminus of their line for many years. 

This Mason and Dixon’s line was a great achievement in that day, 
and a new thing in science. These two modest but skillful men had 
made themselves immortal. Their line was not marked by river, creek 
or even mountain range, it was an imaginary one. At every fifth mile a 
stone was set up marked on the northern side with the arms of the 
Penns and on the southern side with the arms of Baltimore, each inter¬ 
mediate mile was marked with stones having P. on the one side and M. 
on the opposite side. 

This line, fixed after nearly a hundred years of conflict, is more 
unalterable than if nature had originally made it. It became the 
boundary line between the great sides of the slavery question, and divided 
the armies of the North and South in the great Civil War. 

The interference of the Indians having arrested further work, 
Messrs. Mason and Dixon returned to Philadelphia, where they reported 


FIRST BANK CHARTERED 


921 

to the commissioner, and on December 26, 1767, received an honorable 
discharge. 

There were many minor disturbances occasioned by this line, and the 
actions of the rough border population were slow to become satisfied. 
A surveyor’s transit or astronomy was not enough to determine the limits 
of their civil pride. These people had grown accustomed to the tem¬ 
porary lines which had been run about 1740, which was about one- 
quarter of a mile above the true one, and they became as much excited 
over that narrow strip as they had been when they hoped to penetrate 
miles into Pennsylvania. 

The government of Pennsylvania determined to acquire its rightful 
jurisdiction and in 1774, a proclamation was issued, which has generally 
been considered the final act in the boundary controversy. 

The residue of the southern boundary, a little less than twenty-two 
miles, was run in 1782 by Robert Andrews, Andrew Ellicott, John 
Ewing, David Rittenhouse, and John Hutchins, and completed and 
permanently marked in 1784. 


First Bank in America Chartered in 
Philadelphia, December 31, 1781 

ONGRESS again assembled in Philadelphia on July 2, 1778, 
and on the 9th. the “Articles of Confederation,” engrossed on 
parchment, were signed by the delegates of eight States. 

Pennsylvania was one of those states which immediately 
acceded to the Confederation. The delegation from this State 
consisted of Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, Daniel Roder- 
deau, Jonathan Bayard Smith, James Smith, of Yorktown; William 
Clingan and Joseph Reed. 

The “Articles of Confederation” were submitted to the several State 
Legislatures. Slowly the States ratified them, some of them pointing 
out serious defects, and all taking time to discuss them. The first State 
to ratify, in addition to the eight which immediately signed, was North 
Carolina, July 21, but Maryland steadily refused until March 1, 1781, 
when the League of States was perfected. 

It was soon perceived that under this new Government the Congress 
had no power, independent of the several States, to enforce taxation. 

Robert Morris, then Superintendent of Finance (Secretary of the 
Treasury), proposed the establishment of a bank in Philadelphia, to 
supply the Government with money, with a capital of $400,000. 

The promissory notes of the bank were to be a legal tender of cur¬ 
rency, to be received in payment of all taxes, duties and debts due the 
United States. 








922 


DAILY STORIES OF PENNSYLVANIA 


But before Congress could act the patriotic citizens of Philadelphia 
moved for the establishment of a bank by which means the soldiers in 
the Continental Army could be supplied with provisions. 

A plan for this bank was prepared in Philadelphia which set forth 
the entire scheme of subscription and operation, down to the minutest 
detail, even stating that the factor (cashier) “shall provide his store 
with rum, sugar, coffee, salt and other goods at the cheapest price to 
those who supply him with provisions, that he may gain a preference 
of what comes to market.” The provisions were to be purchased for 
the army in the field. 

This plan named the original board of inspectors, Robert Morris, 
J. M. Nesbitt, Blair M’Clenachan, Samuel Miles and Cadwallader 
Morris. The two directors were John Nixon and George Clymer and 
the factor was Tench Francis. 

The subscription list was headed: 

“Whereas, in the present situation of public affairs in the United 
States, the greatest and most vigorous exertions are required for the suc¬ 
cessful management of the just and necessary war in which they are 
engaged with Great Britain; We, the subscribers, deeply impressed with 
the sentiments that on such an occasion should govern us, in the prosecu¬ 
tion of a war, in the event of which, our own freedom and that of our 
posterity and the freedom and independence of the United States are 
all involved, hereby severally pledge our property and credit for the 
several sums specified and mentioned after our names, in order to sup¬ 
port the credit of a bank to be established for furnishing a supply of 
provisions for the armies of the United States; and we do hereby sever¬ 
ally promise and engage to execute to the directors of the said bank 
bonds of the form hereunto annexed. 

“Witness our hands the 17th day of June, in the year of our Lord, 
1780.” 

There were ninety-two original patriot subscribers, the total pledges 
of whom amounted to £300,000 Pennsylvania currency, payable in gold 
or silver. 

Robert Morris and Blair McClenachan each subscribed £10,000; 
Bunner, Murray & Co., £6000; Tench Francis, £5500; James Wilson, 
George Clymer, William Bingham, J. M. Nesbitt & Co., Richard 
Peters, Samuel Meredith, James Mease, Thomas Barclay, Samuel Mor¬ 
ris, Jr., John Cox, Robert L. Hooper, Jr , Hugh Shiell, Samuel Eyre, 
Matthew Irwin, Thomas Irwin, John Philip De Haas, Philip Moore, 
John Nixon, Robert Bridges, John Benezet, Henry Hill, John Morgan, 
Samuel Mifflin, Thomas Mifflin, Thomas Willing and Samuel Powell, 
each subscribed £5000. 

None of the subscribers pledged less than £1000, and it is a question 
if ever a more liberal list of patriots could be found anywhere than 
this one. 


FIRST BANK CHARTERED 


923 


This bank opened its doors on July 17, 1780, in Front Street, Phil¬ 
adelphia, two doors above Walnut. 

To show the mode of doing business an old advertisement says: 
“All persons who have already lent money are desired to apply for bank 
notes; and the directors request the favor of those who may hereafter 
lodge their cash in the bank, that they would tie it up in bundles of 
bills of one denomination, with labels, and their names indorsed, as the 
business will thereby be done with less trouble and much greater dis¬ 
patch.” 

The bank continued in operation till the establishment of the Bank 
of North America, December 31, 1781, and was the first banking in¬ 
stitution in America. 

The plan for the bank for the Government was approved by the 
Continental Congress, May 26, 1781, and this financial agent of the 
Government was chartered by the Congress December 31, 1781. The 
capital stock was divided into shares of $400 each, in money of gold 
and silver, to be procured by subscriptions. 

Twelve directors were appointed to manage the affairs of the bank, 
which was entitled by the Congress “The President, Directors and Com¬ 
pany of the Bank of North America.” 

Alexander Hamilton, observing the prosperity and usefulness to the 
commercial community and the financial operations of the Government 
of the Bank of North America, in Philadelphia, and of the Bank of 
New York, and the Bank of Massachusetts, which were afterward estab¬ 
lished, and which three banks held the entire banking capital of the 
country before 1791, recommended the establishment of a Government 
bank in his famous report on the finances (1790), as Secretary of the 
Treasury. 

Hamilton’s suggestion was speedily acted upon, and an act for the 
purpose was adopted February 8, 1791. 

President Washington asked the written opinion of his Cabinet con¬ 
cerning its constitutionality. They were equally divided. The Presi¬ 
dent, believing it legal, signed the bill. 

The bank was named “The United States Bank” and its charter 
limited to twenty years. 

This bank was soon established, with a capital of $10,000,000, of 
which amount the Government subscribed $2,000,000 in specie and 
$6,000,000 in stocks of the United States. 

The measure was very popular. The shares of the bank rose to 25 
and 45 per cent premium, and it paid an average dividend of 8j4 per 
cent on its capital. The shares were $400 each, same as the Bank of 
North America. 

The United States Bank was chartered February 25, 1791, and 
established at Philadelphia, with branches at different points. Its char¬ 
ter expired without renewal March 4, 1811. 













INDEX 


A 

Aaronsburg Lottery, 276 
Abduction of Colonel Timothy Picker¬ 
ing, 438 
Abe Little, 236 

Abercrombie, Lieutenant Colonel James 
W„ 307 
Abington, 736 
Abolition Society, 46, 114 
Abraham, 540 
Abraham, Heights of, 498 
Absentz, George, 284 
Academy, 45, 882 
Academy, Germantown, 283 
Academy of Music, 41 
Acrods, Benjamin, 190 
Adams County, 181, 218, 244, 264, 288, 416, 
582, 596, 698, 811, 853 

Adams, John, 53, 139, 191, 200, 263, 383, 459, 
789, 791, 816 

Adams, General John, 583 

Addison, Alexander, 605 

Address, Lincoln’s Gettysburg, Story, 810 

Adet, 789 

Adjouquay, 394 

Adler (of Reading), The, 191 

Adlum, John, 11, 731, 732 

Agnew, General James, 691 

Agriculture, Department of, 88 

Agrippa, Cornelius, 151 

Alabama, 8 

Advocate, 866 

Albany, 45, 491 

Albany Township, 918 

Albright, General Charles, 49, 109 

Alden, Mason F., 906 

Alexander, Captain Charles, 324, 713 

Alexander, Major General, 854 

Alexander, Mrs. Catherine, 369 

Alexander’s Tavern, 

Allan, Mrs. Elizabeth R. P., 204 
Allegheny, 300 

Allegheny County, 64, 87, 131, 147, 156, 180, 
181, 200, 208, 216, 223, 262, 596, 598, 687, 
775, 896 

Allegheny Episodes (quoted), 391 
Allegheny River, 11 etc. 

Allegheny & Portage Railroad, 201 

Allen, Andrew, 308 , 661 

Allen, Anne, 107, 393 

Allen, Christopher, 531 

Allen, John, 510 

Allen, General Ethan, 848 

Allen, Lieutenant, 759 

Allen, Massacre of Family, 344 

Allen, Nathaniel, 340 

Allen, Nicholas, 110 

Allen, Peter, 392 

Allen Rifles, 277 , 

Allen, Samuel, 150 

Allen, William, 107, 392, 513, 682, 779, 

782, 867 

AlleVitown, 81, 277, 384 
Allentown (Pitts), 201 
Allison, Benjamin, 209 , 674 
Allison, Dr. Francis, 224 
Allison, Dr. J., 10 
Allison, James, 827 
Allison, Robert, 441 
Allison, R. W. Francis, 782 
Allison, William, 623 
Allman, J. T., 88 
Allemewi, 424 


Alliance with Indians, Unholy, 654 
Alloqueppy’s Town, 320 
Allummapees, 255, 283, 301, 437, 449 
Almanac, Lancaster County, 678 
Almanac, Poor Richard’s, 45 
Alricks, Jacob, 667 
Alricks, Peter, 447 
Altona, 667 
Altoona, 40 

Alumingh, Falls of, 666 
Amatincka, 71 
Amboy Railroad, 21 
American Company, 271 
American Ethnological Society, 54 
American Magazine, The, 642 
American or Know Nothing Party, 389 
American Philosophical Society, 385 
American Rebels, 831 
Americans, Royal, The, 236 
American Sunday School Society, 642 
American, The, 75 
American Weekly Mercury, 897 
“Americanus,” 594 

Amherst, General Jeffrey, 346, 372, 538, 587, 
703, 710 

Ancient Order Hibernians, 47 
Anderson, John, 102 
Anderson, Major, 39 
Andre, Major John, 91, 138, 271, 347, 348, 
607, 669, 709 
Andrew (Indian), 437 
Andrews, Mrs. (quoted), 811 
Andrews, Robert, 662, 708, 921 
Andrews, Robert A.,. 182 
Andries, Gunla, 396 
Andries, Lace, 792 

Andros, Governor Edmund, 447, 610, 792 

Anders, Christiana, 826 

Anders, Gottleib, 826 

Anders, Joanna, 826 

Angelica, 835 

Angle, The, 455 

Annals of Buffalo Valley, 27, 445 
Annals of Philadelphia, 900 
Annapolis, 337, 364 
Annapolis, Jail, 823 
Anne, Princess, 763 
Anne, Queen, 44, 118 
Antes Burying Ground, 337 
Antes Fort, 335 
Antes Gap, 555 
Antes, Heinrich, 31 

Antes, Henry, 31, 32, 33, 312, 336, 512, 514 

Antes, John, 33 

Antes, Johan Heinrich, 31 

Antes, John Henry, 335, 819 

Antes, Mary Elizabeth, 31, 336 

Antes Mill, 31 . 

Antes, Philip Frederic, 31, 335, 336, 380, 
731 732 

Antes, William, 336 
Anthony, Captain, 859 
Anthracite Coal, 110, 111, 112 
Antoinette, Marie, 892 

iS'ti-Mi'onry.’isZ^SlS, 567, 568 850 855, 868 
Anti-Masonic Era, 839; Story, 850, 855 
Anti-Masonic Convention, 568 
Anti-Masonic Investigation, Story, oay 
Anti-Masonic Party, 518 
Anti-Slavery Society, Female, 7 
Anti-Slavery Society, National, 6, 7 
Anti-Slavery Society, World s, 7 
Antrim, County of, 23 


925 







926 


INDEX 


Anvil, The, 628 
Apollo, 167, 201, 263 
Appoquincinnik Creek, 437 
Arbor Day, First, 735 
Archer, Elizabeth, 510 
Archer, General Stephen, 452 
Archer, John, 510 

Archives of Pennsylvania, 302, 429, 880 

Ardanda, Count de, 914 

Argali, Captain Samuel, 589 

Argus, Northumberland, 546 

Argus Republican, 876 

Armbruster, Gotthan, 899 

Arms, King’s, 383 

Armstrong, Alexander, 255 

Armstrong Creek, 16 

Armstrong County, 147, 156, 181, 185, 208, 

596, 597, 775 

Armstrong, Edward (Lieutenant) 525, 526- 
619 

Armstrong, James, 7J, 254, 400, 630 
Armstrong, John, General, 27, 67, 69, 178, 
259, 268, 319, 381, 504, 525, 526, 545, 587, 

597, 619, 690, 703, 711, 722, 762, 820, 828, 
829, 830, 911 

Armstrong, John (Jack), 254 
Armstrong, Joseph, 320 
Armstrong, Thomas A., 735 
Armstrongs, 370, 393 
Arndt, Captain Jacob, 541, 575 
Arnold, Benedict, General, 3, 89, 90, 91, 188, 
222, 309, 418, 461, 635, 509, 709 
Arnold Expedition to Quebec 699, 708 
Arnold (quoted), 811 
Arnold (ship), 324 
Arnold, Woodward, 254 
Arsenal, 5 

Articles of Confederation, 5, 45, 570, 872, 
873, 921 

Ashburn, Elizabeth, 79 
Ashburn, Zillah, 79 
Ashburn, Joseph, 79 
Ashcom, Charles, 151 
Ashland, 1, 49, 107 
Ashmead, John W., 8 
Askey, Lieutenant, 305, 306 
Assarandongnas, 701 
Astor, Mrs. John Jacob, 220 
Astor Place Theatre, 251 
Astoria, 54 

Asylum, Story of, 892 
Aetna (ship), 324 

Atlee, Colonel Samuel John, 155, 545, 908 

Attaock, 506 

Auburn, 918 

Auchmuty, Miss, 348 

Audubon, J. J., 581 

Aughwick (Old Town), 322, 525, 619 

Aughwick Creek, 918 

Aughwick Valley, 322 

Augsburg Confession, 609 

Augusta County, 660 

Augusta Fort, see Fort Augusta 

Augusta Regiment, 393, 685 

Augustus (Indian), 575 

Augustus (ship), 671 

Aurora, The, 434, 791, 877 

Australian Ballot System, 87 

Austria, 22 

Averills, General William W., 521 
Awl, Dr. R. H., 820 

B 

Bache, Richard, 357 
Backus, Colonel Electus, 143 
Bailey, Edward, 137 
Baker, John, 378 
Baker, John L., 122 
Baker, Samuel, 794 
Baker’s Bottom, 362 
Baker’s Creek, 649 


Bald Eagle, Chief, 169, 543 
Bald Eagle Creek, 305, 475 
Baldwin, Dr. Cornelius, 223 
Baldwin Locomotive Works, 22 
Baldwin, Matthias, 20, 21, 22 
Baldy, Paul, 819 
Balliet, Stephen, 186 
Baltimore, 277, 298 
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, 232 
Baltimore, Lord, 165, 328, 489 
Baltimore Riot, 277 

Bancroft (quoted), 293, 489, 612, 660, 829, 836 

Bank, First in U. S., 921 

Bank, First at Pittsburgh, 201 

Bank of Germantown, 901 

Bank, Girard, 355, 785 

Bank of Massachusetts, 20 

Bank, National, 20 

Bank of New York, 20 

Bank of North America, 18, 19, 20, 285, 923 

Bank, Pennsylvania, 285, 708, 818 

Bank of United States, 923 

Barbadoes, 340 ? 447 

Barbier, Monsieur, 840 

Barclay, Commodore, 626 

Barclay, Robert, 717 

Barclay, Thomas, 922 

Bard, Archibald, 264 

Bard, Richard, 264 

Barker, Thomas, 373 

Barlow, Joel, 565 

Barnes, Xtopper, 792 

Barnes, John, 150 

Barney, Capt. Joshua, 426 

Barnitz, Ensign Jacob, 570 

Baron of Finga, 10 

Barren Hill, 308, 352 

Barren Hill Church, 353 

Barry, Commodore John, 325 

Bartholomew, Edward, 380 

Barton, Mr., 299 

Bartram Gardens, 212, 213, 214 

Bartram, Ann, 212 

Bartram, John, 212, 213, 214, 884 

Bartram, Mary, 212 

Bartram, William, 213, 214, 580 

Baskins, William, 255, 525 

Bastile 99 

Bates, Samuel P. (quoted), 812 
Battalions, First and Second, 185, 304, 311 
Battles, General, 521 
Battle of Antietam, 40 
Battle of Brandywine, 81, 137, 138, 213, 
570, 627 

Battle of Bull Run, 40, 280 
Battle of Bushy Run, 100, 496, 537 
Battle of Chattanooga, 89 
Battle of Chickamauga, 89 
Battle of Chippewa, 144 
Battle of Crooked Billet, 10, 307 
Battle of Fallen Timbers, 572, 849 
Battle of Fort Freeland (See Fort Free¬ 
land) 

Battle of Germantown, 138, 224 

Battle of Gettysburg, Story, 451, 455 

Battle of Lake Erie, 624 

Battle of Long Island, 311 

Battle, Lundy’s Lane, 144 

Battle, Monongahela, 470 

Battle of Monmouth, 57 

Battle of Princeton, 496 

Battle of Stillwater, 634 

Battle of Stony Point, 138, 210 

Battle of Trenton, 81, 210, 311, 496 

Battle of White Plains, 138 

Bayard, John, 292, 669 

Baynton, Peter, 834 

Beale, Thomas, 630 

Beard, Sarah, 556 

Beard, William, 556 

Beamed, William, 2 



INDEX 


927 


Beaujeu, Captain Hyacinthe Marie L. de 
470, 471, 472 
Beaulieu, M., 894 

Beaumarchais, Pierre Augustin Caron de. 
915 

Beaver, 121, 167, 174 

Beaver County, 122, 147, 156, 175, 181, 208, 
262, 597, 775 
Beaver Creek, 174 

Beaver, Governor James A., 280, 379, 735 

Beaver, King, 303 

Beck, Paul, 693 

Becker, Hilarius, 284 

Beddock, Edward, 822 

Bedford, 100, 145; Story, 177, 304, 537, 689 

Bedford, Captain, 587 

Bedford County, 61, 72, 138, 145, 147, 177, 
180, 181, 208, 210, 257, 259, 266, 416, 420, 
508, 551, 587, 596, 606, 731 
Bedford, England, 177 
Bedford, Fort (See Fort Bedford) 

Bedford Springs, 179 
Beekman, William, 667 
Beissel, John Conrad, Story, 463 
Bell, Liberty, 504 
Bell, William, 630 
Belle Riviere, 412 
Bells Church, 223, 504 
Bellefonte, 735, 834 
Bellew, Captain, 324 
Belleville, 9 

Bender, Charles A., 523 
Benezet, John, 922 
Beninger, Hiram, 108 
Bensell, Charles, 283 
Bensell, Lane, 284 
Benton, 429 
Benway, John, 474 
Berkeley, Lord, 716 
Berkley, Mrs. 861 
Beresford, Sir John P., 335 
Berks County, 16, 60, 66, 67, 131, 180, 190, 
207, 208, 210, 215, 308, 416, 419, 508, 582, 
596, 606, 616, 617, 645, 648, 726, 736, 797, 
808, 895, 916, 918 
Bern Township, 808 
Bernard, 890 

Bernard, Governor, 380, 700 
Berry, James, 254 
Berwick, 515, 614 
Berzar, John, 531 
Bessonett & Co., C., 834 
Best, Valentine, 118 
Bethany, Pa., 194 
Bethel Township, 797 

Bethlehem (Pa.), 15, 17, 32, 33, 102, 159, 
191, 222, 237, 302, 303, 313, 336, 359, 360, 
384, 425, 504, 514, 541, 575, 576, 588, 710, 
917, 918 

“Bethlehem,” 867 

Bethlehem Hospital, Story, 222 

Bethlehem Moravians, 222 

Bethlehem Township, 312 

Bethesda, 312 

Betsy (Ship), 325 

Bevan, Catherine, 30 

Bezac, Edward, 150 

Bezar, John, 340 

Bezel, John, 474 , 

Bezold, Gottleib, 17 

Bicentennial, William Penn, Story, 733 
Bickley, Abraham, 859 
Biddle, Charles J., General, 280, 452 
Biddle, Clement C., 334 
Biddle, Edward, 611 

Biddle, Henry J., Adjutant General, 280 

Biddle, James, Captain, 292 

Biddle, John, 308 

Biddle, Nicholas, Captain, 326 

Biddle, Owen, 385, 483 

Biddle, Thomas, 334 

Big Beaver, 423, 722 


Big Cat (Indian), 174, 282 
Big Island, 476 
Big Mahoning, 168 
Big Sewickley Creek, 149, 168 
Big Tree” Indian, 638 
Biles, William, 150, 530 
Bigler, John, Governor, 881 
Bigler, William, Governor, 389, 880 
Billet, Crooked, 10, 307 
Billingsport, 324, 545, 669, 908 
Bills of Credit, 160 
Bingham, William, 896, 922 
Binghamton, 298 

Binns, John, 433, 783, 785, 802, 876 

Binns, Recollections, etc. (quoted), 433 

Biographical Annals, 262 

Bird, Captain Harry, 141 

Birmingham, 98, 201 

Birmingham, East, 201 

Birmingham, James M., 473 

Birmingham Meeting House, 260, 504, 628 

Bissell, George H., 592 

Black Boys, 178, 829 

Black, Captain David, 442 

Black, Mr., 218 

Black, Chauncey F., 735 

Black, Jeremiah S., 179, 390 

Blackbeard, 152 

Blackburn, Admiral, 582 

Blacky (horse), 218 

Blackfish, Chief, 738 

“Black Horse” Tavern, 680 

Black Lick Creek, 146 

Black Walnut Bottom, 439 

Blackwell, Captain John, 843 

Blacons, M. De, 894 

Blaine, Ephraim, 110, 679 

Blaine, Lieutenant, 346 

Blair County, 177, 181, 257, 596 

Blair, John, 496 

Blair, Thomas, 390 

Blair’s Gap, 265 

Blairsville, 309 

Blake, Thos. F., 473 

Bland, Colonel Theodoric, Jr., 629 

Blenker, Colonel, 369 

Blennerhassett, Mrs. Adeline Agnew, 894 

Bloody Saturday, Story, 557 

Bloomfield, John, 514 

Bloomsburg, 49, 210, 491, 614, 868, 904 

Bloomsbury Forge, 483 

“Blue Bell” Tavern, 396 

Blue Hill, 287, 772 

Blue Mountain, 25, 561, 651, 721 

Blue Rock, 822 

Blues, Philadelphia, 334 

Blues, Quaker, 292 

Blummaert, Samuel, 229 

Blunston, Samuel, 821 

Blythe, William, 26, 469 

Board of War, 570 

Boatman,'Claudius, 556 

Boatman, Miss, 555 

Boatman, Mrs. Claudius, 554, 555 

Bobb, Matthias, 809 

Bodley, General Thomas, 334 

Boeckel, Dame Barbara, 222 

Boeckel, Liesel, 222 

Boehler, William, 222, 312 

Boelson, Jan, 792 

Boen, Andrew, 396 

Bogharat, Jost de, 231 

Bok, Edward W., 532 

Boileau, N. B., 784 

Bolilogue, Charles Felix Bea, 892 

Boozar, William, 2 

Bom (quoted), 696 

Bombaugh, Conrad, 679 

Bonaparte, 565 

Bonaparte, Charles Lincoln, 581 
Bond, Becky, 348 
Bond, Dr. Thomas, 602 



INDEX 


928 

Bond, Dr. Thomas, Jr., 224 
Bond, Wilhelmina, 348 
Bonham, John, 694 
Bonham, William, 878 
Bonnecamps, Father, 412 
Boone, Daniel, 515, 736 
Boone, George, 736 
Boone, George III, 736 
Boone, Hawkins, Captain, 515 
Boone, Mary Maugridge, 736 
Boone, Squire, 736 
Boonesborough, 737 
Bordentown, 909 
Border Dispute, Story, 338 
Borrows, Arad, 369 
Boston, 507, 508 
Boston, Siege of, 311 
Bothwell Howe, 863 
Bouquet, Henry, 10, 42, 105, 169, 178, 304, 
346, 347, 371, 388, 537, 547, 587, 588, 636, 
680, 704, 710, 781, 782, 827, 830 
Boundary Dispute, 99, 659 
Bounties for Scalps, Story, 267 
Bowen, Major, 521 
Bower, Philip, 820 
Bower, Thomas, 797 
Bowman, John, 284 
Bowrey Theatre, 251 
Bowser, William, 710 
Boyd Family, 326 
Boyd, Captain James, 189 
Boyd, Captain John, 137, 186, 442, 517, 633 
Boyd, Robert, 206 
Boyd, Thomas, 137, 633, 814 

Boyd, William, 137, 633 

Boyle, James, 193, 314 
Boynton & Wharton, 170 
Brackenridge, Hugh Henry, 517, 688 
Braddock, Edward, 60, 73, 77, 134, 148, 149, 
172, 260, 267, 319, 370, 408, 470, 476, 486, 

547, 549, 573, 623, 686, 704, 721, 726, 757, 

760, 797, 825, 827, 830, 916 
Braddock Road, Story, 319 
Bradford, Andrew, 115, 130, 897 
Bradford, Cornelia, 897 
Bradford County, 156, 181, 194, 195 , 208, 
210, 359, 423, 458, 596, 597, 775, 892, 893 
Bradford, David, 687, 689 
Bradford, Thomas, 899 
Bradford, William, 128, 580, 597, 669, 689, 
793, 899 

Bradford, William. (Jr.), 115, 292 
Bradstreet, General John, 347, 388, 548, 
781, 828 

Bradt, Captain Andrew, 740 
Brady, 423, 533 

Brady, Fort, See Fort Brady 
Brady, Hannah, 259 
Brady, Hugh, 259, 334 
Brady, James, Story, 542 
Brady, Captain John, 11; Story, 259, 305, 544 
Brady, Mary, 544 
Brady, Samuel, 261, 498 
Brady, Captain Samuel, 168, 543, 544, 549, 
740 

Brady Tract, 11 

Brainard, David, 475, 824 

Braintrim, 299 

Brandon, John, 498 

Brandywine, Battle of, 504 

Brandywine Creek, 504 

Brant, Joseph, 323, 501, 529, 633, 814 

Brassey, Thomas, 212, 373 

Brattan, John, 731 

Bread Street, 514 

Breck, Senator Samuel, 184 

Breed’s Hill, 606 

Brethren House, 222 

Brewer, Martin, 463 

Breylinger, Hannah, 722 

Breylinger, Jacob, 722 

Bridges, Robert, 922 


Bridgewater, Battle of, 583 
Bridgewater, Duke of, 565 , 

Bright, George, 820 
Bringhurst, George, 284 
Bristol, 859, 909 
Brison, John, 479 
Britannia Fire Company, 860 
British Burn National Capitol, Story, 582 
British Squadron, 625 
Brobst, Christian, 299 
Brobst, Michael, 252 
Brockden, Charles, 514 
Brodhead, Daniel, 162, 163, 167, 281, 462, 
584, 585, 617, 618, 637, 654, 908 
Brokenstraw, 550 
Brook, Grassy, 501 
Brook, Half Way, 501 
Brook, John, 343 
Brooks, Edward, 373 
Brooks, Noah, 812 
Brooke’s Tavern. 247 
Brotherhood of Ephrata, 463 
Brotherly Love, City of, 167 
Brother Jethro, 463 
Brown, B. S., 369 
Brown, Enoch, 511 

Brown, General Jacob, 142, 143, 144, 334 

Brown, Lige, 785 

Brown, Moses, 238 

Brown, William, 186, 630, 910 

Browne, George, 397 

Browne, John, 792 

Brownlee, John, 479 

Brownsbury, 861 

“Brown’s Hotel,” 865 

Brownsville, 143, 218, 328 

Brule, Etienne, 589, 741 

Bruner’s Cotton Factory, 860 

Brunner, Mary, 190 

Brush Creek, 376 

Brush Valley, 343 

Bryan, George, 136, 662, 708, 779, 794 

Bryan, Rebecca, 736 

Bryson, Samuel, Story, 630 

Buchanan, Arthur, 679 

Buchanan, Polly, 679 

Buchanan, William, 319 

Buchanan, James, 34, 35, 183, 288, 624, 679 

Bucher, Conrad, 306 

Bucher, Jacob, 6 

Buckalew, Charles R., 196 

Buckaloons, 551 

Buckingham, 179 

Bucks County, 33, 57, 60, 84, 107, 142, 179, 
180, 190, 191, 207, 307, 308, 334, 370, 416, 
419, 448, 450, 530, 596, 649, 650, 662, 861, 867 
Buckshot War, Story, 853 
Budden, Captain, 383 
Bull, Ole, 94, 95, 96 
Buffalo, 877 
Buffalo Creek, 175, 241 
Buffalo Valley, 9, 11, 305, 461, 526 > 

Buffalo Valley, Linn (quoted), 189 
Buffington’s, 628 
•Building Commissioners, 5 
Bull, Captain (Indian), 492, 718, 911 
Bull, General John, 139, 380, 484, 544 
Bull, Mary Phillips, 546 
Bull, Rebecca, 139 
Bull Run, 280 
Bullet, Captain, 636 
Bulletin, 813 
Bunker Hill, 10, 606 
Bunner, Murray & Co., 922 
Burd, Edward, 209, 228, 483, 508, 693 
Burd, Colonel James, 178, 237, 319, 684, 759 
Burgoyne, General John, 456, 834 
Burlington Meeting, 113 
Burnes, Patrick, 760 
Burnet, Dr. William, 602 
Burnett, Governor of New Jersey, 161 
Burnett’s Hills, 399 




INDEX 


929 


Burning of Chambersburg, Story, 519 

Burns, John, 583 

Burns, Robert, 579 

Burnt Cabins, 320, 680 

Burr, Aaron, 894 

Burroughs, Mrs., 250 

Burrowes, Thomas H., 850, 855 

Bush Hill, 351 

Bushy Run, Battle of, 537, 548 
Butler, 120, 121, 122, 854 
Butler (Indian), 372 

Butler County, 120, 121, 156, 181, 185, 208, 
262, 265, 551, 596, 597 
Butler, Colonel John, 456, 833 
Butler, Colonel John (Tory), 71, 138, 168, 
367, 456, 579, 633, 814 
Butler, John Richard, 152 
Butler, Lord, 111, 135 
Butler, Richard, General, 3, 43, 146, 750 
Butler, Colonel Zebulon, 438, 456, 492, 903 
Butler’s Rift, 495 
Buyers, Judge John, 819 
Buzzard, Dr., 894 
Byberry, 577 

Bygrove, Lieutenant, 348 
Bylhinge, Edward, 716 


Cabot, John, 446 

Cadwalader, Colonel Lambert, 292, 908 
Cadwalader, General Thomas, 334 
Cadwallader, General John, 292, 417, 836, 
868 

Cady, 439 
Caghuawaga, 363 
Cagnawaga Creek, 185 
Caledonia (ship), 626 
Cajadies, 886 
Caldwell, Captain, 456 
Caldwell, Commodore Andrew, 324 
Caldwell, Samuel, 332 
Callander, Robert, 322, 762 
Calvert, Charles, 330, 821, 919 
Camden & Amboy Railroad, 21 
Cambria, 378 

Cambria County, 177, 181, 596, 725, 775 
Cambria Iron Works, 232, 378 
Cambridge, 409 

Cameron County, 156, 182, 208, 596 
Cameron, Donald, 498 
Cameron House, 745 
Cameron, Colonel James, 498 
Cameron, General Simon, 196, 498, 812, 883 
Cammerhoff, Bishop John Frederick, 15, 
16, 17, 63 

Campanius, Rev. John, 123, 609 
Camp Curtin, Story, 276 to 280 
Camp Union, 277 
Camp, William, 299 
Campbell, Alexander, 557, 558, 847 
Campbell, James, 644 
Campbell, John, 179, 200 
Campbell, Michael, 400 
Campbell, Mrs., 558 
Campbell, Captain William, 527 
Campbell (poet) quoted, 457 
Canada, 743 , 

Canajoharie, 302 

Canal Commissioners, Board of, 723 

Canal, Union, 26 

Canal, Story, 130 

Canassatego, 449, 867 

Conewago, 744 

Cannon, James, 485, 669, 794 

Canoe Place, 731 

Canon, John, 164 

Canterbury, 845 

Causeland, Nieu, 667 

Cape Cornelius, 857 

Capes of Chesapeake, 627 

Capitol Hill, 746 


Capitol, State, 3, 5, 6, 86, 89, 94, 135 
Capson, John, 897 
Captain Pipe, 226 
Carantouan, 742 

Carbon County, 47, 48, 65, 181, 193, 380, 448, 
557, 564, 577, 597, 651, 846, 847, 918 
Carbondale, 232 
Carey, 591 

Carey, Henry Charles, 643 
Carey, Matthew, 641; Story, 775 
Carleton, Sir Guy, 426, 739 
Carigiatatie, Nikes, 700 
Carlisle, 4, 27, 73, 74, 75, 110, 135, 170, 176, 
178, 217, 227, 247, 248, 258, 288, 321, 322, 346, 
^ 388, 441, 443, 445, 508, ’ 

Carlisle Barracks, 522, 854 
Carlisle, Earl of, 417 
Carlisle Indian School, 110; Story, 522 
Carlisle Jail, 912 
Carlisle, Hon. John S., 179 
Carlisle Pike, 280 
Carlisle, Raid on, Story, 441 
Carmichael, William, 915 
Carolina, 300 

Carondowanen (Indian), 638 

Carpenter, Emanuel, 798 

Carpenter, Edward, 150 

Carpenter, Samuel, 128, 150, 159 

Carpenters’ Hall, 10, 33, 419, 611, 694 

Carr, Colonel Robert, 446 

Carroll, General Samuel Sprigg, 454 

Carroll, James, 193, 314 

Carroll Tract, 264 

Carroll, Colonel William, 334 

Carson, Ann, 784 

Carson, John, 784 

Carteret, Sir George, 716 

Cartlidge, Edward, 805, 806, 822 

Cartlidge, John, 552, 805, 806 

Casey, Joseph, 864 

Cashtown Pike, 452 

Cass Township, 846 

Cassimer, Fort, 609 

Castle, James H., 249 

Castleman, William, 586 

Cat, Story of Singed, 532 

Catawba, 300 

Catawissa, 299, 893 

Cathcart, Lord, 348 

Catherine (ship), 302 

Cave, 248 

Cavet, James, 101, 149 
Cayuga, 17 

Celeron, Captain Bienville de, 411, 840 
Cemetery Hill, 453 
Centennial, 882 

Center County, 156, 181, 208, 276, 344, 597, 775 

Central Railroad of New Jersey, 243 

Centralia, 192, 846 

Chadd’s Ford, 503, 504, 628 

Chain of Forts, 916 

Chalfant, Thomas, 119 

Chamberlin, Colonel Thomas, 453 

Chambers, Benjamin, 23, 623, 822 

Chambers, David, 400 

Chambers, Fort, 23 

Chambers, James, 343, 508, 688 

Chambers, Jane, 331 

Chambers, Joseph, 254, 623 

Chambers Mill, 16 

Chambers, Captain Stephen, Story, 331 
Chambers, Thomas, 23 
Chambersburg, 51, 519, 678, 680, 706, 707, 735, 
860, 864 

Chamberstown, 622 
Champlain, Samuel, 742 
Chance, Samuel, 822 
Chance (ship), 325 
Chancery Lane, 517 
Chandler, Zachariah, 883 
Chandler, Joseph R., 890 



30 



930 


INDEX 


Chapin, General, 153 
Chapman, Dr., 861 
Charles, Edward (Scotland), 498 
Charles II, King, 165, 294, 446 
Charles (Indian), 437 
Charles, Robert, 382 
Charlestown, 673 

Charleston & Hamburg Railroad Com¬ 
pany, 22 

Charter, 5, 165, 166, 167 
Chartiers Creek, 147, 163, 225, 528 
Chartier, Peter, 300 
Chase, Samuel, 383 
Chase, Rev. Mr., 901 
Chautauqua Creek, 412, 840 
Chautauqua Lake, 413 
Chautauqua, Story, 326 
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, 
327 

Chautauqua Sunday School Assembly, 327 
Chemung, 367 
Chemung River, 17 
Chemunk, 578 
Cheat River, 100 
Chenango, N. Y., 299 
Cherry, Fort, 586 
Cherry, John, 586 
Cherry Tree Township, 591 
Cherry Valley, 814 
Chesapeake, 505, 588 
Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, 131 
Chester, 61, 75, 158, 275, 328, 396, 486, 503, 
504, 610, 754 

Chester County, 8, 10, 60, 70, 84, 127, 131, 
137, 151, 152, 161, 179, 180, 191, 205, 207, 301, 

308, 339, 414, 416, 419, 436, 463, 496, 503, 565, 

582, 596, 610, 664, 709, 850 

Chestnut Hill, 690, 870 
Chestnut Ridge, 149 
Chestnut Street Theatre, 250 
Chevalier, John, 292 
Chevalier, Peter, 780 
Chevaux de frise, 324 
Chevey, Squire Thomas, 629 
Chew, Benjamin, 107, 357, 919 
Chew, Benjamin, Jr., 357 
Chew House, 691 
Chew, Peggy, 348 
Chew, Sophia, 348 
Chickahominy, 677 
Chilloway, Job, 359, 655 
Chickies Creek, Little, 217, 821 
Chickesalunga, 249 
Child, Francis, 641 

Chillisquaque Creek, 139, 305, 515, 553, 614 
Chillisquaque Township, 208 
China, 430 

Chincklamoose, 228, 303, 770 
Chippewa, 334, 583 
Chobet, 840 
Christ, Adam, 819 
Christiana, 8, 667 
Christiana Creek, 123, 324, 609 
Christiana, Fort, 123, 609 
Christiana Riots, 880 
Chronicle, The Harrisburg, 4, 298 
Church, Catholic, 86 
Church, Christ, 46, 82 
Church, First Dedication, 419 
Church, First Moravian, Story, 512 
Church, First Permanent Settlement, 
Story, 608 

Church, Gloria Dei, 610 
Church and King, 99 
Church of the Brethren, 866, 867 
Church, Old Swede, 610 
Church Store, 222 
Cicero, 752 

Cilley, Colonel Joseph, 367 
Cincinnati, 849 

Cincinnati, Order of, 311, 332, 850 
City Cavalry, First Troop, 694 


City Grays, Harrisburg, 473 

City Grays, Williamsport, 473 

City Troop, First, 107, 357, 574 

City Zouaves, Middletown, 473 

Civil Government of Pennsylvania, 530 

Civility, Chief, 301 

Claess, Christian, 396 

Clapham, Colonel William, 24, 25, 227, 228, 
229, 370, 393, 396, 770, 819, 918 
Clarion County, 156, 181, 208, 597 
Clark, 769 

Clark, Dr. Adam, 901 
Clark, Daniel, 784 

Clark, General Geo. Rogers, 162, 488, 527, 

528 820 

Clark, Governor (N. Y.), 500 
Clark, John, 141, 343, 630, 740, 820 
Clark, Walter, 209 
Clarkson, Matthew, 325, 776 
Clarkson (quoted), 755 
Clay, Henry, 95 
Claypoole, D. C., 899 
Claypoole, James, 293, 373 
Claypoole & Morris, 469 
Clayton, Major Asher, 228, 259, 560, 711, 
718, 911 

Clayton, William, 150, 396 

Clearfield, 228, 491, 770 

Clearfield County, 156, 181, 208, 597, 775 

Clerkwell Prison, 802 

Clermont, Fulton’s, 564 

Cleveland, 309 

Clingan, William, 921 

Clinton, 183 

Clinton County, 156, 181, 182, 208, 212, 596, 
597, 775 

Clinton, DeWitt, 144, 233 
Clinton, Sir Henry, 2, 3, 308 
Clinton, General James, 240, 347, 367, 416, 
426, 443, 710 

Clinton, Governor George, 412 

Cloister, Ephrata, 464 

Clow’s Dragoons, 349 

Cluggage, Captain Robert, 178, 508 

Clymer, Daniel, 248, 694 

Clymer, George, 332, 643, 861, 872 

Coaldale, 315 

Coal Oil, 591 

Coal Oil Johnnie, 592 

Coates, William, 292 

Coats, William, 380 

Cobbett, William, 791 

Cobb’s Creek, 124, 448 

Cobb’s Run, 261 

Cocalio Creek, 463 

Cochran, Captain, 521 

Cochran, Colonel, 442 

Cochran, Dr. John, 442; Story, 601, 820 

Cochran, William, 853 

Cock, Lasse, 150 

Cock, Laurens, 396 

Cock, Moens, 792 

Cock, Otto Ernest, 396, 792 

Cock, Peter, 396, 667, 792 

Code of Laws, Penn’s, 295 

Codorus, 298 

Coeur du Lac, Fort, 578 

Coeur, Jean, 412 

Confederation, Articles of, 5, etc. 

Coffee House, 325 
Coffin, Lucretia, 6 
Colebrookdale, 616 
Coleman Guards, Lebanon, 473 
Coleman, William, 919 
Colesberry, Alexander P., 734 
College, Dickinson, 4 
Collett, Jeremiah, 150 
Collins, Henry, 170 
Colonial Dames, 753 
Colonial Records, 880 
Colonial Society, Swedish, 608 
Colony of Pennsylvania, 507 



INDEX 


931 


Colt, Mr., 299 
Columbia, 112, 297, 414 

Columbia County, 48, 49, 181, 192, 196, 208, 
432, 564, 596, 846 
Columbia Railroad, 499 
Columbian Magazine, The, 642 
Columbus, 26 
Colver, Ephraim, 577 
Combush (Indian), 650 
Company H, 4th U. S. A., 277 
Compass Hotel, 248 
Concord, 290, 695 
Concord Meeting House, 651 
Conejohela Valley, 821 
Conemaugh, 132, 149, 300, 377 
Conemaugh, Lake, 378 
Conemaugh River, 377 
Conestoga, 105, 912 
Conestoga Creek, 463 
Conestoga Lock and Dam, 131 
Conestoga Manor, 822 
Conestoga Murdered by Shawnee, 

Story, 300 

Conestoga Township, 821 
Conewago Canal, 131, 132, 244 
Conewago Falls, 298 
Conewango Creek, 153, 411 
Confederate Raid, 705 
Conference, Provincial, 419 
Congress (ship), 325 
Congress Hall Hotel, 834 
Congress, Mutiny Against, 426 
Conlin, Patrick, 474 

Connelly, Dr. John, 100, 145, 148, 489, 660 
Connelly, Robber, 220 
Connellsville, 328 
Connecticut Settlers, 93 
Connoquenessing Creek, 121 
Connolloways, Big and Little, 749 
Conococheague, 319, 622 
Conococheague Creek, 510 
Conococheague, Massacre at, Story, 510 
Conococheague Navigation Company, 131, 
169 

Conococheague Valley, 510 

Conodoguinet Creek, 217, 248 

Conrad, Mrs. James, 369 

Conrad, Robert T., 389 

Constitution, 5, 214, 603, 643, 794, 816, 895 

Constitution, Federal, 5; Story, 643 

Constitution (ship), 583, 624 

Constitutional Party, 692 

Constitutionalists, 875 

Contrecoeur, Captain M. de, 126, 470, 660 

Continental Currency, 18 

Conway Cabal, 417; Story, 834 

Conway, General Thomas, 417, 690 

Cook, Edward, 149 

Cooke, Jay, 646 

Cooke, Colonel Jacob, 896 

Cooke, Jay & Co., 646 

Cooke, Colonel William, 137, 260, 674, 820, 
903 

Coolin, Annakey, 151 
Cooper Ferry, 670 
Cooper Hospital, 369 
Cooper, James, 8 
Cooper, J. Fennimore, 323 
Cooper, Mrs., 369 
Cooper Shop Story, 368 
Cooper, Thomas, 433, 803 
Cooper, William M., 369 
Copley, John Singleton, 410 
Copley Medal, 95 
Coppee, Henry, 280 
Copper, John, 823 
Copp’s Hill, 606 
Corbar, Brother, 413 
Corinthian Yacht Club, 608 
Cork, 311 

Corken, James, 510 


Cornaghan’s Blockhouse, 527 
Cornbury, Lord Edward Hyde, 639, 764 
Cornelius, Cape, 589 
Cornell, Hugh, 525 
Cornerstone, 5, 239, 283 
Cornplanter, Chief, 241, 549, 550, 572, 732 
Cornwall, Captain, 298 
Cornwall, William, 510 
Cornstalk, Chief, 362, 750 
Cornwallis, Lord Charles, 223, 443, 504, 628, 
651, 669 ; 691, 692 
Corporation Act., 99 
Corry, 593 

Coryell’s Ferry, 863, 909 
Coshocton, 226, 281; Story, 656, 750 
Couch, General Darius N., 519, 520, 707 
Council of Censors, 794, 895 
Council of Safety, 903 

Council, Supreme Executive, Threatened, 
Story, 426 
Counterfeiter, 217 
Counties, Etymology of, 596 
Country Club of Harrisburg, 23 
Country Gentleman, 533 
Courland, Colonel, 367 
Court, Earliest, 396; Story, 791 
Court of Admiralty, 325 
Courtright, Milton C., 865 
Cove, Great, 267, 623, 749 
Cove, Little, 267, 622, 749 
Cove Mountains, 707 
Covenhoven, Robert, 400, 462 
Covenhoven, Thomas, 402 
Coventry, 463 
Cowan, Edgar, 196 
Cowan, Frank (quoted), 303 
Cowan, J. F., 95 
Cowan’s Gap, 320 
Cowperthwaite, Joseph, 292 
Cox, Assemblyman, 890 
Cox, Gabriel, 164 
Cox, John, 292, 922 
Cox, Widow, 761 
Crabtree Creek, 479 
Craig, Isaac, 200 
Craig, Jane, 348 
Craig, Lieutenant, 869 
Craig, Neville B., 518 
Cragie, Dr. Andrew, 602 
Craik, Dr. James, 602 
Crain, Richard, 136 
Crane, Hook, 610 
Crantz, Dr. (quoted), 884 
Cram, Claes, 397 
Crascraft, Charles, 528 
Crawford County, 156, 181, 185, 208, 596, 597 
Crawford, Edward, Jr., 623 
Crawford, Fort, 549 
Crawford, Hugh, 236 
Crawford, Captain John, 404 
Crawford, Josiah, 622 
Crawford, Captain William, 282, 488, 587 
Crawford, Colonel William, 146, 148, 163; 

Story, 402, 739, 814 
Crefeld, 696 
Crellius, Joseph, 899 
Crescent City, 201 
Cresap, Michael, 361 
Cresap, Thomas, 330, 365; Story, 821 
Cresap War, 330 _ 

Cressinger, Dr. Jacob R., 500 
“Crisis,” Paine’s, 571; quoted, 426 
Crispin, Silas, 531 
Crispin, William, 334, 531 
Croghan, Catherine, 323 
Croghan, Colonel George, 93, 235, 305, 319, 
321, 323, 425, 525 
Cromwell, 843, 901 
Crook, Henry, 473 

Crooked Billet, 10, 307; Massacre at, 
Story, 307 
Crown Point, 704 



932 


INDEX 


“Crown,” The, 541, 575, 576 
Cubbertson, William, 154 
Cucussea, 301 
Culbertson, Elizabeth, 10 
Culbertson, John, 510 
Culbertson, Colonel Samuel, 10 
Culloden, 498 
Culp’s Hill, 454 

Cumberland County, 26, 42, 127, 134, 170, 

171, 172, 177, 180, 181, 187, 207, 208 , 210, 216, 

221, 257,- 259, 319, 320, 416, 419, 496, 508, 544, 

587, 596, 606, 615, 622, 678, 684, 698, 711, 731, 

911 

Cumberland, Md., 280, 470 
Cumberland Valley, 23 
Cunningham, Susan King, 511 
Cunningham, Thomas S., 851 
Curtin, Governor Andrew G., 389, 810 
Curtis, Cyrus H. K., 532 
Curtis Publishing Company, 533 
Curtis, Tom (Indian), 359 
Custis, George Washington, 358 
Custis, Miss, 358 
Cuyler, Theodore C., 8 
Cyane (ship), 583 

D 

Daillon, Father de la Roche, 742 
Dallas, Alexander James, 69, 191, 817 
Dallas, George Mifflin, 890 
Dally, Philip, 263 
Dalmatia, 63 
Dandelot, M., 894 
Dangerfield, 8 
Danville, 118, 232 
Danville Intelligencer, The, 118 
Danziger, Charles W., 519 
Darby, 159, 357, 504, 545, 580, 859 
Darby Creek, 608, 611, 779, 848, 859 
Darrah, Lydia, 868 
Darrah, William, 868 
Daughters American Revolution, 200 
Dauphin County, 3, 25, 66, 131, 135, 172, 180, 
181, 187, 188, 249, 255, 277, 498, 564, 582, 596, 
597, 853, 896 

Dauphin County Agriculture Society, 277 
Daunt, Knowles, 822 
Daventry, 97 
Davidson, John, 800 
Davidson, Samuel, 61, 324 
Davies, William R., 872 
Davis, Beaver, 619 
Davis, Bill, 173 
Davis, Philip, 614 
Davy the Lame Indian, 375 
Day, Sherman, 93 
Dayton, Colonel Elias, 367 
Dean, Colonel Joseph, 70 
Dean, Samuel, 186 
Dean, William, 731, 732 
Deane, Silas, 308, 913 
Dearborn, General Henry, 334, 582 
Death of the Fox, 833 
Deauchamp, David, 474 
Debarre, General Prudhomme, 629 
Decatur, Captain Stephen, 789 
Declaration of Independence, 5, 46, 81, 458, 
483, 871 

Declaration of Rights, 611 
Decker’s Tavern, 494 
De Coudray, 72 
Dee, River, 565 
Deed for Christ Church, 436 
Deed for Province, 598 
De Formoy, General, 909 
DeHaas, General John Philip, 306, 381, 545, 
618, 922 

D’haes, John, 792 
DeHaven, Peter, 461 
Deimer, John, 748 


Delaware County, 179, 180, 212, 596, 598, 838, 

858 

Dekonoagah, 764 

Delaney, Captain John Peter,.271 
Delaware, 873 
Delaware (ship), 789 
Delaware Company, 492 
Delaware & Schuylkill Canal, 131 
Delaware Water Gap, 494 
Delemater, George W. 86 
Delaval, Lieutenant, 348 
“Democratic,” 803 

Democratic Press, The, 434, 783, 803, 879 
Dennison (Indian), 523 
Dennison, Colonel Nathan, 456 
Densmore, James, 119 
Denny, Ebenezer, 152, 201 
Denny, David, 255 

Denny, Governor William, 178, 303, 619, 
700, 703 

De Peyster, Captain Arent Schuyler, 283 

Depontency, Captain, 840 

Deposit, 775 

Derr’s Mills, 11 

Derrstown, 462, 878 

Derry, 149 

Dersham, Frank L., 9 

Der Wochentlicks Phila. Staatsbate, 899 

Desdemona, 76 

Detroit, 140, 388, 704 

Detroit, Fort (see Fort Detroit) 

Detroit, Ship, 625 
Devane, Sarah, 137 
Devil’s Den, 453 
Devores Ferry, 528 

DeVries, David Pieterson, 230, 590, 856 

Dewart, John, 820 

Dewees, Christina, 336 

Dewees Mill, 130 

Dewees, William, 31, 130, 336 

Dewitt, Simeon, 240 

Dick, Captain John, 561 

Dickewanis, 245 

Dickinson College, 4, 248, 288, 441 
Dickinson, John, 60, 106, 186, 292, 428, 443, 
458, 594, 623, 872, 874 
Dickinson, General Philemon, 70 
Dickinson (ship), 418 
Dickinson’s Farmer’s Letters, Story, 786 
Diefenbach, Captain, 798 
“Diligent, Old,” 860 
Dill, Andrew H., 733 
Dill, Matthew, 698 
Dill, Mary, 698 
Dillsburg, 441, 698 

Dinwiddie, Governor Robert, 67, 125, 657, 

758, 799 

Director of Mint, 238 
Disberry, Joe, 818 
Directory, French, 789 
Disher, Peter, 820 
Dixon, Jeremiah, 919 
Doan Outlaws, Story, 662 
Dock Creek, 374 
Dock, Christopher, 159 
Dodd, Dr., 77 
Dodson, Abigail, 577 
Dolland, 385 
Donahue, John, 847 
Donahue, Thomas, 49, 192 
Donation Lands, 184, 185, 186 
Dondel, Captain Michael, 508 
Donegal, 62, 700, 821, 823 
Donehoo, Dr. George P., 523, 884 
Donop, Colonel Carl Emil Kurt von, 504, 
671 

Donnelly, Felix, 422 
Donnelly, Francis, 422 
Dorrance, George, 456 
Doty, Senator, 136 

Doubleday, General Charles William, 452 
Doubling Gap, 218 




INDEX 


933 



Dougal, Dr. James S., 252 
Dougherty, Bernard, 61 
Dougherty, Daniel, 769 
Dougherty, David, 249 
Dougherty, James, 516 
Douglass, Stephen A., 810 
Dove, Dr. David James, 188, 284 
Downey, Captain John, 308 
Downingtown, 329 
Doyle, Michael, 47, 557 
Doyle, Thomas H., 521 
Doylestown, 34 

Draft for Troops, 162, 163, 164 
Drafton, Edmund, 792 
Drake (quoted), 621 
Drake, Colonel Edwin L., 591 
Draper, Major Simeon, 559 
Draper, Sir William, 77 
Dreisbach Church, 9, 344, 732 
Dreisbach, Yost, 61 
Dreshler, David, 284 
Drickett, Thomas, 150 
Drury Lane Theatre, 251 
Dry Run Cemetery, 343 
Drystreet, Henry, 150 

Duane, William J., 335, 434, 783, 803, 804, 876 

Dublin Township Meeting, 113 

DuBois, Colonel, 367 

Duche, Rev. Jacob, 308, 418 

Duck Creek, 436 

Dudley, Gideon, 439 

Dudley, Joseph, 439 

Duels—Binns-Stewart, 434, 876; Cadwalla- 
der-Conway, 417; Chambers-Rieger, 331; 
Wilkinson-Gates, 571 
Duffield, Rev. George, 59 
Duffield, William, 170 
Duffy, Thomas, 193, 314 
Dugan, James, 558 
Dugan, Patrick, 474 
Duke of York, 28 
Dunbar Camp, 471 

Dunbar, Colonel Thomas, 133, 470, 471, 828 

Duncan, Matthew, 508 

Dungeon, The, 802 

Dunkard Creek, 920 

Dunkards, 32, 318 

Dunlap, John, 899 

Dunmore, Lord (John Murray), 43, 100, 
101, 145, 148, 362, 489, 660, 737 
Dunmore’s War, 101 
Dunne, Henry H., 192, 217, 845 
Dunquat (Indian), 584 
Duponceau, Peter S., 77 
Dupont, Camp, 334 
Dupretit, g.94 
Dupui, Samuel, 918 
Duquesne, Marquis, 127, 199 
Durham, 516 

Durham Iron Works, 300 
Durham, James, 297 
Durham, Mrs. Margaret W., 296 
Durkee, Colonel John, 102, 429, 559, 560, 561 
Dushore, 894 

Dutch Control Delaware River, 665 
Dutch East India Company, 589, 856 
Dutch & English Gazette, The, 899 
Dutchess County, N. Y., 6 
Dutch Fork, 175 

Dutchman, The Pennsylvania, 876 
Dutch West India Cdmpany, 590, 667, 856 

E 


Eagle County, 597 

“Eagle” (ship), 671 

Eagle Tavern, 861 

Earl of Dunmore, 100 

Earle Brothers, 439 

Earle’s Royal Regiment, 765 

Early, General Jubal A., 441, 454, 519 

Eastborn, Benjamin, 650 


East Cemetery Hill, 454 
East Conemaugh, 378 
Easton, 70, 71, 103, 153, 182. 202, 223, 233, 
235, 240, 273, 279, 322, 366, 368, 370, 380, 413, 
483, 504, 624, 840 
Eaton, D. L., 518 
Eckerline, Gabriel, 463 
Eckerline, Israel, 463 
Eckley, John, 85 
Economy, 122 

Ecuyer, Captain Simeon, 346 
Edenberg, 309 
Edinburgh, 46, 97 
Edminston, Samuel, 630 
Education, 158, 182, 183, 184 
Edward, King, 98 
“Edward” (ship), 325 
Edwards, Benjamin, 299 
Effigy, 91 

“Effingham” (ship), 418 
Egle, Dr. William—quoted, 62 
Egypt, 327 

Eichbaum, William, 200 
Eichbaum & Johnson, 518 
Eicher, Anna, 463 
Eighth New York Regiment, 369 
Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, 140, 168, 
462 


Eighteenth Royal Regiment of Foot, 311 

Eighty-fourth “Bloody,” 350 

Elder, Rev. John, 25, 236, 718, 911 

Elder, Joshua, 209 

Election, Bloody, 682 

Electrifying Machines, 97 

Eiger, Mr., 298 

Elizabeth, Princess, 717 

Elizabethtown, 249 

Elk County, 156, 181, 182, 208, 597 

Elk River, 503 

Elkton, 503 

Ellicott, Andrew, 240, 298, 921 
Elliott, Andrew, 662’ 

Elliott, Captain, 43, 152, 584 
Elliott, Joseph, 457 
Elliott, Matthew, 225 
Ellsworth, Oliver, 872 
Elmira, N. Y., 514 
Elswiclc, 665 

Emancipation, Proclamation, 41 
Emanuel’s Reformed Church, 699 
Emaus, 15 

Emmerson, John, 822 
Emmettsburg, 452 
Endt, Theobold, 512 
England, Philip, 30 
Engle, Benj., 284 
English, John, 556 
Ephrata, 463, 602 

Erie, 154, 233, 240, 333, 413, 592, 624, 840 
Erie, Battle at, 624 
Erie Canal, 36, 233 

Erie County, 126, 152, 156, 181, 185, 208, 223, 
596, 598, 718 

Erie, Fort, see Fort Erie 
Erie, Lake, 624 

Erie & Northwestern R. R., 863 
Erie Observer—quoted, 387 
.Ernst, 94 

Eros and Antiros, 286 
Erskind, Sir William, 352, 545 
Erwin, Arthur, 60 
Essepenaick, 436 
Essington, 608, 665 
Esther’s Town, Queen, 619 
Etter, Edward G., 520 
Ettwein, Rev. John, 223 
Ettinger, Joel B., 523 
Etymology of Counties, 596 
Etzweiler, George, 343 
Eucharist, 33 
Euer, Robert, 150 
Eustice, Michael, 474 





934 


INDEX 


Evans, John, 30, 205, 763 
Evans, Lewis, 422, 884 
Evans, Nathaniel, 150 
Evans, Sam, 236 
Everett, Edward, 811 
Everett, W. S., 520 
Ewell, General Richard C., 441, 454 
Ewing, Alexander, 344 
Ewing, Catherine, 606 
Ewing, Colonel George W., 767 
Ewing, General James, 698 
Ewing, John, 188, 191, 385, 606, 708, 909, 
919, 921 

Ewing, Mrs. Sarah, 369 
Eyer, Henry C., 568 
Eyre, Emmanuel, 72 
Eyre, Samuel, 922 
Eyre, T. Lawrence, 137 
Excise Laws, 196, 197, 198 
Exeter, 736 

Expedition, Forbes’, 685 
Expedition, Hambright, 770 
Expedition, Hartley, 616 
Expedition, Sullivan, 366 

F 

Fabricius, Brother, 825 

Fagg, Manor of, 416 

Fairfield Gap, 455 

Fairman, Thomas, 396, 696 

Fair Play Men, 156 

Falkner, Daniel, 336, 512 

Falkner Swamp, 31, 32, 335, 463 

Fallen Timbers, 572, 849 

Falling Spring, 623 

Falls of Schuylkill, 504 

Falls Township (Bucks Co.), 530 

Falls of Trenton, 230 

Faltz, M. A., 520 

Family House, 222 

Fanning, General Edmund, 900 

Farmer’s Brother, 814 

Farmer’s Letters, 786 

Farquhar, Guy E., 109 

Farragut, Admiral David Glasgow, 882 

Fatland Ford, 668 

Fayette County, 52, 99, 131, 147, 180, 198, 
216, 596, 597, 775 • 

Federal Constitution, 735, 871 
Federal Party, 837 
Felebaum, George, 741 
Felkstrug, 436 

Fellowship Fire Company, 860 
Fenwick, John, 716 
Ferdey, John, 350 
Ferree, John, 60 
Fever, Yellow, 775 

Field Book of Revolution, Lossing’s, 363 
Fifth National Guard, Pennsylvania, 379 
Financier of Rebellion, 646 
Findlay, Governor William, 5, 136, 198, 216, 
332, 435, 605, 688, 810, 895 
Findley, James, 69, 623 
Fink, John, 174 
Finland, 667 
Finley, John, 736 
Finns, 231 

Fire Companies, 45, 858 
Fires, Early, 858 
First Army Corps, 452 
First Defenders, 279 
First Forty Settlers, 102 
First German Reformed Church, 71 
First Newspaper, 897 
First Newspaper West of Allegheny 
Mountains, 517 

First Regiment of Pennsylvania, 509 
First and Second Battalions, 185 
First State Regiment, 381 
Fishbourne, Benjamin, 3 
Fishbourne, William, 71, 764, 805, 859 


Fisher, John, 150 

Fisher, Joshua, 780 

Fisher, Peter, 393 

Fisher, Thomas P., 847 

Fisher, William, 780 

Fisher’s Ferry, 393 

Fisher’s Stone House, 393 

Fishing Creek, 16, 23, 210, 515, 623, 904 

Fithian, Rev. Philip (quoted), 59, 331, 421 • 

Fitzhugh, Captain, 520 

Fitzsimmons, Thomas, 72, 643 

Fitzwater, George, 374 

Flag, 409, 483 

Flag Captured at Monmouth, 443 
Flatheads, 300 
Fleming, Captain, 910 
Fletcher, Governor Benjamin, 843 
Fletcher & Gardner, 21 
Fleury, Major Louis de, 672 
Flood, Johnstown, 377 
Flower, Enoch, 150, 158 
Flying Camp, 570, 909 
Folger, Josiah, 44 
Foragers, British, 307 

Forbes, Major General John, 100, 148, 177, 
303, 380, 489, 544, 636, 660, 703, 827 
Forbes Road, 148 
Ford, Lieutenant, 418 
Ford, Philip, 373 

Forest County, 156, 181, 185, 208, 597 

Foresters, The, 580 

Forest House, 343 

Forman, General David, 690 

Forney, John W., 33, 34, 35, 249, 767 

Forrest, Edwin, 249 

Fort, C. V., 369 

Fort Allen, 65, 236, 267, 270, 273, 370, 380, 
540, 541, 544, 559, 574, 576, 577, 719, 918 
Fort Antes, 335, 337, 400, 461 
Fort Armstrong, 395, 549 
Fort Augusta, 11, 24, 25, 27, 57, 58, 65, 67, 
102. 103, 104, 110, 207, 211, 227, 236, 237, 266, 

295, 305, 371, 372, 393, 395, 429, 430, 461, 462, 

515, 516, 517, 527, 537, 542, 543, 544, 555, 587, 

614, 618, 675, 685, 686, 711, 718, 719, 720, 770, 

903, 904, 907 

Fort Bedford, 177, 346, 388, 537, 547, 587, 711, 

782 831 

Fort Billingsport, 324, 545, 669, 908 

Fort Boone, 515 

Fort Bostley, 515 

Fort Brady, 260 

Fort Buchanan, 175 

Fort Burd, 686, 709 

Fort Busse’s, 65, 757 

Fort Carlisle, 178, 537, 587 

Fort Cassimer, 610, 665, 667 

Fort Chambers, 23 

Fort Cherry, 585, 586 

Fort Christiana, 123, 230, 231, 609, 610, 666 
Fort Coeur du Lac, 578 
Fort Coulon de Villiers, 840 
Fort Crawford, 167, 549 
Fort Cresap, 823 
Fort Cumberland, 267, 686, 841 
Fort Defiance, 572 
Fort Detroit, 347, 388 
Fort Dunmore, 100, 101, 489, 660 
Fort Duquesne, 100, 127, 133, 177, 199, 265, 
266, 272, 302, 303, 345, 380, 413, 470, 476, 489, 
621, 635, 685, 704, 721, 722, 771, 827, 840 
Fort Durkee, 102, 103, 104, 559 
Fort Dupui, 918 
Fort Elfborg, 124 
Fort Erie, 144, 145, 334, 413, 572 
Fort Forty, 456, 492 
Fort Franklin, 918 

Fort Freeland, 188, 253, 295, 296, 297, 326, 
496, 514, 515, 516, 614, 674, 814 
Fort Frontenac, 412, 828 
Fort Granville, 525, 619, 620, 918 
Fort Greenville, 572 



INDEX 


935 


Fort Halifax, 25, 228, 371, 393, 394, 395, 918 
Fort Hamilton, 918 
Fort Hand, 167, 168, 607 
Fort Harris, 744, 745 
Fort Henry, 65, 66, 67, 544, 757, 758, 918 
Fort Henry (Wheeling), 167, 282, 488, 528, 
740 

Fort Hunter, 23, 25, 64, 65, 74, 371, 393, 623, 
685, 759, 918 
Fort Island, 324 

Fort Jenkins, 211, 295, 456, 515, 614, 616 
Fort Johnson, 540 
Fort Kittanning, 145 
Fort Korsholm, 667 
Fort Laurens, 140, 141, 142 
Fort Lebanon, 758, 918 
Fort LeBoeuf, 126, 145, 152, 318, 345, 388, 413, 
537, 586, 718, 840 
Fort Lee, 223 

Fort Ligonier, 346, 388, 537, 547, 587, 636 
Fort Littleton, 266, 918 
Fort Loudoun, 100, 169, 170, 171, 177, 510, 
511, 760, 762, 831 
Fort McCord, 141, 265 
Fort McDowell, 319, 320, 510, 760, 829, 918 
Fort McHenry, 277, 488 
Fort McIntosh, 140, 141, 142, 156, 167, 174, 
241, 400, 406, 549 
Fort McKee, 63 
Fort Machault, 67, 318 
Fort Manada, 758, 759 
Fort Manyunk, 663 
Fort Meninger, 469 
Fort Mercer, 545, 670, 671, 672, 673 
Fort Miami, 345 
Fort Michillimackimac, 345 
Fort Mifflin, 418, 670 
Fort Montgomery, 515, 614 
Fort Moultrie, 39 

Fort Muncy, 260, 296, 366, 400, 401, 458, 462, 
463, 515, 542, 543, 618 
Fort Nassau, 123, 230, 446, 590, 858 
Fort Necessity, 133, 272, 322 
Fort New Gottenburg, 124 
Fort Niagara, 147, 345, 347, 388, 516, 840 
Fort Norris, 918 
Fort Northkill, 758 
Fort Onachtown, 345, 718 
Fort Orange, 446 
Fort, Old, 221 
Fort, Palmer’s, 309 
Fort Patterson, 74, 525, 684, 918 
Fort Penn, 324, 918 

Fort Pitt, 43, 62, 64, 100, 127, 140, 141, 142, 
145, 147, 148, 149, 167, 169, 170, 171, 174, 

175, 176, 178, 199, 225, 226, 245, 260, 281, 

305, 309, 310, 323, 345, 347, 372, 375, 376, 

388, 403, 425, 462, 482, 488, 489, 490, 517, 

518, 528, 537, 539, 547, 549, 551, 585, 587, 

606, 618, 654, 660, 661, 688, 710, 711, 718, 

722, 728, 739, 740, 741, 749, 782 
Fort Pomfret Castle, 684 
Fort Potter, 221 

Fort Presque Isle, 153, 318, 345, 387, 388, 
413, 537, 586, 718, 840 
Fort Randolph, 167 
Fort Recovery, 572 
Fort Redstone, Old, 52, 171, 322 
Fort Reid, 614 
Fort Rice, 615, 616 
Fort Raystown, 177 
Fort Sandusky, 345, 718 
Fort San Marco, 522 
Fort Swartz, 470, 616 
Fort Shirley, 525, 619, 918 
Fort, Six, 65, 918 
Fort Smith, 757 
Fort, Widow Smith’s, 467 
Fort Standing Stone, 422 
Fort Stanwix, 155, 156, 240, 247, 305, 361, 
398, 410, 492, 773 
Fort Steel, 760 


Fort St. Joseph, 345 

Fort Sumter, 39 

Fort Swatara, 65, 757, 918 

Fort Ticonderoga, 848 

Fort Trinity, 610, 655 

Fort Venango, 168, 345, 413, 537, 586, 718 

Fort Wallace, 309 

Fort Walthour, 376 

Fort Washington, 223, 570 

Fort Wayne, 850 

Fort Wheeler, 210, 515 

Fort Wheeling, 488 

Fort, Wilkes-Barre, 457 

Fort “Wilson,” 90, 332, 692 

Fort Wintermoot, 456 

Fort Wyoming, 560, 561 

Fortune (ship), 589 

Foster, Jphn, 255, 343, 583 

Foster, Sidney, George, 285 

Foster, Thomas, 24 

Foster Township, 192 

Fothergill, Dr., 212 

Foulk, Colonel Willis, 854 

Foulke, Assessor, 190 

Fountainbleau, 704 

Fourteenth Regiment National Guard of 
Pennsylvania, 379 
Fouts, Christian, 308 
Fowney (ship), 661 
Fox, George, 447, 717 
Fox, Gilbert, 790 
Fox, James, 159 
Fox, Speaker, 779 
Frame of Government, 28, 293, 341 
Francis, Hill Tench, 60 
Francis, Tench, 18, 60, 200, 292, 922, 923 
Francis, Turbutt, 60, 102, 103, 209, 305, 306, 
428 

Frankford, 21, 546 
Frankford Arsenal, 853 
Frankford Land Company, 336, 695 
Franklin, Benjamin, 44, 54, 56, 57, 58, 61, 
65, 97, 98, 116, 117, 134, 159, 160, 161, 187, 
205, 212, 247, 267, 284, 292, 308, 318, 323, 

371, 385, 386, 426, 458, 459, 460, 484, 490, 

532, 533, 594, 597, 604, 612, 622, 643, 657, 

658, 670, 684, 703, 747, 749, 752, 774, 778, 

779, 780, 781, 786, 789, 791, 807, 816, 859, 

860, 872, 873, 898, 913, 916, 921 

Franklin, 412 

Franklin County, 10, 180, 264, 288, 319, 510, 
596, 597, 622, 678, 705, 706, 760, 829, 918 
Franklin (ship), 325 
Franklin, Debprah, 44 
Franklin Institute, 21 
Franklin, Colonel John, 438 
Franklin and Marshall College, 624 
Franklin, Superintendent, 193, 557 
Franklin, Temple, 357 
Franklin, William, 323 
Franks, Rebecca, 348 
Frankstown, 257, 619, 818 
Fraser, Margaret, 179 
Fraser, William, 178 
Frazer, General Simon, 634 
Frazer, John, 840 
Frazier, John, 802 
Frederick, 886 

Frederick, Lord Baltimore, 919 
Frederick the Great, 910 
Frederick Township, 31, 512 
Fredericksburg, Md., 470 
Fredericksburg (Pa.), 25 
Fredericksburg, Va., 107 
Fredericktown, Md., 134 
Freedom, 264 

Freeland, Michael, 326, 516 
Freeland Mills, 674 
Freeman’s Journal, 641, 876 
Freemasons, 182, 567 . 

Free Masonry and Odd Fellowship, 890 
Free Soil Movement, 881 





INDEX 


936 


Free Traders Society, 754 
Fremont, 35 
Frew, 890 
Frey, Mr., 248 
French, 74, 126 

French Creek, 126, 318, 413, 551 
French deserter, 67 
French and Indian War, 316 
French, Colonel John, 415 
Frenchtown, 639, 892 
Freeze (attorney), 192 
Freinsheim Church, 31 
Freisbach, George, 826 
Freisbach, John, 820 
Frick, Henry, 429, 568 
Frick, Philip, 819 
Friedenstadt, 423 
Friedenstal Mill, 33 
Friedenshuetten, 360, 424 
Friendship Fire Company, 860 
Friends’ Meeting House, 859 
Friends, Society of, 341 
Fries, John, 189 
Fries, Just Henry, 568 
Fries Rebellion, 189, 190, 191 
Friedsam, 464 

Frietchie, Barbara, Story, 886 
Fry, Colonel Joshua, 132 
Fry, Henry, 886 
Fry, General James B., 811 
Fry, Joseph, 216 
Fryling, Henry G., 500 
Fugitive Slave Law, 880 
Fuller, Benjamin, 780 
Fullerton, Judge Humphrey, 622 
Fulton County, 177, 181, 596, 597 
Fulton, Robert, 564, 597 
Fulton’s Folly, 566 
Funk, George, 179 

G 

Gabriel, George, 721, 726 
Gage, General Thomas, 171, 304, 323, 388, 
548 

Gahontoto, 17 
Gaine, Hugh, 642 
Gaines, Camp, 334 

Gaines, General Edmund Pendleton, 144 
Gainsworth, Colonel, 367 
Galena, 326, 327 

Galissoniere, Marquis de la, 411, 840 
Gallatin, Albert, 51, 52, 53, 152, 198, 216, 
605, 688 
Gallichwio, 15 

Galloway, Joseph, 188, 284, 308, 358, 418, 
593, 611, 613, 779, 899, 913 
Galloway, Peter, 593 
Galloway, Richard, 593 
Galbraith, Andrew, 731 
Galbraith, Bertram, 485 
Galbraith, James, 60, 485, 541 
Galbraith, John, 823 
Gamble, Colonel, 452 
Gamble, Judge James, 474 
Gandtscherat, 17 
Ganges (ship), 784 
Gardner, Joseph, 669 
Gardners, 456 
Gardow, 246, 813 
Garman, Sophia, 891 
Garrett, Major John, 456, 905 
Garrett, William, 61 
Garrison Hill, 154 
Garrison, William Lloyd, 6 
Garrigues, Jacob, 484 
Gates, General Horatio, 222, 571, 834 
Gattenmayer, John, 826 
Gawthrop, Judge Robert S., 88 
Gazette, The, 898, 915 
Gazette, Franklin’s, 45, 116 
Gazette and Manufacturer and Mercantile 
Advertiser, 518 


Gazette, Pennsylvania, 44, 532, 833, 898 
Gazette, The Pittsburgh, 517, 837 
Gazetteer (ship), 644 
Gearhart, Maclay C., 500 
Geary, Governor John W., 473, 474, 646, 
879 

Geehr, Balzar, 60 

Gelemend (Killbuck), 174, 281 

Genaskund, 425 

General Advertiser, The, 899 

Genesee, 138, 633 

Genesee Castle, 138, 634 

Geneva, 51 

Genet, Edmond Charles, 779 
Gentleman’s Magazine, The, 900 
George III, King, 32, 45, 99, 170, 177, 212, 
228, 311, 485, 606, 871 
Georges Creek, 149 
Georges, Mr. John, 339, 364 
Gerard, Robert, 151 
German Christians, 120 
German Flats, 246, 814 
German Printing Office, 899 
German Reform Church, 512 
German Regiment, 615 
“German Rifles,” 369 
German Town, 695 

Germantown, 6, 31, 32, 112, 113, 114, 128, 
129, 130, 152, 159, 203, 204, 284, 302, 304, 
504, 512, 689, 695 

Germantown Academy, 283, 284, 285 
Germantown, Battle of, 689 
Germantown, Settlement of, 695 
Germantown Union High School House, 

284 

Gerry, Elbridge, 644, 872 
Gertrude of YVyoming, 457 
Gerwig, Edgar C., 137 
Gesner, Dr. Abraham, 591 
Gettig, Christian, 820 

Gettysburg, 451, 452, 453, 455, 519, 698, 707, 
735, 810 

Gettysburg Address, Lincoln, Story, 810 

Gettysburg, Battle of, Story, 451 to 455 

Giant, Little, 810 

Gibbons, John, 150 

Gibbons, William, 136 

Gibson, James, 187, 913 

Gibson, Captain George, 486 

Gibson, General John, 140, 175, 362, 750, 896 

Gibson, John Bannister, 136, 890 

Gibson’s Lambs, 486 

Giddings, Edward, 567, 890 

Gieger, Henry 

Gilbert, Benjamin Sr., 577 

Gilbert Family in Captivity, 577 

Gilfray, John, 418 

Gill, Dr. (quoted), 866 

Gill, John D., 86 

Gillen, Elizabeth, 296 

Gilmore, Major Harry, 520 

Ginter, Philip, 111 

Girard Bank, 355, 785 

Girard College, 356 

Girard, Stephen, 220, 335, 354, 776 

Girardville, 49, 558 

Girty, George, 42, 529 

Girty, James, 42, 226 

Girty, Simon, 41, 42, 43, 44, 140, 225, 395, 
403, 404, 750, 849, 815 
Girty, Simon Sr., 42 
Girty, Thomas, 42 
Girty’s Gap, 41 
Girty’s Notch, 42 
Girty’s Run, 43 

Gist, Christopher, 99, 322, 799, 841, 870 

Glen Carbon, 48, 192 

Glen Carbon Coal Mining Company, 846 

Glen Onoko, 557 

Glickhickan (Indian), 425 

Glidden, Carlos, 118 



INDEX 


937 


Gloria Dei Church, 581 
Gloucester, 434 
Gloucester, Bishop of, 313 
Gloucester Prison, 802 
Gnadenhuetten, Ohio, 174, 282, 585 
Gnadenhuetten (Pa.), 236, 267, 824 
Gobin, John Peter Shindel, 473 
Goddard, William, 899 
Godey, Louis A., 117 
Godfrey, Thomas, 753, 902 
Godfrey, Thomas Jr., 271 
Gold Medal, Congress, 144 
Good Message, 15 
Goodson, Job, 374 
Gookin, Charles, 765 

Gordon, Governor Patrick, 301, 407, 534, 639 

Gordon (quoted), 754 

Gore, Obadiah, 111 

Goschgoschunk, 424 

Goshen, 502 

Goshen Meeting, 504, 651 

Gosnold, Bartholomew, 676 

Gottenberg, 608 

Gottrecht, 464 

Gould, Samuel, 326, 516 

Govett, William, 292 

Gowen, Franklin B., 48, 108, 192, 316 

Graff, Sebastian, 731 

Graham, William H., 137 

Grand Army Republic, 699 

Granger’s Hollow, 772 

Granger, Postmaster General Gideon, 435 
Grant, General James (British), 308, 352, 
651, 691 

Grant, Lieutenant Charles, 171 
Grant, General U. S., 41, 326, 327, 882 
Grant, Major William, 303, 636, 827, 831 
Granville, Fort (see Fort Granville) 

Grave Creek, 362 
Gray, George, 72 
Gray, Matthew, 732 
Gray, William, 209 
Graydon, Alexander, 69, 483 
Graydon, Caleb, 209 
Graydon, Mrs., 76 
Graydon, William, 6 
Grays City, 473 

Gray’s Ferry, 291, 357, 545, 670, 694 

Gray’s Ferry Road, 580 

Gray’s Garden, 357 

Great Cove, 830 

Great Crossing, 320 

Greathouse (Indian), 362 

Great Island, 587, 711, 911 

Great Meadows, 132, 472 

Great Meeting House, 449 

Great Path, 555 

Great Plains, 722 

Great Runaway, 228, 337, 460, 468, 496, 514, 
618 


Great Swatara, 16, 248 
Great Swatara Gap, 16 
Great Treaty, 755 
Great Virginia Road, 319 
Greece, 327 

Green, General Abbott, 252 
Green, Colonel Christopher, 671 
Green, Judge, 8 
Green, Judge D. B., 107, 193, 316 
Green, Thomas, 7 
Green, Colonel Timothy, 306, 912 
Greenback Party, 735 
Greencastle, 680, 707 

Greene County, .131, 147, 181, 282, 596, 597, 
775, 920 _ 

Greene, General Nathaniel, 571, 691, 834, 861 
Greenleaf, Thomas, 641 
Greens, 292 
Greensburg, 88, 100 
Greensweigs, 918 
Greenville, 573 
Greenway, Robert, 531 


Grenville, Lord George, 778 

Greevy, Thomas H., 473, 474 

Gregg, Andrew, 69 

Gregg, General David McMurtrie, 452 

Grey, General Charles, 352, 652 

Grier, David, 570 

Grier, Joseph, 661 

Grier, Judge Robert Cooper, 38 

Griffiths, Alderman, 682 

Gripsholm, 667 

Griscom, Andrew, 150 

Griscom, Elizabeth, 79 

Groshong, Jacob, 343 

Grove, Adam, 819 

Grove, Micheal, 211, 819 

Grow, Galusha A., 195, 278 

Growden, Grace, 593 

Growden, Joseph, 269 

Growden, Lawrence, 593 

Grubb, Curtis, 669 

Grubb, Captain John, 154 

Grube, Rev. Bernard Adam, 712 

Grumbine, Professor E., 25 

Grundy, Thomas H., 88 

Guelph, 871 

Guerriere, 624 

Guffy, Alexander, 297 

Guinea, 113 

Gurney, Francis, 292 

Gurney’s, Henry, 89 

Guss, A. L. (quoted), 507 

Gustavus, 229 

Guyasuta (Indian), 126, 549, 550, 749 

Gwynedd Meeting, 736 

Gwyther, Squire Thomas, 49, 108, 558 


H 

Hackett, Thomas, 474 

Haeger, Rev. John L., 407 

Haigue, William, 150 

Hail Columbia, 13, 790 

Haldeman, John, 731 

Haldeman Island, 63 

Hale, Captain Matthew, 789 

“Half Moon” (ship), 588, 742 

Half King, 66 

Halifax, 16, 42, 228 

Halkett, Colonel, 133, 470 

Hall, Carpenters’ (see Carpenters’ Hall) 

Hall, Colonel, 823 

Hall, David, 898 

Hall, David Jr., 899 

Hall, E. S., 369 

Hall, Independence (see Independence 
Hall) 

Hall, Joseph, 517 _ 

Hall, Pennsylvania, 7 
Hall, William, 899 
Hall & Pierre, 899 
Hall & Sellers, 570, 898 
Hallam, James, 270 
Hallam, Mrs., 270 
Haller, Mr., 121 
Hailing, Dr. S., 224 
Hall’s Station, 618 
Hail’s Stone House, 618 

Hambright’s, Captain John, Expedition, 
Story, 770 
Hambus, 74 
Hamilton, Mr., 631 

Hamilton, General Alexander, 861, 862, 

872 

Hamilton, Andrew, 594, 749, 832 
Hamiiton, Captain Hance, 178, 698, 761 
Hamilton, Colonel Henry, 730, 751 
Hamilton, James, 67, 76, 92, 105, 127 132, 
133, 172, 205, 224, 226, 268, 316, 318, 321, 359, 
413, 562, 563, 660, 703, 705, 718, 719, 749, 
763, 806, 911, 912, 917, 919 
Hamilton, John, 89 
Hamiiton, Robert, 212 



938 


INDEX 


Hamilton, William, 60, 75 

Hammond, 400, 457 

Hammond, General Robert H., 252 

Hampton, Va., 522 

Hampton Institute, 8 

Hampton, General Wade, 524, 706 

Hancock, 775 

Hancock, John, 77, 291, 816 
Hancock, General Winfield Scott, 453, 648 
Hand, General Edward, 140, 224, 225, 226, 
296, 309, 490, 507, 605, 606, 654, 728 
Hand’s Expedition, General, Story, 728 
Hand-in-Hand, 860 
Hanjost (Indian), 633 
Hanna, General John A., 215 
Hanna, Robert, 100, 148, 178, 477 
Hanna, Senator, 852 
Hannastown, 99, 145, 477, 490, 660 
Hannastown, Burning of, Story, 477 
Hannah (Indian), 437 
Hanover, 492 
Hanover Junction, 453 
Hanover, Township, 23, 173 
Hansen, Andrew, 610 
Hansen, Catherine, 610 
Hansson, Mathys, 667 
Hanway, Castner, 8 
Hardin, Captain John, 164, 168 
Hardin, General John, 164 
Hardin, Lieutenant, 549 
Hardings, 456 
Hardman (Chief), 750 
Hardman, Hannah, 76 
Hare, Robert, 357 
Harman’s Creek, 585 
Harmar, General Josiah, 3, 572, 766, 849 
Harmar’s Defeat, 766 
Harmony, 120, 121, 122 
Harner, Mrs. Abigail, 369 
Harnick, Captain, 348 
Harper’s Ferry, 51, 219, 680 
Harrigar, Andrew, 577 
Harris, Captain (Indian), 236 
Harris, John, 135, 401, 496, 744, 912 
Harris, Mary McClure, 496 
Harris, Robert, 136 
Harris, Samuel, 907 
Harris, Samuel, 401 

Harris’ Ferry, 16, 58, 59, 227, 228, 235, 236, 
248, 321, 322, 392, 393, 430, 461, 711, 726, 
744, 905 

Harrisburg, 4, 5, 8, 23, 26, 33, 34, 37, 39, 40, 
50, 58, 65, 68, 69, 70, 110, 132, 135, 136, 
215, 236, 248, 276, 277, 279, 288, 298, 321, 
434,_ 451, 453, 473, 474, 496, 497, 500 
Harrisburg, Academy, 497 
“Harrisburg Chronicle,” 4 
Harrisburg, Portsmouth, Mount Joy and 
Lancaster Railroad, 233 
Harrisburg & Presque Isle Company, 154 
Harrison, Benjamin, 101 
Harrison, George, 357 
Harrison, George L., 734 
Harrison, James, 150, 209 
Harrison, Professor James A., 204 
Harrison, John, 819 
Harrison, Major, 404 
Hart, Joseph, 60, 419, 664 
Harter, Benjamin, 350 
Hartley, George, 616 

Hartley, Colonel Thomas, 229, 366, 458, 
468, 616 

Hartman, Henry, 758 

Hartranft, Governor John F., 48, 193, 316, 
647, 733 

Hartsfelder, Jurian, 696 

Hartshorne, Richard, 717 

Harvard, 328 

Harvey, Benjamin, 905 

Harvey, Benjamin Sr., 906 

Harvey, Henry L., 387 

Harvey, Oscar, J. (Authorities consulted) 


Harvey’s Creek, 905 
Harvey’s Landing, 905 
Hasellum, Thomas, 793 
Hassel, Mayor, 859 
Hasset, Gilles, 856 

Hastings, Governor Daniel H., 86, 379 
Hastings, Henry, 792 
Hastings, John, 69, 150 
Hatboro, 307 
Hatfield, Township, 190 
Hauer, Barbara, 887 
Hauer, Catherine Z., 887 
Hauer, John Nicholas, 887 
Hausegger, Nicholas, 306 
Havre de Grace, 818 
Hawley, Charles I., 88 
Hay, Captain George, 571 
Hayes, Alfred, 9 
Hayes, James, 306 
Hayes, Thomas, 173 
Hayes, William, 380 
Hayhurst, John, 861 
Plays, Captain, 917 
Hays, Christopher, 149, 163 
Hays, John Casper, 713 
Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania, 902 
Hazard, Samuel, 880 
Hazelhurst, Hon. Isaac, 49 
Hazelwood, Commodore John, 417, 670 
Hazen, Colonel Moses, 740 
Hazle, Edward, 226 
Head, John B., 88 
Head of Iron, 303 
Hean, Captain B. Y., 473 
Heart-in-Hand, 860 
Heaton & Company, 49, 108 
Heaton, Robert, 49, 108 
Heberling, Solomon, 344 
Heckewelder, Rev. John, 282, 304, 361, 584, 
621 

Hecksher’s Grove, 558 

Heebner, George, 31 

Heidelberg, 16, 66, 798 

Heidelberg Township, 562 

Himrod, John, 326, 327 

Himrod, Martha, 327 

Helm, Israel, 396, 792 

Hempfield, 300 

Henderson, J. J., 88 

Hendricks, Jan, 792 

Hendricks, John, 337, 364 

Hendricks, Gerhardt, 112, 696 

Hendricks, Captain William, 306, 508, 758 

Hendrickson, Albertus, 150 

Hendrickson, Cornelius, 856 

Hendrickson, Yethro, 150 

Plenlopen, 666 

Henlopen Cape, 600 

Henlopen Light House, 385 

Henry, Colonel, 282 

Henry, John Joseph, 331, 509, 556 

Henry, Patrick, 490, 644, 749 

Henry, William, 287, 565, 571 

Henry, William (Indian) 282 

Hepburn, James, 296 

Hepburn, Colonel William, 401 

Hercules, 745 

Herdic Park, 474 

Herdic, Peter, 474 

Herkimer County (New York) Historical 
Society, 118 

Hermit of Blue Hill, 287 
IPerold’s, 732 

Herring, Old Friend Pickle, 269 
IPerrnhut, 866 
Ilerrnhutters, 866 
Herron’s Branch, 680 
Hess, Henry, 235 

Hessians, 70, 110, 504 , 505, 629, 668 
Hester, Pat, 49 
Heston, Senator, 136 
Heverling, Jacob, 209 



INDEX 


939 


Hewes, William, 150 

Hewitt, Thomas, 209 

Heyne, John C., 32 

Hibernians, Ancient Order of, 47, 642 

Hickman, Thomas, 173, 380 

Hickok, Charles N., 178 

Hicks, Gilbert, 308 

Hickoqueon, 437 

Hidon, 151 

Hiester, Catherine, 808 
Hiester, Daniel, 136, 215, 645, 808 
Hiester, John, 808 

Hiester, Governor Joseph, 136, 435, 605, 
804, 808, 895 

Higgenbotham, Captain, 823 
High Dutch Pennsylvania Journal, 899 
Highlanders, 170, 636 
Higgins (Tory), 225 
Hiles, Colonel Samuel, 332 
Hill, General A. P., 452 
Hill, Henry, 380, 922 
Hill, Commissioner, 806 
Hill, Richard, 764 
Hillegas, Michael, 61 
Hills, Stephen, 5 
Hillsborough, Earl of, 787 
Himrod, John, 326, 327 
Himrod, Martha, 327 
Hiokatoo, 246, 326, 514, 614, 813 
Historic Tales of Olden Times, 902 
History of Battle of Gettysburg (quoted), 
812 

History of the Brethren, 884 
History of Lincoln (quoted), 811 
History Moravian Church of Philadelphia, 
513 

History of Wyoming (quoted), 634 

Hjort, Reverend, 666 

Hobart, Captain, 348 

Hockesson Meeting House, 503 , 628 

Hockley, Thomas, 60 

Hog Island, 672 

Hoge, Jonathan, 186, 484 

Hogg, Lieutenant, 620 

Holcroft, John, 688 

Holland, 856 

Hollenback, Matthais, 457, 893 
Hollander, Peter, 231 
Holler, Ensign, 110 
Hollidaysburg, 257 
Hollowday, James, 761 
Holmes, Thomas, 150, 531 
Holmes, Captain George, 446 
Holmesburg, 249 
Holt, Colonel, 631 
Holt, John, 641 
Holy Club, 313 
Home for Actors, 249 
Homestead, 87 
Homman, Andrew, 396 
Honesdale, 232 
Honest John (Indian), 271 
Hood, General John B., 454 
Hooghkamer Hendrik, 231 
Hooker, General Joseph, 451 
Hoopes, Adam, 319, 760, 892 
Hooper, Robert L., 922 
Hoorn, 856 . 

Hoover, William, 500 
Hopkins House, 854 
Hopkins, James, 288 
Hopkins, Robert, 683 
Hopkins, William,. 851 
Hopkinson, Francis, 13 
Hopkinson, Joseph, 790 
Horekill, 447 
“Hornet’ , (ship), 324 
Horse Island, 143 
Horse & Groom, 249 
Horse, Philadelphia Light, 503 
Horsfield, Thomas, 222 
Horticulture Hall, 882 


Hospitals, Military. 222, 601 

Hosterman, Colonel, 400, 819 

Hosterman, Peter, 209 

Hot Water War, 189, 190, 191 

House Tax, 189 

Houston, Dr. James, 224 

Houston, Robert J., 735 

Hovenden’s Loyalists, 307 

Howard, 46 

Howard, General, 452 

Howard, Nicholas, 218 

Howe, Admiral Richard, 13, 308, 347, 352, 


Howe, Sir William, 72, 107. 347, 352, 358, 
381, 416, 503, 533, 545, 595, 6^7, 690, 849, m, 

908 

Howell, Mrs., 76 
Howell, Reading, 731 
Howell, Samuel, 780 
Howelville, 652 
Hoyer, George, 136 
Hoyt, Henry Martyn, 733 
Hubbard, William, 252 
Hubley, Colonel Adam, 367, 634 
Hudde, Andreas, 125, 667 
Huddle, Joseph, 920 
Hudson, Henry, 588, 742, 856 
Hudson River, 124, 523 
Huffnagle, Michael, 149 
Hughes, John, 268 
Hughes, Barney, 59, 63 
Hughes, Ellis, 209, 674 
Hughes, F. W., 49, 109 
Hughes, John, 541, 779 
Huguenots, 32 
Hull, General William, 624 
Hulings, Marcus, 301, 516 
Hume, David, 98 
Hummellstown, 461, 891 
Humphreys, 459 
Humphreys, Charles, 611 
Humphreys, James Jr., 899 
Humpton, Colonel, 653 
Hunt, General, 455 
“Hunter” (ship) 841 

Hunter, General David (Civil War), 519 
Hunter, Alexander, 209 
Hunter, Mrs., 462 
Hunter, Robert, 23, 639 
Hunter, Colonel Samuel, 61, 209, 229, 265, 
295, 305, 306, 445, 461, 462, 555, 615, 616, 
674, 718, 907 

Hunter, Samuel H., 265 
Hunter’s Mills, 23, 24, 371 
Hunting Club, 834 
Huntingdon, 421, 850 

Huntingdon County, 70, 177, 180, 181, 219, 
254, 422, 596, 619 
Huntingdon Furnace, 219 
Hunsicker, Daniel, 306 
Hurley, Mr., 299 
Hurley, Thomas, 559 
Huron, Lake, 743 
Ilursh, Samuel, 252 
Huston, 890 

Huston, Hon. Charles, 179 
Huston, Joseph M., 137 
Hutchins, John, 921 
Huyghen, Hendrick, 230 


I 


lam, William, 474 
Impeachment:—McKean, 876 
Impeachment:—Dr. Moore, 340 . 

Impeachment:—Yeates, Shippen, Smith, 


874 „ . 

Inauguration:—Governor Curtin, 39, 40, 
Inauguration:—Governor Mifflin, 895 
Independence Hall, 382, 810, 883 
Indian Council, 235, 236 
Indian Head (Girty’s Notch), 42 
Indian Helper (Publication), 523 


41 



940 


INDEX 


Indian Outrages, Berks County, 797 
Indian Queen Tavern, 421 
Indian Walk, 536, 747 
“Indiana” (ship), 883 

Indiana County, 147, 156, 181, 208, 596, 775 

Ingersoll, Jared, 643, 872 

Ingham, Samuel B., 69 

“In God We Trust,” 433 

Inland Waterways, 731 

In Old Pennsylvania Towns, 744 

Inquifer, Philadelphia, 435 

Inskeep & Bradford, 115 

Insley, Captain, 270 

Institute, Hampton, 8 

Institute, Tuskegee, 8 

Intelligencer, Harrisburg (quoted), 568 

Intelligencer, Lancaster, 767 

Invasion:—Lee’s, 626 

Invasion:—McCausland’s 519, 520, 521 

Ironcutter, John, 27, 28, 686 

Iron Foundry (Pittsburgh), 201 

Iron Hill, 627 

Ironsides, Old, 21, 22 

Irvin, Robert, 819, 820 

Irvine, James, 306 

Irvine, General William, 3, 152, 176, 186, 
216, 217, 240, 306, 375, 376, 545, 584, 617, 
713, 739, 740, 741, 870 
Irvine, Mrs. William, 713 
Irwin, Joseph, 179 
Irwin; Matthew, 922 
Irwin, Thomas, 922 
Isaac (Indian) 425 
Isle of Que, 721 
“Isis” (ship), 671 
Italy, 327 
Izard, Ralph, 915 


J 


Jack, John, 585, 622 
Jack, John, Jr., 623 
Jackham, 436 
Jack’s Narrows, 256 

Jackson, President Andrew, 184, 263, 804 
Jackson, Major, 144 
Jackson, Philip, 585 

Jackson, Thomas J. (Stonewall), 203, 888 

Jackson, William, 643 

Jackson and Sharpless, 518 

Jacob, French, 343 

Jacob (Indian), 176 

Jacobs, Captain (Indian) 526, 619 

Jacobs, Henry, 396 

Jacobs, John, 484 

Jacob’s “Life of Cresap” (quoted), 361 

Jacobson, Rev. Henry (quoted) 513 

Jacques Island, 123, 858 

Jaequet, John Paul, 667 

Tames I., 717 

James II., 598 

James, Duke of York, 28, 84, 446, 792 

James, Edward, 30 

James, Gomer, 48, 108, 559, 770 

James, Joshua, 173 

James’ Loyalists, 307 

James, Mesheck, 761 

James River, 677 

Jamestown, 505, 677 

Japan, 430 

Jargin, Captain Hans, 792 
Jarvis, 436 
Jay, John, 779 
Jay’s Treaty, 52, 779 
Jefferson County, 87, 156, 181, 208, 596 
Jefferson, Thomas, 53, 182, 194, 237, 361, 
386, 460, 490, 789 
Jeffries, Lieutenant, 733 
Jemison, Betsy, 245 
Jemison, Jane Erwin, 244 


Jemison, Jesse, 246 
Jemison, John, 246, 815 
Jemison, Mary, 244, 813 
Jemison, Matthew, 245 
Jemison, Robert, 245 
Jemison, Thomas, 244, 815 
Jemison, Thomas, Jr., 246, 815 
Jenkins “Pennsylvania Colonial and Fed¬ 
eral,” 189, 646 
Jenkins, Eleanor, 203 
Jenkins, General Albert G., 707 
Jenkins, James, 287 
Jenkins, Major John, 438, 456 
Jenkins, John M., 203 
Jenkins, Joseph, 203 
Jenkins, Julia Rush Miller, 202 
Jenkins, William, 203 
Jennings, John, Sheriff, 428 
Jennings, Solomon, 650 
Jenoshawdego, 732 
Jericho Hill, 861 

Jersey Shore, 337, 398, 461, 555, 711 
Jeskakake, 126, 841 
Jesuit, 86 

Jockum, Peter, 792 
John, Captain, 732 
John (Indian), 211 
“John” (ship), 340 

John, Earl of Dunmore (see Dunmore) 

Johnnie, Coal Oil, 592 

Johnson, President Andrew, 882 

Johnson, General Bradley, 520, 707 

Johnson (Indian) 524 

Johnson, Mr., 25 

Johnson, Francis, 155 

Johnson, J. B., 865 

Johnson, John, 622 

Johnson, Sir John, 456 

Johnson, Richard, 284 

Johnson, General Richard W. (Union 
officer), 454 

Johnson, Sir William, 63, 170, 235, 303, 321, 
492, 773, 781 

Johnstons, The Two, 367 
Johnstown, 232, 377 
Jonassen, Keeles, 396 
Joncaire, 321, 839 
Jones, 447 

Jones (Indian), 26, 792 
Jones, Abel, 780 
Jones, Charles, 823 
Jones, Henry, 396 
Jones, John P., 47, 316, 557 
Jones, John Paul, 410 
Jones, Peter, 820 
Jones, Thomas, 558, 793 
Jones, U. J. (quoted), 177, 395 
Jordan, Hon. Alexander, 499 
Jordan, David, 630 
Jordan’s Knobs, 320 
Jordan’s Meeting House, 734 
“Journal,” 644 

Journal, Colonel James Burd’s, 686 
Juan, Story of, 477 
Judd, Major William, 674 
Judea, 673, 903 
Jumonville, 133 

Juniata County, 73, 74, 181, 208, 596, 598, 

918 


Juniata Crossing, 178 

Juniata Falls, 393 

Juniata Narrows, 255 

Juniata River, 63, 73, 74, 75. 619 

Juniata Valley, 73, 74, 75, 619 

Junkin, Eleanor, 202 

Junkin, Rev. George, 202 

Junkin, Margaret, 202 

Junto, Philadelphia, 435, 804 

Jurian, Hans, 397 

Jury, First, Story of, 791 

Justice, Binns’, 435 



INDEX 


941 


K 

Kachlein, Colonel Andrew, 60 

Kaercher, George, 109 

Kakowwatchy, 300 

Kalb, Baron de, 77 

Kalbfus, Daniel, 49 

Kandt (Indian), 700 

Kane, Marshall, 8, 277 

Kansas, 50 

Kansas Bill, 50 

Kansas-Nebraska Bill, 881 

Katepacomen, 42 

Kaye, John, 325 

Kechlin, Sheriff Peter, 560 

Kedar, 464 

Keen, Reynold, 308 

Kelso, General Thomas, 333 

Kelso’s Ferry, 110 

Kemble, Charles, 251 

Kegs, Battle of, 12, 13, 14 

Keith, Governor Sir William, 44, 129, 160, 
407, 414, 535, 536, 805, 861 
Keith, Lady Ann, 807 
Keith’s School, 159 
Kekelappan, 436 
Kektuscung (Indian), 372 
Keller, Judge William H., 88 
Kelly, Edward, 47, 557 
Kelly, James, 254 
Kelly, James K., 254 
Kelly, John, 823 

Kelly, Colonel John, 211, 252, 463, 468, 469, 
470, 616 

Kennedy, Andrew, 877 
Kennedy, Mr., 664 
Kennedy, Thomas B., 520 
Kennedy’s Gazette, 189 
Kennet Square, 504 , 628 
Kensington Railroad Riots, 466 
Kenton, Simon, 43 
Kentucky, 736 

Kephart, Judge John W., 88 

Kergan, Valentine, 5 

Kern, Adjutant, 759 

Kern, John, 306 

Kernville, 378 

Kerrel, Hugh, 510 

Kerrigan, James, 47, 193, 315 

Kessler, Rev. John, 568 

Keystone State, 460 

Kidnap, Plot to, Governor Snyder, 783 

Kieft, William, 124, 230 

Kien, Jonas, 792 

Kier, Mr., 592 

Kikionga, 766 

Kilborn, 439 

Kildea, Patrick, 847 

Killbuck, Chief, 174, 281, 655, 751 

Killbuck Island, 174, 283 

Kilner, James, 30 

Kilpatrick, General Hugh J., 453 

Kimball’s Tavern, 887 

King, Rufus, 872 

King, Ruth, 400 

King, Sarah, 400 

King, Thomas, 701 1 

King, Thomas (Indian), 236 

King, William, 400 

King’s Son, 620 

Kingsesse, Story, 396, 580, 667 

Kingsley, Mrs. Nathan, 765 

Kingston, 492 

Kinsman, John, 150 

Kirk, General, 743 

Kirk, Moses, 516 

Kirkbride, Joseph, 60 

Kirkpatrick, Abraham, 688 

Kishcoquillas Creek, 525 

Kiskiminitas, 100, 167, 838 

Kittanning, 145, 258, 310, 525, 526, 619, 911 


Kittanning, Hero of, 911 
Kittanning Hills, 917 
Kittanning Path, 619 
Kiyasuta, 586 
Kline, Jacob, 190 
Klinesmith, Baltzer, 344 
Klinesmith, Catherine, 344 
Klinesmith, Elizabeth, 344 
Kling, Maus, 124, 230, 609 
Knight, Dr. John, 404, 815 
Knipe, Captain J. P., 277, 441 
Know Nothing Party, 34, 389, 863 
Knox, General John, 222, 440, 861 
Knyphausen, General, 308, 348, 352, 443, 
503, 504, 628 
Kock, Per, 231 
Konigsmark, 447 
Kowatz, 618 
Kreitz Valley, 820 
Kremer, George, 819 
Krishelm, 696 
Kuhn, Captain, 442 
Kuhn, Simon Adam, 798 
Kurtz, Rev. John Nicholas, 757 
Kuskusky, 265, 424, 722 
Kuskuskee, New, 425 

L 


Labor Reform Journal, 474 
Labor Riots, 646 
Lacey, John, 307 

Lackawanna County, 182, 208, 596, 598, 775 
Lackawanna Creek, 394, 439 
Lackawanna, Navigation, 131, 367 
Lackawaxen, 93, 500, 651 
Lacock, General Abner, 136, 201, 262, 263 
“Ladies’ Home Journal,” 532 
Laersen, Neeles, 792 
Lafayette College, 202 
Lafayette (Indiana), 323 
Lafayette, Marquis de, 2, 83, 222, 308, 309, 
352, 353, 444, 445, 504, 571, 597, 603, 641, 
836, 838, 863 
La Grande Maison 893 


Laincourt, Count, 894 
Laird, Senator, 136 
Lake Erie, Battle of, 624 
Lake Shore Line, 863 
Lamberton, George, 446 
Lambs; Gibson’s, 486 
Lame Indian, Davy, the, 375 
Lamon, Ward H., 812 

Lancaster, 5, 34, 58, 69, 70, 71, 72, 79, 81, 
121, 135, 159, 172, 235, 237, 254, 282, 288, 289, 
-322, 325, 331, 332, 394, 418, 427, 482, 483, 
484, 508, 509 „ _ _ 

Lancaster County, 8, 23, 25, 34, 51, 60, 62, 
67, 131, 134, 159, 172, 179, 180, 181, 187, 
191, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 216, 217, 249, 

252, 254, 308, 311, 320, 332, 339, 416, 419, 

463, 482, 498, 505, 508, 509, 541, 564, 582, 

596, 606, 617, 678, 731, 783, 821, 853, 880, 

886, 896, 916 

Lancaster Workhouse, 912 
Land Purchase, Great, 562 
Landing Day, 734 
Landis, John B., 712 
Langdon, F. W. S., 48, 770, 846 
Langdon, John, 872 
Langlon Fencibles, 474 
Lansford, 47, 557 
Lapacpicton, 721 
La Salle, 318, 411, 841 
Last Night (Indian), 700 
Latta, James W., 647 
Laughlin, Captain, 587 
Laurel Hill, 93, 902 
Laurel Hill or Range, 162, 323 
Lavoisier, M., 98 
Lawlor, Anne, 482 
Lawmolach, 800 



942 


INDEX 


“Lawrence” (ship), 625 
Lawrence County, 147, 156, 181, 185, 309, 
361, 596, 597 
Lawrence, John, 418 
Lawrence, Thomas, 693 
Lawshe’s Hotel, 878 
Lawson, Alexander, 580 
Lawson, James, 249 
Lawunakhanna, 424, 425 
Leach, Thomas, 382 
Lebanon, 247, 381, 732 

Lebanon County, 25, 66, 131, 181, 564, 582, 
596, 837 

Lebanon, Fort (see Fort Lebanon) 
Lebanon Valley Railroad, 242 
Lebo, Mr. H., 33, 34, 35 
LeBoeuf (see Fort LeBoeuf) 

Lechmere’s Point, 509, 606 

Ledger, Evening Public, 533 

Ledger, Pennsylvania, 899 

Ledger, The Public, 533 

Lee, Arthur, 308 , 914 

Lee, Charles, 835 

Lee, Eliza, 556 

Lee, Fitzhugh, 442 

Lee, John, 554 

Lee, Mrs. John, 554, 555, 556 

Lee, Rebecca, 556 

Lee, Richard Henry, 419, 459, 689, 915 
Lee, Robert, 555, 556 

Lee, General Robert E., 203, 222, 280, 624, 
707 

Lee, Thomas, 555, 556 
Lee’s Invasion, 40 
Leet, Daniel, 164 
Leffler, Jacob, 282 
Legion, Wayne’s, 572 

Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, 111, 
131 

Lehigh County, 181, 190, 596, 598 
Lehigh Water Gap, 651 
Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, 
48, 846 

Lehighton, 579 

Leib, Dr. Michael, 434, 783, 803, 804, 876 

Leib, Duane & Company, 435 

Leininger, Barbara, 722 

Leininger, Rachel, 722 

Leipers Stone Quarry, 838 

Lemon, Thomas, 209 

Leonard, Patrick, 201 

LeRoy, Anna, 723 

LeRoy, Marie, 722 

LeRoy, Jacob, 722 

Lesher, John, 485 

Leslie, Andrew, 561 

Letchworth Park, 246 

Letitia House, 75 

Le Tort, James, 415, 553, 884 

“Levant” (ship), 583 

Level Corner (Pennsylvania), 555 

Lewis, Andrew, 655 

Lewis, David, 217, 222 

Lewis, Ellis, 191, 669 

Lewis, Elijah, 8 

Lewis, Major, 637 

Lewis, Margaret Lynn, 145 

Lewis, Robert, 60 

Lewis. Township, 614 

Lewis, William, 895 

Lewisburg, 9, 432, 554, 772 

Lewistown, 277, 525, 630, 918 

Lewistown Riot, 630 

Lexington Battle, 18, 54, 60, 81, 290 

Lexington, Virginia, 203 

Liberator, The, 6 

Liberties, 373 

Liberty Bell, 81, 382, 504 

Liberty Island, 324 

Library, Philadelphia, 45 

Lick, John, 722 

Lick, Peter, 722 


Lick, William, 722 

“Life of Cresap,” Jacob’s, 363 

Life of Zinzindorf, 866 

Ligneris, M. de, 828 

Ligonier, 100, 148, 309, 388 , 489 

Ligonier, Fort (see Fort Ligonier) 

Ligonier Valley, 148, 309 

Lince, Dennis, 150 

Lincoln, Abraham, 40, 196, 270, 301, 326, 
433, 501, 740, 810, 888 
Lincoln, Mordecai, 301 
Lincoln University, 8 
Lincoln’s Address, 810 
Linden, 557 
Linden, R. J., 109, 315 
Lindstorm, 666 
Line, Pennsylvania, 1, 2, 3 
Linn, John Blair, 27, 189, 261, 445 
Linn, William, 486 
Linn, Judge William B., 88 
Linneas, Carlolus, 212 
Lititz, 159, 602 
Littell, John S., 285 
Little Beard, Chief, 814 
Little Beard’s Town, 138, 633 
Little Billy, 241 
Little Britain Township, 564 
Little Castle, 633 
Little Conewaugh River, 377 
Little, John, 515, 516 
Little, Kanawha, 528 
Little Meadows, 470 
Little Raccoon Creek, 585 
Little Schuylkill, Navigation, 232, 242 
Little Tinicum, 858 
Little Turtle (Indian), 766 
Littlehales, William H., 48, 192, 193, 194, 
846 

Liverpool, 41, 721 
“Liverpool” (ship), 324, 671 
Livezey, Thomas, 284 
Livingston, Colonel Henry, 367 
Livingston, Edward, 901 
Livingston, Harriet, 566 
Livingston, Philip, 872 
Livingston, Robert R., 459, 566 
Livingston, Walter, 566 
Lloyd, David, 159 
Lloyd, Hugh, 60 
Lloyd, Susan, 71 

Lloyd, Thomas, 59, 71, 85, 128, 682, 843 

Lock, 610 

Lock, Carolus, 447 

Lock Haven, 221, 228, 433, 473, 475, 614, 
770, 911 

Lockman, Rev. Dr. A, 4 
Lockport Run, 415 
Lochiel Hotel, 852 

Lockrey, Archibald, 101, 149, 163, 164, 527, 
731 

Lochry Expedition, 480 
Lochry’s Run, 529 
Lochrey, William, 178 
Lodge, Grand F. & A. M., 332 
Lodge, Jonathan, 209 
Lodge, No. 22, of Sunbury, 332 
Lodge, Perseverance No. 21, Harrisburg, 
891 

Loe, Thomas, 715 
Loeoch’s George, 16 
Logan, Chief, 361, 721 
Logan Guards, 277 
Logan, Hannah, 753 

Logan, James, 57, 75, 77, 160, 161, 213, 300, 
338, 361, 408, 449, 500, 536, 669, 682, 748, 
752, 763, 765, 806, 866, 885 
Logan, James (Indian), 886 
Logan, Patrick, 752 
Logan, Sir Robert, 752 
Loganton, 772 

Logstown, 126, 321, 489, 800, 839 
Loller, Robert, 380 



INDEX 


943 


Lomas, William, 250 

Lomison, Hamelius, 820 

London, 45, 677, 829 

London Company, 659 

London Corresponding Society, 802 

London Tower, 434, 598 

“Long Finn,” 447 

Long House, 448 

Long, Joseph, 623 

Long Narrows, 630 

Long, Peter, 750 

Longnecker, Speaker, 724 

Longstreet, 453, 706 

“Long Talk,” 434 

Lords of Trade, 323 

Lorimer, George Horace, 533 

Loskiel (quoted), 885 

Lossing (quoted), 363 

Lost Sister of Wyoming, 765 

Lotteries, 274, 285 

Louis XIV., 412 

Louis XVII., 892 

Louisiana, 487 

Lovelace, Francis, 446 

Low, Captain John S., 442 

Lowden, John, 508 

Lowdon, John, 209, 210 

Lower Counties, 92, 843 

Lower Smithfield Township, 235 

Lowescroft, 165 

Lowrey, 70 

Lowrey, Morrow B., 865 

Loyalhanna, 100, 149, 827 

Loyalists, Hovenden’s, 307 

Loyalists, James’, 307 

Loyalist Politician, 593 

Loyalsock Creek, 400 

Loxley, Benjamin, 292 

Lucas, Robert, 530 

Ludget, Joseph, 474 

Ludwig, Mary, 712 

Ludwig, John George, 712 

Lukens, Charles, 305, 422 

Lukens, Jesse, 209, 902, 908 

Lukens, John, 10, 101, 385, 422, 496, 662, 908 

“Lumber City,” 472 

Lumm, Mary, 355 

Lurgan Township, 10 

Lundy’s Lane, 334 

Luzerne County, 131, 135, 180, .181, 182, 208, 
216, 299, 440, 563, 564, 596, 597, 775, 854, 893 
Luzerne, M. de, 426 
Lycans, Andrew, 172, 173, 174 
Lycans, John, 173, 174 

Lycoming County, 33, 121, 180, 181, 208, 
212, 366, 398, 432, 474, 587, 596, 598, 639, 
673, 775, 893 

Lycoming Creek Massacre, Story, 400 
Lycoming Gazette, 498 
Lycoming River, 618 
Lyderberg, Ambassador, 666 
Lykens Valley, 172, 173, 174 
Lynchburg, Virginia, 146 
Lyon, Lieutenant, 418 
Lyon, Patrick, 860 
Lyttleton, Fort, 918 


M 

MacDonald, Jane, 10 
MacDonald, John, 515, 516, 614 
Macgungie, 33 
Machree, Widow, 558 
Mack, Rev. John Martin, 16, 17, 475, 575, 
867 

Mackey, Aeneas, 145, 149 

Mackey, Justice, 660 

Mackinet, Daniel, 283 

Maclay, Major Charles, 877 

Maclay, Samuel, 732 , J 


Maclay, William, 9, 82, 155, 209, 461, 496, 
674, 746 

MacLean, David M., 518 
Maconaquah, 767 

Macpherson, General William, 191 
Macpherson Blues, 900 
Macready, William Charles, 251 
Madgeburg, 15 

Madison, James, 263, 662, 708, 872 
Magraw, Colonel Robert, 179, 248, 508, 908 
Magaw, William, 508 
Magazine, “American,” The, 116 
Magazine, “American” (Dr. Smith), 117 
Magazine First, 115, 116, 117 
Magazine, “General,” The, 116 
Magazine, “Godey’s,” The, 117 
Magazine, “Graham’s,” 117 
Magazine, “Harper’s,” 117 
Magazine, North American Review, 117 
Magazine, “Peterson’s,” 117 
Magazine, “Scribner’s,” 117 
Maghingue-Chahocking (Pennsylvania), 

Magistrate’s Manual, 435 
Maguire, Bartholomew, 422 
Maguire, Jane, 422 

Maguires, Mollie, 47, 107, 192, 314, 557, 768, 
845 


Mahantango Creek, 16, 684 
Mahoning, 309 
Mahanoy City, 48 

Mahanoy Creek, 16, 23, 73, 185, 227, 267, 408, 
746 

Mahanoy Mountains, 16 
Mahanoy Valley, 558 
Maidstone Jail, 434 
Major, George, 48, 768 
Major, Jesse, 770 
Major, William, 769 
Molatton, 302 
Malchaloa, 436 
Malden, 44 
Malibor, 436 
Malloy, John, 847 
Malone, Laughlin, 823 
Maloney, Thomas, 473 
Malvern Station, 653 
Manada Gap, 173, 757 
Manatawney, 300, 690 
Manatawney Creek, 242 
Manawhyhickon, 301 
Manear, Samuel, 33, 34, 35 
Man from Maine, 532 
Manhattan, 112 
Mann, Abraham, 341 
Mann, William B., 279 
Manor of Pittsburgh, 200, 489 
Manor of Stoke, 102 
Mansions of Bucks County as 
Headquarters, 861 
Manual Labor Academy, 202 
Marcus Hook, 334, 583 
Margaret, French, 540 
Maris, Mary, 212 
Market House, 690 
Market Street Bridge, 503 
Markham, Governor William, 28, 167, 328, 
340, 530, 599, 649, 755, 843 
Marlborough Township, 437 
Markoe, Peter, 292 
Marr (attorney), 192 
Marsh Creek, 244, 452 
Marshall College, 624 
Marshall, Edward, 536, 650 
Marshall, John, 382, 688, 910 
Marshall, O. H. (quoted), 412, 546 
Marshall’s Mill, 264 
Marshe, Witham, 639 
Marshel, County Lieutenant, 164 
Martin, Joseph, 510 
Martin, Luther, 872 
Martin, Robert, 484 



944 


INDEX 


Martin, Walter, 150 
Mary Ann Furnace, 483 
Mary, Queen, 832 
Maryland, 39, 921 
Maske, Manor of, 416 
Mason, Charles, 919 
Mason, Rev. D., 4 
Mason, David, 20, 21 
Mason, John, 2, 3, 286 
Mason, Richard, 860 
Mason’s Leaning Tower, 286 
Mason and Dixon’s Line, 50, 102, 203, 240, 
385, 414, 661, 708, 821, 919 
Masonic Ceremonies, 21 
Masonic Inn, 139 
Masonic Song, 139 
Masonry, 889 
Massacre, Allens’, 344 
Massacre, Cherry Valley, 366 
Massacre, Conocheague, 510 
Massacre, Conestoga, 305 
Massacre, Crooked Billet, 307 
Massacre, French Jacob’s, 343 
Massacre, Juanita Valley, 73, 74, 75 
Massacre, Mahanoy Creek, 23, 726 
Massacre, Paoli 

Massacre, Patterson’s, Story, 684 

Massacre, Penn’s Creek, 23, 720 

Massacre, Standing Stone, 421 

Massacre, Sugar Loaf, 616 

Massacre, Williamsport, 400 

Massacre, Wyoming, 366, 456, 718 

Master, 106 

Matilde (ship), 383 

Matlack, Timothy, 11, 60, 68, 485, 731 

Matson’s Ford, 309, 352 

Mattahoorn, 230 

Matthews, 348 

Mattson, Henrich, 231 

Mattson, Margaret, 150 

Mattson, Neels, 150 

Mauch Chunk, 47, 111, 232, 557, 839 

Maull, William M., 369 

Maxwell, James, 622 

Maxwell, General William, 367, 443, 503, 
628, 690 

Maxwell’s Light Infantry, 628 
Mayer, Mr., 363 
Maynard, Quincy, 299 
McAllister, Abdiel, 699 
McAllister, Archibald, 698, 699 
McAllister, Julian, 700 
McAllister, Charles, 315 
McAllister, Lieutenant, 306, 315 
McAllister, Matthew, 700 
McAllister, Richard, 570, 697 
McAllister’s Gap, 10 
McBride, Hannah, 264 
McCall, George A., 280 
McCalmont, James, 622 
McCann, Landlord, 769 
McCarron, Barney, 314 
McCarty, Henry J., 88 
McCausland, 519, 520, 521, 624, 707 
McClain, Jennie, 685 
McClelland, John, 163, 220 
McClenachen, Blair, 215, 693, 922 
McClintock, D., 623 
McClellan, General George B., 889 
McClure, Alexander K., 521, 864 
McClure, Mrs. A. K., 521 
McConkey, Elridge, 280 
McConkey’s Ferry, 909 
McConnell, John, 623 
McConnellsburg, 707 
McCormack’s Tavern, 266 
McCoy, Captain, 616 
McCoy, Robert, 830 
McCrea, Robert, 177 
McCullom, Father, 521 
McCullough, Archibald, 511 
McCullough, Elizabeth, 510 


McCullough, James, 510 
McCullough, James, Sr., 510 
McCullough, John, 153, 510 
McCullough Massacre, Story, 510 
McCullough, Mary, 510 
McCullough, Robert, 680 
McCullough, Thomas, 680 
McDevitt, James H., 500 
McDonald, Captain, 637 
McDonald, Captain John, 188, 326, 367, 614, 
814 

McDonald, Captain E., 277 
McDonald, James, 510 
McDonald, William, 510 
McDougall, General Alexander, 670, 690, 
691 

McDowell, John, 761 
McDowell, William, 623 
McDowell, William H., 520 
McDowell’s Mills, 280, 319, 760, 830 
McElhattan, 772 
McEwensville, 515 
McFadden, Jackson, 252 
McFarland, Colonel, 632 
McFarland, Daniel, 319, 830 
McFarlane, Andrew, Story, 145, 146, 147 
McFarlane, James, 145 
McFarlane, Justice, 660 
McFarlane, Margaret, 145 
McGehan, Hugh, 193, 314, 557 
McGinsey, Joseph A., 6 
McGrady, Alexander, 819 
McHenry, James, 189 
McHenry, Thomas, 891 
McHugh, Peter, 49 
Mclntire, Henry M., 279 
McIntosh, Fort (see Fort McIntosh) 
McIntosh, Colonel Lachlan, 140, 226, 311, 
618 

McKean County, 156, 181, 182, 208, 596 
McKean, Samuel, 69 

McKean, General Thomas, 60, 72, 159, 182, 
216, 419, 605, 803, 874, 875, 876, 895, 896 
McKee, 258 

McKee, Alexander, 43, 64, 224, 574 

MpKpp Tutn pq fid 

McKee! Thomas, 16, 24, 25, 62, 63, 64, 236, 
394, 798 

McKee’s Half Falls, 64 
McKee’s Rocks, 64, 224 
McKenna, James, 47, 108, 192, 193, 194, 314, 
557, 768, 845 
McKenna, Patrick, 847 
McKinley, John, 405 
McKnight, William, 296 
McKnight, Captain James, 277 
McKnight, James, Capture of, 295 
McKnight, Mrs. James, 296 
McKnight. Dr. Charles, 602 
McLane, Captain Allen, 349, 352, 693 
McLaughlin, James, 732 
McLaughlin, Samuel, 343 
McLean, John W., 279 
McLellan, William, 520 
McManning, Daniel, 265 
McMeen, William, 306 
McMullen, Daniel, 474 
McParlan, James, 47, 108, 109, 192, 193, 
194, 314, 557, 768, 845 
McPherson, Hon. Edward, 811 
McPherson, Hon., Donald P., 811 
McPherson, John, 820 
McQuoid, Anthony. 510 
McQuoid, James, 510 
McWilliams, Hugh, 906 
Meads, David, 733 

Meade, General George Gordon, 451, 882 
Meadville, 119, 333, 733, 834 
Mease, James, 922 
Meens, 287 

Meginness, John F., 588 
Mendenhall, Ann, 212 



INDEX 


945 


MehafFy, Andrew, 499 

Mellen, Mrs. Sarah, 369 

Memorials of Moravian Church, 541, 575 

Meng, Christopher, 283 

Mennonite, 318 

Mennonite Meeting House, 691 
Mercer County, 156, 181, 185, 208, 596, 597 
Mercer, General Hugh, 70, 496, 607, 619, 909 
Mercer, William A., 524 
Mercersburg, 6, 288, 519, 623, 707 
Mercersburg Academy, 624 
Mercier, Chevalier, 126 
Mercury, 115, 130, 386, 518, 897, 900 
Mercury, Transit of, 386 
Meredith, Hugh, 898 
Meredith, Samuel, 292, 357, 922 
Methodist Episcopal Sunday School Union, 
327 

Meredith, William M., 646 
Merlin (ship), 672 
Merricks, Hannah, 862 
Merricks, Robert, 861 
Merricks, Samuel, 862 
Merrill, Jesse, 252, 568 
Merritt, Jesse, 474 
Metoxen (Indian), 524 
Metuchen Hills, 690 
Metzger, John, 820 
Mexican War, 879 
Mexico (Pennsylvania), 525, 918 
Mexico, 685 
Mey, Cape, 589 

Mey, Cornelius Jacobson, 589, 856 
Meyer, E., 228 
Miami College, 202 
Michener, John H., 249 
Michler, Representative, 854 
Middleburgh, 27 
Middle Creek, 26 
Middletown, 130, 136, 248, 891 
Middletown Zouaves, 473 
Middlesworth, Honorable Ner, 568 
Mieley, Henry, 26 
Mieley, Martin, 26 
Mieker 50 

Mifflin County, 180, 181, 208, 216, 218, 596, 
597, 630 

Mifflin Fort, Siege of, Story, 670 
Mifflin, Samuel, 780, 922 
Mifflin, General Thomas, 69, 72, 152, 191, 

216, 247, 262, 268, 292, 357, 505, 597, 604, 

605, 611, 612, 643, 668, 679, 689, 694, 777, 

816, 817, 834, 836, 872, 895, 909, 922 

Mifflinburg, 210 
Mifflintown, 860 
Miles, Captain, 357 
Miles Family, 154 
Miles, James, 326 
Miles, Nathan, 395 

Miles, Colonel Samuel, 545, 570, 908, 922 
Miles, William, 154 
Milford, 493 

Militia, 45, 59, 204, 237, 508 
Mill Creek, 102, 124, 560, 799 
Mill Hall, 474 
Mill, Henry, 118 
Millard, Thomas, 150 
Miller, Henry, 570, 899 , 

Miller, Jeremiah, 299 
Miller, John, 179 
Miller, Lieutenant, 273 
Miller, Nicholas, 209 
Miller, Peter, 463, 465 
Miller, Robert, 812 
Miller, Locomotive, The, 22 
Miller, Thomas Craig, 853 
Miller, William, 177 
Millersburg, 797 
Miller’s Station, 480 
Millerstown, 247 
Millersville State Normal, 51 
Millet, Abraham, 508 


Mills, Captain, 694 
Mills, Samuel, 60 
Mills, Stephen, 136 
Millville, 378 
Milroy, 707 

Milton, 116, 188, 189, 202, 298, 306, 326, 327, 
402, 433, 491, 499, 515, 516, 615, 673, 674, 
708, 723, 860, 881 ’ 

Miner, Charles (quoted), 429, 634 
Mineral Point, 378 
Mingo, Bottom, 175 
Mingo, White, 26 
Minisink, 493, 500 
Minisink, Battle of, 500 
Minquas-kill, 230 
Minshall, Joshua, 338, 364, 823 
Mint, Story, 237 
Minuit, Peter, 123, 590 
Mischianza, 308, 347, 352, 417 
Mispillon, 230 
Missouri Compromise, 389 
Mitchell, Alexander, 823 
Mitchell, James, 415, 823 
Mitchell, John, 823 
Mitcheltree, Hugh, 685 
Mob, 630, 695 
Mock, Alexander, 463 
Moens, Hans, 792 
Mogulbughtition Creek, 185 
Mohawk Valley, 322 

Mollie Maguires, 47, 107, 192, 314, 557, 768, 
845 


Monacatootha, 227, 728, 800 
Monckton, Henry, 444 
Monmouth, Battle of, 443, 712 
Monmouth Court House, 443 
Monocacy Creek, 313 
Monongahela, 38, 52, 201, 517 
Monongahela Navigation, 131 
Monongalia County, Va., 163, 489 
Monroe County, 181, 235, 448, 564, 596, 651, 
710 


Monroe, President James, 53, 263, 837 
Monroe, Timothy, 568 
Montelius, 854 
Montgomery, 828 
Montgomery (ship), 324, 417, 910 
Montgomery, Colonel John, 908 
Montgomery County, 60, 131, 180, 190, 191, 
215 , 307, 335 , 336, 380, 596, 603, 645 
Montgomery, Fort (see Fort Montgomery) 
Montgomery, John, 614, 615, 616 
Montgomery, Thomas, 780 
Montgomery Township, Franklin County, 
510 


Montgomery, William, 60 
Montluissant, Monsieur, 348 
Montour, Andrew, 227, 305, 321, 476, 597, 
638, 727, 728, 868 

Montour County, 118, 120, 181, 208, 432, 596, 
597, 775 

Montour, Henry, 597 
Montour, John, 282, 638, 751 
Montour, Lewis, 235, 638 
Montour, Madame, 235, 553, 597, 638, 751, 
868 

Montour Mills, 232 
Montour, Monsieur, 770 
Montour, Queen Esther, 457 
Montour, Robert, 638 
Montour, Rowland, 638 
Montoursville, 868 
Montreal, 704 
Montule, M. Le, 893 
Moodie, Robert, 209, 674 
Moore, James, 60 
Moore, Jesse, 154 
Moore, Philip, 922 
Moore, Robert, 177 
Moore, Samuel, 239 
Moore, William, 708 
Mooresburg, 118 



946 


INDEX 


Moorehead, Samuel, 146 
Morse, Samuel F. B., 431 
Moravian Seminary and College for 
Women, 223 

Moravian Mission, Story, 359 

Moravian Synod, 31 

Moravians, 31, 105, 223, 359, 475, 824 

Moravians, Slaughter of, 824 

Moravians Visit Great Island, 475 

More, Doctor Nicholas, 340, 373, 756 

Moreland, 342 

More’s, 248 

Morin, Monsieur, 840 

Morgan, “Captain” William, 557, 850, 890 

Morgan, Commissioner, 268 

Morgan, Colonel Daniel, 352, 485, 870, 908 

Morgan, George, 323 

Morgan, Jacob, 484 

Morgan, Dr. John, 224, 922 

Morgan, Rice, 822 

Morgan’s Riflemen, 352 

Morgan, William, Story, 567 

Morory (quoted), 811 

Morrell, Isaac, 333 

Morris, Agnes, 696 

Morris, Major Anthony, 159, 267, 696, 871, 
910 

Morris, Cadwallader, 922 
Morris, Gouveneur, 643 
Morris, John, 484, 561 
Morris, Mr., of Baltimore, 298 
Morris, Robert, 18, 19, 24, 78, 80, 106, 133, 
237, 308, 335, 355, 358, 409, 459, 460, 469, 

483, 497, 595, 643, 693, 779, 872, 893, 915, 

921, 922 

Morris, Governor Robert Hunter, 59, 63, 
65, 67, 72, 133, 227, 267, 268, 272, 273, 319, 
320, 321, 370, 371, 393, 394, 395, 526, 619, 

722, 726, 757, 758, 759, 760, 761, 762, 797, 

916 

Morris, Captain Samuel, 910, 922 
Morris, Samuel C., 419, 693 
Morris House, 358 

Morristown, New Jersey, 1, 223, 848, 910 
Morrisville, 143, 838, 861 
Morrow, William, 680 
Morton, Rev. Allan John, 846 
Morton, John, 459, 611, 613, 779 
Morton, Robert, 459 
Mosse, Thomas, 150 
Mother of Counties, 180, 500 
Mott, James, 7, 8 
Mott, Henry, S., 390 
Mott, Lucretia, 6, 7, 8 
Moulder, Joseph, 292 
Mount Carbon, 242 
Mount Carmel, 110 
Mount Frederick School, 32, 33 
Mount Joy, 217, 307 
Mount Laffee, 47 
Mount Washington, 201 
Moylan, Stephen, 55 
Mud Island, 381, 670 
Muddy Run, 615 
Muench, Robert L., 500 
Muhlenberg, David, 215, 645 
Muhlenberg, Frederick Augustus, 247, 644, 
795 

Muhlenberg, Henry Augustus, 889 

Muhlenberg, Henry Melchoir, 513 

Muhlenberg, John Peter Gabriel, 186 

Muir, David, 47, 192, 845 

Mulhearn, Edward, 49 

Muncy, 515, 542 

Muncy Creek, 673 

Muncy, Fort, 515 

Muncy Hill, 295, 515, 615, 911 

Munc}r, Manor of, 260 

Municipal Council of Philadelphia, 46 

Munley, Thomas, 107, 193, 316 

Murdering Town, 800 

Murphy, Philip, 30 


Murphy, Robert S., 9 
Murphy, Timothy, 634 
Murray, James, 674 
Murray & Kean’s Company, 270 
Murray, Thomas, 820 
Musemelin, 254 
Musgrave, 652 
Muskingum, 42, 169, 304 
Muskwink, 494 

Mutiny in Pennsylvania Line, 1, 709 
Myers, Henry, 334 
Myerstown, 679 

N 

Nagel, George, 209, 508 

Naglee, Jacob, 284 

Nain, 711, 712, 781 

Nantes, 914 

Nanticoke Falls, 906 

Nanticoke Indians 17 

Nantucket, 6 

Napoleon, 893 

Nash, 690 

Nathaniel, 540 

National Artillery, 277 

Native American Party, 49, 881 

Native American Riots, 466 

Naugel, Frederic, 179 

Navy, Pennsylvania, 324 

Nazareth, 33, 110, 267, 312, 513 

Nazareth, Lower Township, 312 

Nazareth, Upper Township, 312 

Neal, Captain, 910 

Neal, Thomas, 832 

Nealson, Peter, 396 

Nebinger, Dr. Andrew, 369 

Nebinger, Dr. George, 369 

Needham, 97 

Neely’s Mill, 862 

Neepaheilomon, 650 

Negley’s Run, 375 

Negro School, 312 

Neily, Samuel, 510 

Nertunius, 666 

Nesbitt, J. M., 922 

Nescopeck, 75 

Nescopeck Creek, 905 

Nescopeck Falls, 299 

Nescopeck Path, 577 

Neshaminy, 57, 313, 437, 863 

Neshaminy Lock Navigation, 131 

Neversink, 494 

Neville, General John, 488, 688, 728 
Neville, Morgan, 518 
New Amstel, 446 
New Amsterdam, 446 
New Bergen, 96 
New Berlin, 343. 567, 568, 722 
New Castle, Chief, 273 
New Castle (Delaware), 30, 166, 324, 328 
919 

New Castle (Pennsylvania), 147, 446, 491 

Newcomer, King, 750 

New Cumberland, 300 

New England Magazine, The, 643 

New France, 589 

New Garden, 628 

Newgen, 266 

New Geneva, 52 

New Gnadenhutten, 917 

New Gottenberg, 124, 608 

New Hanover Township, 31 

New Hope, 863, 909 

New Jersey College, 59 

New Korsholm, 124 

Newman, Wingate, 325 

New London,.302 

New Netherlands, 165 

New Norway, 96 

New Olive Branch; The, 642 

New Orleans, 487, 583, 838, 901 



INDEX 


947 


New Orleans, Battle of, 583 
New Orleans (ship), 201 
Newport, C., 676 
Newport, 503 

Newport (Rhode Island) 113 
New Philadelphia, 282 
News of Revolution, 290 
New Sweden, 123 
Newton, 451 
Newtown, 367, 664, 682 
New York, 2, 53, 446, 459, 509, 530, 566, 
779, 832, 833, 834, 923 
New York Advertiser, The, 641 
New York Central Railroad, 863 
New York Historical Society, 54 
New Years, 1, 81 
New Wales, 166 
Niagara, 704 
Niagara Falls, 580 
Niagara, Fort (see Fort Niagara) 

Niagara (ship), 625 

Nickerson, 812 

Nicholas (Indian), 437 

Nicholas, Catherine, 73 

Nicholas, Edward, 73 

Nicholas, Thomas, 73 

Nicholls, Colonel Richard, 446 

Nichols, Anthony, 859 

Nichols, General, 694 

Nicholson, Adam, 74 

Nicholson, Joseph, 750 

Nickles, Mrs. Grace, 369 

Nicole, 764 

Nicolls, John, 108 

Nielson, Jonas, 396 

Nieu Causeland, 667 

Nikes, 700 

Nile, 894 

Nimwha, 656 

Nine Mile Run, 636 

Nine Partners Boarding School, 6 

Ninth, Pennsylvania, 188 

Nippenose Valley, 33, 337, 772 

Nisbet, Rev. Charles, 248 

Nitschmann, Anna, 513, 868 

Nitschmann, Bishop David, 313, 513 

Nitschmann, Martin 

Nitschmann, Susanna, 826 

Nittany Mountains, 344 

Nixon, Colonel John, 292, 909, 922 

Noailles, Viscount Louis Marie de, 892 

Nonowland, Chief, 169, 174, 282 

Norbury, Joseph, 350 

Nord, Edward 

Norland, 521 

Norris, Isaac, 77, 318, 382, 594, 657, 682, 
782, 806 

Norristown, 380, 602 
Norriton, 380, 385 
North American, The, 813 
Northampton County, 11, 61, 67, 102, 103, 
131, 141, 180, 181, 182, 190, 207, 208, 210, 

235, 267, 312, 416, 419, 428, 429, 492, 508, 

596, 606, 651, 719, 839, 854, 867, 904, 911, 

916 

North Branch of Susquehanna Canal, 132 
Northern Central Railroad, 499 
Northern Governors, 40 ■ 

Northern Liberties, 242, 712 
North, Lord Frederick, 328 
Northumberland, 136, 298, 402, 461, 546, 553, 
555, 556, 558, 633, 723, 732, 803, 876, 877, 

878, 904 „ _ „ 

Northumberland County, 11, 33, 61, 63, 66, 
72, 93, 137, 139, 177, 180, 181, 187, 188, 189, 
202, 207, 210, 216, 252, 296, 326, 331, 332, 
334, 337, 344, 416, 420, 432, 438, 445, 469, 496, 
499, 500, 508, 509, 551, 556, 564, 596, 606, 

614, 617, 639, 675, 686, 708, 731, 739, 775, 

814, 819, 820, 892, 895, 903, 904, 905 

Northumberland. County Soldiers Monu¬ 
ment Association, 500 


Northumberland Gazette, The, 803, 878 
Natchez, 487 

Notes on Virginia, Jefferson’s (quoted), 
361 

Nutimus, King, 450, 540, 563 
Nya Wasa, 667 
Nyckel, Kalmer, 609 


Oakdale, 174 
Oakes, James, 249 
Oak Hall, 453 
O’Connor’s Fields, 479 
Octorora Creek, 180 
Octorora Navigation, 132 
Odd Fellowship, 855, 890 
O’Donnell, Patrick, 827 
Ogashtash, 562 

Ogden, Amos, 102, 103, 428, 559, 560, 561, 673 

Ogden, James, 2, 3 

Ogden,uNathan, 103, 560, 673 

Ogdensburg, 334, 578 

Oghagradisha, 228, 394 

Ogle, Governor Samuel, 364, 414 

Ogle, John, 282, 822 

Oglethrope, James Edward, 313 

O’Hara, General James, 200, 901 

Ohio Company, 99, 841 

Ohio County, Virginia, 163, 282, 489 

Oil City, 593 

Oil Creek, 551, 591 

Oil Creek Valley, 591 

Oil, Story of, 591 

Okley, John, 513 

Old Fort House, 178, 221 

Old Log College, 57 

Old Military Plan, 200 

Old Mother Northumberland, 180, 207 

Old School, Oliver,. 115 

Old South Church, 44 

Old York Road, 753 

Olden, Colonel, 367 

Oleona, 96 

Oley, 33, 463, 512 

Oliver, George S., 519 

Olympic Games, 523 

Omit’s Hotel, 35 

Onas, 449 

“One of the People,” 803 
O’Neal, John ? 657 
Ongwaternohiat-he, 884 
Onkhiswathe-tani, 884 
Onondaga, 15, 16, 63, 227 
Onondaga Castle, 562 
“Onrust” (ship), 590 
Op-den-Graeffs, 112, 696 
Opden Graeff, Abraham, 696 
Opden Graeff, Dirck, 696 
Opekasset, 301 

Orange County, New York, 492 
Ord, George, 581 

Organization of Counties, 179, 180, 181 

Orian, William, 396, 792 

Orlady, Judge George W., 88 

Ormsby, John, 149, 201 

Orne, Richard, 150 

Ornithologist, American, 579 

Orr, Robert, 527 

Orrery, 385 

Orrery, Earl of, 385 

Ontario County, 597 

Oswald, Eleazer, 641 

Ostenwackin, 639 

Oswegy, 775 

Otsego, 323 

Otto, Bodo, Doctor, 224 
Otzinachson, 399, 722 
“Otzinachson” (quoted), 588 
Owego, 299 



948 


INDEX 


Owen, Evan, 374 
Oxenstierna, Axel, 229 
Oxford, 46, 97, 313 
Oxygen, 97, 98, 99 

P 

“P,” 531 
Packenah, 436 
Pack Horses, 134 
Pack Trains, 169 
Packer Guards, 474 

Packer, Governor William F., 498, 724 

Packer’s Island, 554 

Packet, 644 

Packet boats, 201 

Paddy Mountain, 722 

Paganini, 94 

Page, T., 662 

Paine, Thomas, 70, 571 

Paisley (Scotland), 579, 601 

Palatines, 406 

Palatinate, 31, 149 

Palestine, 327 

Palmer, Anthony, 316, 749 

Pananke, Chief, 425 

Pan Handle, 489 

Paoli, 307, 607, 651, 668, 690, 848 

Paoli Massacre, Story, 651 

Paoli Tavern, 652 

Papegoja, Johan, 125 , 609, 667 

Papegoja, Madame, 447 

Paper Mill, First, 128, 129, 130, 201 

Paper Money, 160 

Papunhank, 359 

Parade, Bloody 84th, 350 

Paradise, 614 

Paradise, Point, 230 

Park Theatre, 251 

Parker. Michael, 635 

Parker s Ford, 667 

Parkinson’s Ferry, 52, 688 

Parnassus, 167 

Parnell’s Knob, 761 

Parr, James, 209, 352, 367 

Parson, Fighting, 236 

Parsons, John, 150 

Parsons, Major, 575 

Parsons, William, 235, 917 

Partsch, Brother, 825 

Partsch, Sister, 825 

Parvin, Benjamin, 359 

Paschal, Isaac, 860 

Pass & Stow, 383 

Passamaquoddy, 51 

Passmore, Thomas, 874 

Passyunk, 323, 667 

Pastorius, Francis D., 112, 113, 159, 695 
Path Valley, 265, 320, 623, 761 
Patosky, 894 

Patriotic Order Sons of America, 712 
Patterson, Colonel Robert, 503 
Patterson, Fort, 918 
Patterson, James, 684, 761, 821 
Patterson’s Massacre, Story, 684, 918 
Patterson, Mr., 298 
Patterson, Robert, 853 
Patterson, William, 27, 614, 684, 918 
Pattison, Governor Robert E., 735 
Patton, Matthew, 761 
Pawling, Henry, 623 
Pauling, John, 301 
Paullsson, Olaf, 231 
Paulus Hook, New Jersey, 566 
Paxinoso, 540, 563, 575 
Paxson, Henry D., 610 
Paxson, Miss Nancy, 608 
Paxtang, 300, 461, 498, 553, 554, 560, 587, 
594, 614, 718, 726, 764, 781, 911 
Paxtang Boys, 105, 187, 560, 594, 718, 781, 

Paxtang Riot, 594 


Paxton, 299 

Paxton Presbyterian Church, 236, 498, 746, 
911 

Paxton, Samuel, 179 
Payne, George F., 137 
Peach Orchard, 453 
Peale, Charles W., 426 
Peale, Franklin, 21 
Pearl (ship), 671 
Pearce, Henry W., 369 
Pearson, 755 
Pearson, James, 385 
Peart, Benjamin, 577 
Peart, Thomas, 577 
Pechoquealon, 300, 501 
Peepy, Joe, 235, 540 
Pemberton, Israel, 187, 913 
Pence, Peter, 209, 210, 211 
Penn Family, 489, 492 
Penn, Fort, 918 
Penn, Gulielma Maria, 844 
Penn, Hannah Callowhill, 330 
Penn, John, 75 , 92, 93, 94, 101, 102, 103, 
105, 106, 107, 145, 171, 177, 198, 247, 304, 

305, 316, 330, 338, 391, 399, 428, 429, 482, 

496, 535, 536, 559, 613, 649, 660, 661, 674, 

712, 748, 774, 779, 781, 787, 903, 912, 913, 

919 

Penn, Marie Cox, 392 
Penn, Mrs., 715 
Penn, Mount, 247 

Penn, Richard, 92, 105, 106, 197, 391, 414, 

535, 536. 747 

Penn, Springett, 414, 805 
Penn, Thomas, 92, 105, 247, 330, 338, 339, 
364, 391, 392, 496, 535, 536, 649, 747, 919 
Penn, William, 4, 5, 28, 29, 61, 69, 75, 76, 
77, 84, 100, 105, 106, 128, 130, 150, 158, 
165, 179, 205, 247, 273, 293, 328, 329, 330, 

336, 340, 341, 372, 373, 374, 414, 415, 416, 

436, 448, 489, 492, 493, 530, 531, 534, 552, 

596, 598, 648, 649, 650, 660, 682, 695, 715, 

734 , 752, 754, 763, 805 , 821, 832, 843, 919 

Penn, Sir William, 165, 391, 715 
Pennamite-Yankee Wars, 103, 207, 428, 492, 
673, 903, 905 

Pennsborough Township, 172 
Pennsbury, 530 

Penn’s Creek, 73, 227, 228, 267, 318, 476, 
773 

Penn’s Creek Massacre, Story, 720, 757 
Penn’s Valley, 221 
Penn’s Woods, 649 
Pennsylvania Canal, 41 
Pennsylvania Chronicle and Universal 
Advertiser, 899 

“Pennsylvania Colonial and Federal,” 189, 

646 

Pennsylvania Dutchmen, 803, 876 
Pennsylvania Evening Post, 900 
Pennsylvania German Recorder of Events, 
899 

Pennsylvania Hall, 7, 466 
Pennsylvania Hall Riot, 466 
Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly 
Advertiser, The, 899 
Pennsylvania, The Keystone, 643 
Pennsylvania Ledger, The, 899 
Pennsylvania Line, 1, 849 
Pennsylvania Packet, The, 899 
Pennsylvania Population Company, 154 
Pennsylvania Railroad, 37, 38, 48, 232, 618, 
723, 863 

Pennsylvania State Works, 36 
Pennsylvania Training School for 
Feeble Minded, 881 
Pennsylvania University, 45, 54 
Penny, Charles, 252 
Pennypack Creek, 436 
Pennypacker, Samuel W., 137, 643 
Pennypacker’s Mills, 690 
Penobscot, 678 



INDEX 


949 


Penrose, Charles B., 35, 851, 855 
Penrose, W. M., 441 
Pentecost, Dorsey, 163 
Pequea, 764 
Pequea Creek, 300 
Pequea Township, 821 
Pequehan, 764 

“Perfect Tribute” (quoted), 811 
Perkins, Samuel H., 890 
Perkiomen, 849 

Perseverance Lodge No. 21 F. & A. M., 
891 

Pershing, Honorable C. L., 193, 316 
Perry, Colonel Caleb, 908 
Perry County, 42, 181, 596, 597 
Perry, Commodore Oliver H., 597, 624 
Perry, Samuel, 510, 748 
Perry’s Mills, James, 168 
Peters, Hans, 397 
Peter’s Mountains, 16, 254 
Peters, Richard, 292, 318, 357, 657, 700, 773, 
896, 919, 922 

Peters Township, 171, 760 

Petit, Alfred C., 735 

Petroleum Oil Company, 592 

Pettigrew, General James Johnston, 452 

Petty, John, 886 

Peyster, J. W. de, 584 

Pfoutz, Conrad, 498 

Philadelphia, 1, 2, 3, etc. 

Philadelphia City Troop, 910 
Philadelphia County, 8, 31, 33, 60, 84, 131, 
159, 179, 191, 207, 216, 380, 416, 419, 596, 
604, 852, 853, 874, 881 
Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad, 201 
Philadelphia Junto, 804 
Philadelphia Light Horse, 503, 409, 679 
Philadelphia and Reading Coal Company, 
48, 192, 193, 232, 618 
Philadelphia Times, The, 521 
Philippe, Louis, 894 
Phillips, Thomas, 150 
Phillips & Gorham, 241 
Philosophical Society, 45 
Phipps, Sir William, 160 
Pickens, Andrew, 872 
Pickering (a tailor), 694 
Pickering, Timothy, 216, 438, 605 
Pickett’s Charge, 455 
Pieces of Eight, 325 
Pierce Brothers (Indians), 524 
Pierce, Edward, 373 
Pigeon Creek, 687 
Pigeon, Joseph, 374 
Piggott, Rev. Henry, 568 
Pike, Abram, 210 

Pike County, 181, 448, 493, 494, 500, 501, 
502, 564, 597, 651, 775 
Piles, Robert, 150 
Pine Creek, 398, 673 
Pine Grove Furnace, 679 
Pinkerton, Allan, 47, 193, 557, 769, 846 
Piny Creek, 801 
Pious Henry Antes, 31, 32, 33 
Pipe, Captain (Indian), 281, 404, 584 
Piper, Colonel James, 305, 306, 908 
Pisquitomen, 380 
Pitcher, Molly, 445 , 

Pitt, Fort (see Fort Pitt) 

Pitt, William, 199, 635, 703 
Pittsburgh, 36, 37, 38, 64, 100, 101, 102, 110, 
125, 148, 279, 281, 322, 333, 375, 378, 487, 489, 
490, 517, 518, 519 . . , 

Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad, 38 
Pittsburgh Gazette, The, 200 
Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, The, 200, 519 
Pittsburgh Manor, 489 
Pittsburgh, South, 201 
Pittsburgh Times, The, 519 # 

Pittsburgh, Washington & Baltimore Rail¬ 
road, 38 

Plain Truth, 747 


Plant, Louis, 474 
Plant, Mrs. Mary, 369 
Plates, French Plant Leaden, 411 
Ploughed Hill, 508 
Pluck, Colonel John, 350 
Pluggy, Chief, 750 
Pluggystown, 750 
Plumstead, Mr., 859 
Plumstead, Thomas, 919 
Plumstead Township, 663 
Plumstead, William, 270 
Plunket, Elizabeth, 11 
Plunket, Colonel William, 11, 61, 110, 209, 
260, 297, 305, 306, 337, 673, 821, 903, 905 
Plymouth, 112, 492, 563 
Poak, Joseph, 344 
Pocahontas, 677 
Pocketgach, 824 
Poe, Adam, 586 
Poe, Andrew, 586 
Poe, James, 623 
Poetess-Laureate, 202 
Point Pleasant, 167, 362 
Polk, President James K., 34, 194, 289 
Polk, William, 222 

Pollock, Governor James, 195, 233, 389, 431, 
723, 863, 881 
Pollock, Oliver, 487 
Police, Organ of, 45 
Pomfret Castle, 684 
Pomunky, King of, 677 
Pontiac, 25, 42, 100, 105, 323, 345, 360, 586, 773 
Poor, General Enoch, 353, 367 
Poplar Run, 818 
Population of Pittsburgh, 201 
Poquessing Creek, 437 
Port Carbon, 48 
Port Deposit, 297 

Porter, Governor David Rittenhouse, 850, 
855 

Porter, General David, 144 
Porter, Thomas, 60 . 

Porters, James, 76 
Portfolio, The, 115, 580 
Port Jervis, 494 
Portquesott, 436 
Porvey, 436 

“Posse Comitatus,” 904 

Post, Christian Frederic, 272, 302, 476, 827 

Post Master, 45 

Post Office, Pioneer, Story, 832 

Potomac River, 36 

Potts, James, 25 

Potts, John, 308, 693 

Potts, Stacy, 135 

Potts, Thomas, 60, 380 

Potter County, 94, 95, 96, 156, 181, 182, 

208 597 

Potter, General James, 2, 61, 209, 221, 252, 
264, 307, 337, 344, 463, 469, 470, 556, 597, 615, 
618, 739, 741, 910 
Potter, John, 760 
Potter, Thomas, 264 
Potterfield, 545 

Pottsgrove (Montgomery County), 336, 614 

Pottstown, 242, 335 

Pottsville, 47, 48, 192, 277 

Powder Exploit, Gibson’s, 486 

Powell, Graham, 48 

Powell, Joseph, 15, 513 

Powell, Levi, 7 

Powell, Morgan, 48, 193, 770, 845 

Powell, Samuel, 513, 860, 922 

Powell’s Creek, 16 

Powell’s Map, 422 

Powhatan, 677 

Pratt, John, 119 

Pratt, Major, 189 

Pratt, R. H., 522 

Pratt, Thomas, 284 

Presbytery, Philadelphia, 57 

Presque Isle, 152, 241, 318, 387, 413 



950 


INDEX 


Presque Isle, Destruction of, Story, 387, 
413 

Press, The, 813 

Presser, Martin, 826 

Preston, Alderman, 682 

Preston, George Junkin, 203 

Preston, Herbert, 207 

Preston, Margaret Junkin, 202, 203, 204 

Preston, Samuel, 764, 859 

Prevost, Colonel Charles M., 334 

Prevost, Sir George, 144 

Prevost, Lady, 625 

Price, Morgan, 846 

Priest, David, 823 

Priestley, Dr. Joseph, 97, 98, 99, 433, 803 

Priestley, Joseph, Jr., 433 

Priestley Riots, 98 

Prince of Wales, 117 

Princeton (Town), 1, 2, 428, 909 

Princeton University, 59, 386, 428, 909 

Printing Press, 570 

Printz, Armegot, 123, 609 

Printz Hall, 608, 665 

Printz, Johan, 123, 124, 125, 396, 447, 608, 
609, 665 

Printzhof, 124, 608 

Prior, Thomas, 385 

Proctor, Captain (Naval), 324 

Proctor, John, 61, 149, 292 

Proctor, Colonel Thomas, 101, 367, 713 

Proctor, William, Jr., 178 

Prospect Hill, 409, 606 

Protest vs. Slavery, First, 696 

Proud (quoted), 805 

Providence Island, 670 

Proviso, Wilmot, 194, 195, 196 

Public Ledger, The, 813 

Public School at Germantown, 285 

Pulaski, Count Casimir, 222, 501, 692 

Pullman Cars, 243 

Purchase, Land, 398 

Purdy, Colonel, 615 

Put-in-Bay, 625 

Putnam, Major General Israel, 55, 908 
Pyrlaeus, John Christopher, 513, 867 

Q 

Quadrogue, 506 

Quagnant, Chief, 406 

Quakake Creek, 577 

Quakertown, 191 

Quashy, 113 

Que, Isle of, 819 

Quebec, 139, 188, 461, 509, 704. 

Quebec Bill, 612 
Queen Esther, 457 
Queen Esther’s Town, 367, 619 
Queen’s Rangers, 307 
Quenameckquid, 437 
Quick, Tom, 493 
Quid Party, 434 
Quigley, Mary, 259 
uiltinunk, 367 
uing Quingos, 436 
Quittapahilla, 130, 818 

R 

Racoon Creek, 175, 528 
Radner Church, 850 
Rae, Alexander, 770, 846 
Rahn, Mr., 5 
Raid, Brodhead’s, 549 
Railroad, First, 201 
Railroad Riots, 863 
Rainhill, 21 
Rail, General, 909 
Rambo, Gunner, 150 
Rambo, Peter, 667, 792 
Randall, Josiah, 890 
Randolph, James, 834 


Randolph, Peyton, 611, 872 

Rangers, Provincial, 547 

Rankin, James, 308 

Rankin, William, 586 

Ransom’s Creek, 112 

Rapp, Adam, 121 

Rapp, Frederick, 121 

Rapp, George, 120, 121, 122 

Rasmussen, Frederic, 89 

Raven’s Run, 107 

Rawle, Dr. (quoted), 54 

Rawle, William, 191, 860 

Rawdon, Lord Francis, 348 

Ray, John, 623 

Raystown, 177, 178, 179, 320 

Raystown Branch, 138, 177 

Rea, Alexander, 48, 192 

Read, Adam, 23, 758 

Read, Deborah, 44 

Read, John M., 8 

Read, Sara, 754 

Reading, 130, 277, 602, 616 

Reading Railroad, 242 

Regiment, German, 615 

Recollections, Binns’, 786 

Red Clay Creek, 503 

Red Hill, 650 

Red Man, The, 523 

Red Man and Helper, The, 523 

Redman, Nancy, 348 

Redman, Joseph, 216 

Redman, Rebecca, 348 

Red Row, Riot of, 478 

Red Stone, 171, 224, 322 

Red Stone Creek, 518 

Redstone, Old Fort, 52 

Redstone River, 100 

Reed, 154, 367 

Reed, Charles, 374 

Reed, James, 324 

Reed, General Joseph, 2, 59, 90, 309, 343, 
796, 910, 921 
Reed, Thomas, 326 
Reed, William, 333 
Reeder, Andrew H., 648 
Reeder, Howard J., 88 
Reemey’s, 561 
Reeser, Baltus, 283 
Rees’ Cyclopedia, 580 
Rees, Thomas, 153 
Reichel (quoted), 575, 576 
Reickert, Frederick, 121 
Reilly, John W., 23 
Reliance, 860 

Remington & Son, E., 119 
Reprisal (ship), 324 
Republican Argus, The, 434, 803 
Republican Party, 692 
Republican Society, 332 
Reserve Corps, 40, 279 

Revolutionary Forces Threaten Congress, 
426 

Rewalt, John, 173 

Reynolds, General John Fulton, 400, 452 

Rhea, John, 780 

Rhoads, Samuel, 611, 612 

Rhode Island, 19, 873 

Rice, Abraham, 740 

Rice Blockhouse, 741 

Rice, Charles E., 88 

Rice, John, 615 

Rice, Owen, 513 

Rice, William, 513 

Richard, Poor, 45 

Richards, J. C., 520 

Richards, Lewis, 846 

Richardson, Jacob, 206 

Richmond Branch, 242 

Richmond, Port, 242 

Ridge Roads, 546 

Ridley Creek, 858 

Riegelsville, 501 




INDEX 


951 


Rigby, Mr., 270 
Ringgold, Arthur, 277 
Riots, 87, 98, 251, 332, 465, 477, 630, 646, 692, 
863 

Riots, Erie, 863 
Ripley, William, 144, 680 
Rip Van Winkle, 495 
Rippers, 864 
Ritchie, Robert, 72 

Ritner, Governor Joseph, 568, 839, 850, 853, 
889 

Rittenhouse, Benjamin, 731 
Rittenhouse, Claus, 128, 696 
Rittenhouse, David, 72, 101, 238, 240, 385, 
485, 604 , 662, 669, 708, 919, 921 
Rittenhouse, Gerhard, 128, 696 
Rittenhouse, William, 128, 129, 130, 695 
Rizer, Jacob, 284 
Roarty, James, 193, 314 
Robber Lewis, 217, 222 
Robb’s Row, Riot of, 465 
Roberts, Colonel, 879 
Roberts, George, 216 
Roberts, John, 301 
Robertson, James, 325 
Robinson, Andrew, 325, 693 
Robinson, Patrick, 85, 196, 341 
Robinson, Robert, 661 
Rochambeau, Count de, 82 
Rock Creek, 454 
Rocket (engine), 243 
Rockford, 311, 606 
Rockville, 23 

Roderdeau, Daniel, 60, 292, 921 

Rodes, General Robert E., 422 

Roebuck (ship), 324 

Rogers, Eleanor, 68 

Rogers, Jonah, 210 

Rogers, Morton, Company, 69 

Roman, Robert, 151 

Rome, New York, 774 

Roosevelt, Theodore, 137 

Rose, Dave, 299 

Rose, Major, 404 

Rosencrantz, James, 495 

Ross, Anna M., 369 

Ross, Catherine Van Gazel, 482 

Ross, Charles, 335 

Ross, Clarissa, 80 

Ross, Colonel, 629 

Ross, Earl of, 482 

Ross, General Robert (British), 582 
Ross, George, 78, 325, 409, 482, 484, 604, 611, 
612, 816 

Ross, James, 689, 784 

Ross, John, 79, 357, 481, 482, 823 

Ross, The Senator (ship), 200 

Ross, William, 439 

Rosse, Thomas, 284 

Rossmere, 483 

Rothrock, J. F., 87 

Round Top, 453 

Rouseville, 593 

Rowland, Samuel, 794 

Royal Americans, 372, 828 

Royal Grenadiers, 445 

Royal Society of London, 46, 97 

Royce, Benjamin, 282 

Ruddell’s Station, 363 ' 

Ruffians Mob Pastor, 512 
Ruhl, Philip, 252 
Rummerfield, 893 
Rump House, 854 
Runaway, Great, 253 
Rush, Jacob, 784, 820 
Rush, Lewis, 334 
Russia, 41, 53 

Rutledge, Edward, 459, 872 
Rutter, George, 247 
Ryon, John W., 49, 192 
Rynder, T. P., 86 
Rysingn, Johan Claesson, 610, 665 


S 

Sacking and Burning Chambersburg, 519 
Sadbury, 601 

Sabbath School, First, 465 

Sacketts Harbor, 143 

Sagard (quoted), 743 

Sailors Cause Riot, 682 

Salem, 175, 282, 585, 673 

Salem (Ohio), 282 

Salter, Captain Elisha, 525, 762 

Salter, Hanna, 396 

“Sam,” 389 

Sample, John, 468 

Sandelands, James, 396 

Sanderson Guards, 474 

San Domingo, 892, 894 

Sandy Hook, 856 

Sandusky Indians, 43 

Sanford, Laura G., 153 

San Francisco, 384 

Sanger, Thomas, 49, 107, 193, 316, 770 

Sanoy, Isaac, 792 

Sarah (ship), 340 

Sassafras Street, 514 

Sasquesohanough, 506 

Sassoonan, 301, 437 

Sattelihu (Indian), 640 

Saturday, Bloody, 48 

Saturday Evening Post, 117, 532 

Saunders, Richard, 45 

Saur, Christopher, 695 

Savannah, 312 

Saw Dust War, 472 

Saxton, Frederick, 241 

Say, Esther, 744 

Sayughtowa, 886 

Scalps, 267, 272 

Scammel, General Alexander, 311, 367 

Scarouady, 66, 236, 267, 322, 658, 797 

Schaeffer, Nathan C., 137 

Schaeffers, Michael, 16 

Schaffer, Henry, 877 

Schenley, Mrs. Mary E., 200 

Schneider, Daniel, 66 

Schmidt, Anthony, 18 

Schmick, Rev. John Jacob, 360 

Schofield, General John McAllister, 648 

Schoenbrun, 176, 585 

Schoharie County, 463 

School, High Dutch, 283 

Schute, 665, 667 

Schuyler, Gertrude, 601 

Schuyler, General Philip, 222, 601 

Schuylkill, 11 

Schuylkill County, 33, 47, 131, 181, 192, 193, 
-208, 242, 314, 474, 564, 582, 597, 598, 846 
Schuylkill Ferries, 504 
Schuylkill Fishing Company, 593 
Schuylkill Navigation Company,. 130, 131 
Schuylkill & Susquehanna Navigation 
Company, 131 
Schweigert, 826 
Schwenckfelders, 318 
Scioto, 163 
Scotch Irish, 623 
Scotland (Pa.), 624 
Scotosh, 585 
Scott, Adam, 578 
Scott, Samuel, 823 
Scott, Thomas A., 38 
Scott, General Winfield, 51, 144, 334 
Scranton, 648 
Scull, John, 517, 518 
Scull, John I., 518 
Scull, Map, 63 
Scull, Nicholas, 449 
Scull, William, 209, 305, 905 
Sea Congregation, 302 

Q/apofip 

Second Presbyterian Church, 68 
Secord (quoted), 579 



INDEX 


952 


Sedgwick, General John, 453 
Seiler, Captain G. A. C., 279 
Seimens, Jan, 696 
Selheimer, Captain John B., 277 
Selina, Countess Huntingdon, 422 
Selinsgrove, 783, 860 
Sellers, John, 385 
Seminary Ridge, 452, 454 
Seneca, 42 

Seneca Mission Church, 246 
Seneca Oil, 591 

Senseman, Anna Catherine, 826 
Senseman, Brother, 825 
Separatists, 120 

Sergeant, Jonathan Dickinson, 669 
Sergeant, Thomas, 69 
Settlement, Swede, 608 
Seventh Day Baptists, 463 
Seventh United States Infantry, 277 
Seventy-ninth New York Highlanders, 498 
Seward, William, 312 
Sewickley Creek, 163, 371 
“Shades of Death,” 458 
Shaffer, George, 819 
Shaffer, John, 819 
Shakhappoh, 436 
Shamokin Borough, 110 
Shamokin Indians Creek, 336 
Shamokin (Sunbury), 15, 16, 17, 62, 63, 65, 
73, 110, 111, 209, 227, 235, 236, 254, 255, 266, 
302, 303, 361, 371, 393, 423, 429, 449, 450, 474, 
475, 563, 746, 748, 770, 824, 885, 886 
Shamokin Trader, 62 
Shanghai, 864 
Shangom, Conne, 732 
Shannon, John, 748 
Shannon, Captain Samuel, 527 
Shannon, Timothy, 474 
Shannopino, 801 
Sharp, Captain, 587 
Sharp, J. McDowell, 520 
harp’s Run, 244 
haver’s Creek, 422 
Shaw, David, 479 
Shaw, John, 663 
Shawnee, 42, 918 

Shawnee Murder, Conestoga, 300 
Shear, Joseph, 474 
Shed, 890 

Shea, John G. (quoted), 742 

Shee, John, 292, 908 

Shekoneko, 824 

Shellpot, 334 

Shenandoah, 48 

Shenandoah Herald, 49, 109 

Shenandoah Valley, 490 

Shenandoah (Va.), 805 

Sheninger, 246 

Shepherd, David, 282, 488 

Shepoconah, 767 

Sherloe, William, 373 

Sherman, General William T., 454, 883 

Sherman, Roger, 460, 872 

Sherman’s Creek, 172 

Sheshequanink, 360 

Sheshequin, 458 

Shikellamy, 16, 63, 227, 235, 254, 255, 256, 
301, 302, 361, 407, 449, 540, 554, 640, 721, 
748, 752, 867, 868, 884 
Shikellamy, John, 63, 267, 380, 886 
Shikellamy, Logan, Story, 361, 721 
Shiloh, 521 
Shingas, 619, 800 
Shipbuilding at Pittsburgh, 201 
Shipman, Captain Henry, 289 
Shippen, Story, 601 

Shippen, Edward, 24, 63, 75, 89, 159, 237, 394, 
541, 622, 763, 754, 874, 919 
Shippen, Joseph, 178, 385, 910 
Shippen, Mary, 348 

Shippen, Peggy, 89 , 90, 91, 348, 418, 709, 754 
Shippen, Sarah, 348 


Shippen, Dr. William, 223, 224 
Shippensburg, 622, 760 
Shirley, Fort, 918 
Shively, Christopher, 343 
Shockalawlin (Indian), 554 
Shoenberger, Dr. Peter, 219 
Shoemaker, Henry W., 26, 391 
Shoemaker, Samuel, 308 
Shoholy, 93 

Sholes, Christopher L., 118, 119, 120 
Shott, Colonel, 367 
Shreeve, Colonel, 367 
Shriver, Lewis, 122 

Shulze, Governor John Andrew, 34, 837 
Shunk, Governor Francis Rawn, 6, 37, 38, 
233, 879, 890 
Shutt, Ludwig, 173 
Sickles, General Daniel E., 453 
Sideling Hill, 170, 265, 320, 830 
Sievers, E. R., 49 
Sign of the Boat Inn, 504 
Sikals, 436 

Silliman, Professor Benjamin, 592 

Silver Spring, 210 

Simcoe’s Rangers, 307 

Simes, John, 30 

Simmons, Seneca G., 277 

Simpson, Adam M., 369 

Simpson, John, 509 

Simpson, General Michael, 509, 680 

Simpson, William, 509 

Sinclair, Catherine, 251 

Sinclair, John, 251 

Siney, John, 474 

Single Brethren’s House, 223 

Singleton, Captain John, 205 

Sinking Spring Valley, 257 

Sinneamahoning, 138, 221 

Sitgreave (Attorney), 191 

Sitgreaves, Samuel, 605 

Six, Deitrick, 65, 797, 918 

Skinners, 681 

Skinner, James, 865 

Skippack, 31, 312 

Skippack Creek, 669 

Sladen, James, 474 

Slavery, Negro, 112, 113, 114, 696 

Slifer, Eli, 279 

Slocum, Benjamin, 765 

Slocum, Ebenezer, 766 

Slocum, Frances, 765 

Slocum, General Henry Warner, 454 

Slocum, Jonathan, 765 

Slocum, Joseph, 767 

Slocum, Judith, 766 

Slocum, Mary, 766 

Slocum, William, 765 

Sloper, Lieutenant, 348 

Slough, Mathias, 331 

Sloughter, 175 

Sluman, Joseph, 674 

Small, William F., 864 

Smallpox, 236 

Smallwood, General William, 652, 690 
Stnilie, John, 198, 216 
Smiley, Captain, 442 
Smiley, Robert, 688 
Smith, 362 
Smith, Charles, 895 
Smith, Devereux, 145, 149 
Smith, Frederick, 758 
Smith, George K., 48, 846 
Smith, George Nelson, 725 
Smith, James, 101, 169, 178, 309, 484, 604, 
617, 828, 921 

Smith, Colonel James (York), 569, 669 
Smith, John, 112, 320 
Smith, Captain John, 227, 328, 505, 588, 676, 
741, 829 

Smith, John (Indian), 301 
Smith, Colonel John B., 419 
Smith, Jonathan B., 669, 921 




INDEX 


953 


Smith, Justice^ 660 
Smith, Matthew, 187, 508, 708, 913 
Smith, Obadiah, 112 
Smith, Peter, 261, 400, 467, 500, 542 
Smith, Richard, 784 
Smith, Robert, 187 
Smith, Samuel, 221, 320, 823 
Smith, Thomas, 179, 484, 874 
Smith, Timothy, 650 
Smith, “Uncle Billy,” 592 
Smith, Widow, Story of, 467 
Smith, Wilhelmina, 348 
Smith, William, 170, 224, 292, 320, 385, 422, 
829 


Smith Mountain, 264 

Smith’s Beneficial Hall Riots, 466 

Smith’s Laws (quoted), 398, 895 

Smith’s Mill Destroyed, 467 

Smoky Island, 174, 283 

Smyth, Albert, 533 

Snodgrass, 400 

Snowden, Colonel A. Loudon, 883 
Snyder County, 26, 73, 75, 181, 208, 318, 596, 
684, 722, 726, 773, 774 
Snyder, Daniel, 798 
Snyder, Frederick, 216 
Snyder, George A., 568 
Snyder, Henry W., 568 
Snyder, Governor Simon, 33, 69, 136, 333, 
435, 546, 582 , 783, 803 , 876, 895 
Snyder, William P., 137 
Society of Free Traders, 179, 372 
Society Hill, 270, 373 
Soldiers Orphan School, Scotland, 624 
Soldiers and Sailors Home, 882 
Solomon (Indian), 424 
Somerset, Pa., 329, 860 
Somerset County, 177, 181, 596, 775 
Somerset, New Jersey, 3 
Somerset (ship), 671 
Sommer, Lausen, 696 
Soule, Samuel W., 118 
Southby, William, 159 
South Carolina, 39, 51 
South Fork, 378 

South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club, 378 
South Fork Lake, 377 
South River. 123 
Southwark Theatre, 270 
Sower, Christopher, 283, 695, 899 
Sower, Christopher, Jr., 899 
Spackman, Mr.,_ 852, 890 
Spalding, Captain, 458 
Spangenberg, Bishop, 32, 514, 575 
Spangler, Baltzer, 571 
Spanglers Spring, 454 
Spaulding; Colonel, 367 
Speaker, The, 682 
Spear, George G., 250 
Speer, Eliza, 288 
Spencer, Colonel, 367 
Spickers, Benjamin, 757, 798 
Spring, Big, 422 
Spring Brook, 249 
Spring, Cornelius, 449 
Spring Forge III, 483 
Springett, Gulielma Maria, 716 
Springett, Sir William, 716 
Springettsbury Manor, 805 
Springhouse, Montgomery County, 191 
Sprogel, John H., 336 
Sproul, Rev. William T., 890 
Spulong, James, 474 
Squaw Campaign, 309 
St. Augustine, Fla., 522 
St. Clair (Pittsburgh), 201 
St. Clair, Arthur, 2, 43, 100, 101, 148, 149, 
179, 479, 488, 490, 572, 604, 817, 849, 896 
St. Clair, Sir John, 134, 319 
St. Clair’s Defeat, 488 
St. James Church, Lancaster, 483 
St. John’s, 571 


St. Joseph’s River, 849 

St. Mary’s, 437 

St. Mary’s River, 849 

St. Petersburg, 53 

St. Peter’s Church, 384 

St. Philip de Neri Church, 467 

St. Pierre, M. de, 800 

St. Pierre, Legardier de, 841 

Staecket, Moens, 396 

Stamp Act, 778, 887, 898 

Standard Oil Co., 593 

Standing Stone, 258, 367, 421, 473, 617 

Stanley, Captain James, 473 

Stanwix, Fort, 773 

Stanwix, John, 236, 245 

Stapleton, Rev. A. A., 9 

Stark, General John, 311, 607 

Starkweather, S. W., 473 

Starr, Moses, 16 

Starratt, John, 823 

Star Spangled Banner, 410 

Stars and Stripes, 624 

State House, 4, 93 

State Library, 165 

State Sanitarium, Mt. Alto, 624 

Staunton, Va., 145, 490, 660 

Stead, Captain A. H., 473 

Steamboat, 297, 564 

Steele, Rev. John, 760 

Steele, Robert, 663 

Stein, Ensign A., 306 

Stenton, 213, 669, 753 

Stenton, John, 719 

Stephen, General, 504, 691, 909 

Stephenson, George, 21, 483 

Sterritt, 631 

Sterling, Lord Thomas, 222, 504, 629, 669, 
690, 909 

Stevens, Thaddeus, 159, 569, 850, 855, 889 
Steuben, Baron Frederick William von, 


186, 307, 417, 571 
Stewart, Charles, 102, 560, 583 
Stewart, John, 735 " 

Stewart, Lazarus, 187, 560, 561, 711, 906, 911 

Stewart, Lieutenant, 306 

Stewart, Mr., 630 

Stewart, Robert E., 477 

Stewart, Samuel, 434, 803, 876 

Stewart, Walter, 3, 545 

Still, Isaac, 380 

Stille, Axel, 231 

Stille, Olaf, 231, 667 

Stiver, John, 30 

Stiver, Sarah, 30 

Stock Family Murder, 211 

Stoke, Manor of, 102, 560 

Stokeley, Captain Thomas, 527 

Stone, General Charles Pomeroy, 452 

Stone, Governor William A., 137 

Stoner, David, 622 

Stoner, Kitty, 554 

Stony Batter, 288 

Stony Creek, 178, 377 

Stony Point, 849 

Story & Humphreys Pennsylvania 
Mercury, 900 
Story of Singed Cat, 532 
Story, Thomas, 754 
Stoucksburg, 757 
Stoughton, F., 252 
Stover, Catherine, 888 
Straus, Wijk, 667 
Strawbridge, Thomas, 820 
Stroh, John, 211 
Strong, Caleb, 872 # 

Strong, Captain Martin, 154 

Stroud, Jacob, 61, 484 

Stroudsburg, 458, 491, 917, 918 

Strouse (Attorney), 192 

Stuart, General J. E. B., 453, 624, 706, 860 

Stuart’s Raid, 860 

Stumbaugh, Colonel, 521 



954 


INDEX 




Stump, Frederick, 25, 26, 27, 686 
Stump’s Run, 27 
Stumpstown, 25, 26, 27 
Sturdevant, 854 
Stuyvesant, Peter, 125, 665 
Sturgis (lad), 825 
Sugar Cabins, 320 
Sugar Loaf Massacre, 616 
Sugar Run, 360 

Sullivan County, 181, 195, 208, 432, 596, 597, 
775 893 

Sullivan, General John, 260, 311, 366, 504, 
514, 629, 690, 861 

Summit Hill, 48, 111, 315, 557, 846 
Sunbury, 65, 209, 286, 331, 332, 393, 461, 496, 
499, 553, 563, 615, 675, 723, 741, 746, 748, 818, 
820, 877, 903 , 908 

Sunbury & Erie Railroad, 234, 723 
Sunbury, Manor of, 560 
“Sunday Indians,” 424 

Sunday School Union and Tract Society, 
327 

Sunday Times, The, 279 
Surphlit, Robert, 225 
Susquehanna Company, 102, 207, 491 
Susquehanna County, 181, 194, 195, 208, 596, 
598, 775 

Susquehanna Navigation Company, 274 

Susquehanna River Exploration, 741 

Susquehanna (steamboat), 297 

Susquehanna Trail, 23, 41, 515 

Swamp Creek, 31 

Swampes, 437 

Swanendael, 230, 590, 856 

“Swannocks,” 424 

Swans, Valley of, 590 

Swartz, Fort, 616 

Swataney, 884 

Swatara, 16, 130, 172 

Swatara Creek, 757, 797 

Swatara, Fort, 757, 918 

Swatara Gap, 758 

Swedes Church, Old, 581 

Swedes Ford, 353 

Swedes Mill, 448 

Swedes Road, 652 

Sweeney, Edward, 732 

Swen, Ole, 792 

Swensson, Maus, 231 

Swithes Fording, 555 

Swope, Michael, 570, 908 

Sykes, General, 451 

Sylvania, 166 

Symcock, John, 151, 373 

Syng, Philip, 860 

T 

Taasquah, 71 
Tacony, 832 
Tadame, 450 

Taggart, Captain John II., 279 
Tahgahjute, 361, 886 
Takeghsatu, 700, 701 
Talbot, Jeremiah, 623 
Talbot, Major, 673 
Talihaio Gap, 65 
Talleyrand, Prince, 790, 894 
Talmadge Family, 154 
Talon, Marquis Antoine Omer, 892 
Tamaqua, 193, 242, 557, 579 
Taminy, 437 
Tammany Society, 434 
Tamment, King, 437 
Tanacharison, 126, 841 
Tangorus, 437 

Tannehill, General Adamson, 323 
Tanner, Michael, 823 
Tapescawen, 540 
Tarentum, 592 
Tariff 1842, 432 

Tarlton, Major Banastre, 348 


Tate, Alem, 473 
Tawandarweuk, 360 
Tawena, 415 
Tawenne, Chief, 301 
Taylor, Bayard, 733 
Taylor, Christopher, 150 
Taylor, George, 61, 484 
Taylor Guards, 473 
Taylorsville, 909 

Tedyuskung, 235, 236, 237, 271, 303, 491, 539, 
574, 588, 700, 704, 719, 720, 824 
Tedyuskung, Eliza, wife of, 575 
Telner, Jacob, 695 
Temperanceville, 201 
Ten-Mile Run, 561 
Tennent, Gilbert, 57, 188 
Tennent, Rev. William, 57, 313, 782 
Tesinigh, 506 
Test Act, 99 
Texel, 590, 856 
Thatcher, Judge, 239 
Thatcher (quoted), 388 
Tharachiawakon, 407 
Thayer, Major, 672 
Theatrical Performances, Story, 269 
Thespians, 270 

Thirteenth Virginia Regiment, 140, 405 
Thirty Years War, 123, 608 
Thistle (ship), 325 
Thoman, Jacob W., 250 
Thomas, David, 233 

Thomas, Governor Sir George, 63, 197, 316, 
449, 536, 683, 747 
Thomas, John, 536 
Thomas, Richard, 60 
Thomas, William M., 558 
Thompson (Pa.), 550 
Thompson, Charles, 779 
Thompson, James, 344, 864 
Thompson, John, 73 
Thompson, Dr. Robert, 601 
Thompson, Thomas McKean, 69 
Thompson, General William, 60, 188, 483, 
507, 570, 606, 694, 831 
Thompson’s, 320 

Thompson’s Battalion Riflemen, 188, 570 

Thompsontown, 73 

Thomson, Charles, 385, 540 

Thorpe, James, 523 

Thorpe, Samuel C., 95 

Three Counties on Delaware, 166 

Three Islands, 528 

Three Mile Run, 670 

Three Rivers, 713 

Thunder Bay, 744 

Tiadaghton, 398 

Ticonderoga, 703, 848 

Tiger (ship), 589 

Tilehausey, 300 

Tilghman, James, 68, 101, 144, 186, 661, 774 

Till, William, 683 

Times, The Philadelphia, 533 

Tinicum, 124, 608 

Tinicum Island, 608, 665 

Tioga, 458, 619 

Tioga County, 156, 181, 194, 208, 596, 598 

Tioga Flats, 367 

Tioga Point, 227, 556 

Titusville, 591 

Toanchain, 744 

Toby’s Creek, 111 

Tockwogh River, 505 

Tod, Honorable John, 179 

Todd, Mr., 4 

Todkahdohs, 362 

Tohickon, 664 

Tolkeo, 757 

Tomlinson, Isaac, 111 

Tomlinson’s Run, 586 

“Tommy,” British, 533 

Tonnant, La (ship), 894 

Tony, 113 



INDEX 


955 


Tories, 93, 224, 257 
Torkillus, Rev. Reorus, 609 
Torpedo, Fulton’s, 565 
Tour, Grant’s, 882 
Towanah, 71 
Towanda, 49, 194, 360 
Towanda Creek, 360, 775 
Tower, John Mason’s, 287 
Tower of London, 802 
Traders, Era of Indian, 552 
Traders, King of, 321 
Trappe, 880 
Treat, Captain, 672 
Treat, Dr. Malichi, 602 
Treaty, 607 

Treaty of Ghent, 53, 583 

TrPAtv of ^ 

Treaty of Aix-lk-Chappelle, 318, 412, 839 

Treaty of Ryswick, 412 

Treaty of St. Marys, 437 

Treaty of Utrecht, 412 

Treaty of Versailles, 427 

Treasurer, State, 6 

“Tree of Life,” 518 

Trent, William, 77, 125, 126, 127, 322, 748 

Trenton, 3, 55 

Trenton, Battle of, 908 

Tresse, Thomas, 128 

Trexler, Frank M., 88 

T Rails, 232 

Triangle, Erie, 156, 240 

Trimble, Alexander, 68 

Trimble, James, 68, 69, 70 

Trimble’s Ford, 628 

Trindlespring Road, 441 

Trinity Church, 71 

Trinity College, 182 

Triumph (vessel), 426 

Troop, Philadelphia City, 355, 607 

Troy, Michael, 674, 907 

Trumbull, Governor Jonathan, 103, 903 

Tulliallan, 391, 392 

Tully, Pat, 49 

Tulpehocken, 16, 28, 66, 267, 408, 463, 563, 
587, 798, 818, 886 
Tulpehocken Creek, 130 
Tuneam, Joe, 650 
Tuneam, Tom, 650 
Tunkhannock, 367, 439, 542 
Turbutt Township, 208 
Turk, John, 299 
Turtle Creek, 287, 537, 802, 828 
Turkey’s Foot, 320 
Turkey Point, 627 
Turner, John, 526 
Turner, Nathaniel, 446 
Turner, Robert, 85 
Turner, Susan, 369 
Tuscany, Grand Duke of, 915 
Tuscarawas, 140 
Tuskegee Institute, 8 
Tusten, Colonel, 501 
Tutelo, 563 . 

Twelfth Regiment Continental Line, 260, 
332 

Twenty-fifth Emergency Regiment, 452 
Twightwee, 657 
Twilight (ship), 883 
Type Foundry, First, 695 
Typewriter, Story, 118, 119, 120 

U 


Ulster, 360 
Underwood, 299, 348 
Ungaza, Don Louis de, 487 
Unhappy Jake (Indian), 886 


Union, 201 

Union Canal, 131, 274, 830 
Union County, 9, 11, 181, 208, 210, 252, 296, 
343, 344, 432, 461, 467, 554, 568, 596, 673, 
775, 854 


Union County Historical Society, 9 

Union Fire Company, 860 

Union Iron Works, 107 

Union League Club, 882 

Union Saloon, 368 

Uniontown, 38 

Unitarian Church, 99 

United States Gazette (quoted), 351, 837 

United States Bank, 923 

Universal Instructor, etc., 898 

University of Pennsylvania, 45, 99, 422 

Updegraffs, 112 

Upland, 124, 328, 530, 599, 754, 792 
Upland County, 396 
Upper Sandusky, 739 
Upper Wakefield Township, 861 
Uren, William, 49, 107, 193, 316, 770 
Utchowig, 506 

V 

Vale, Captain Joseph G., 715 
Valley Forge, 224, 307, 353, 836, 848 
Valley of the Swans, 856 
Van Bibber, 336 
Vanbraam, Jacob, 800 
Van Buren, President Martin, 184, 194, 289, 
854 

Van Buskirk, Samuel, 473 
Van Campen, Cornelius, 210 
Van Campen, Moses, 210 
Vandemark, 493 
Vanderslips Farm, 367 
Van Dyck, Sheriff, 667 
Vandyke, Henry, 468 
Van Gundy, Christian, 468 
Van Horn, Rev. William, 484 
Vanness, Jerome, 543 
Vansdale, Mrs. Catherine, 369 
Vansdale, Mrs. Elizabeth, 369 
Van Swearingen, Captain, 168 
Van Syckel, Samuel, 593 
Vanuxenn, James, 900 
Varkens Kill, 123 
Vaudreuil, Philippe de Rigaud, 639 
Vaughn, Captain Robert V., 473 
Vaux, Richard, 389 
Venango, 413, 800 

Venango County, 156, 181, 185, 208, 591, 596, 
598, 718 

Venus, Transit of, Story, 384 
Vergennes, 914 
Vernon, Nathaniel, 308 

Veterans, F. & I. War Organize, Story, 304 

Victoria, Queen, 883 

Village Record, 837 

Villeminot, Alexandrienne Felice, 95 

Villier, M. de, 133 

Vincent, Benjamin, 326 

Vincent, Bethuel, 327, 516 

Vincent, Cornelius, 326, 516, 674 

Vincent, Daniel, 327, 516 

Vincent, George Edgar, 328 

Vincent, Isaac, 326 

Vincent, John, 326, 516, 674, 903 

Vincent, John Heyl, 326 

Vincent, Peter, 326, 674 

Vincent Island, 402 

Vindicia Hibernicae, 642 

Virginia, 37, 51 

Virginia Boundary Dispute, 659 
Virginia Military Institute, 203 
Virgorus, Arnold, 830 
Von Blume, 335 


Wade, J. B., 369 
Wade, Jennie, 453 
Wade, Robert, 150 
Waddells, 861 
Wagenseller, G., 33, 34, 35 



956 


INDEX 


Wagons, 134 
Wagner, 852 
Waldy, Henry, 832 
Wales, Prince of, 883 
Walhalla. 96 
Walhonding River, 585 
Walker (quoted), 526 
Walker, Captain Andrew, 543 
Walker, Captain, 296 
Walker, Colonel, 631 
Walker, John, 554 

Walker, Honorable Jonathan, 179, 646, 865 

Walker, Honorable T. H., 193, 316 

Walking Purchase, 273 , 448, 648 

Wallace, Robert, 175 

Wallace, Mrs. Robert, 175 

Walnut Street Prison, 785 

Walrus (ship), 590, 856 

Walthour, Christopher, 375 

Walton, George, 70 

Wangomen, 424 

Warboss, Brother, 825 

Ward, Captain, 526 

Ward, Ensign Edward, 125, 132, 199 

Warley, Francis, 415 

Warren, 840 

Warren County, 156, 181, 185, 208, 596, 597 
Warren, General John, 223, 597 
Warren, Maria, 392 
Warner, Edward, 382 
Warner, Isaiah, 897 
Warner, Manson, 143 
Warrington Academy, 97 
Warrior Branch, 920 
Warrior Run, 188, 296, 327, 868 
Warrior’s Path, 559 
Wurtemberg, 22 
Warwick, 57, 58 
Warwick Furnace, 651 
Washington Artillery, 277 
Washington County, 131, 147, 174, 175, 180, 
181, 262, 282, 329, 596, 597, 687, 775, 851 
Washington College, 202 
Washington, George, 36, 52, 55, 67, 70, 72, 
77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 90, 110, 126, 132, 133, 
139, 140, 146, 162, 178, 222, 238, 241, 272, 

307, 311, 322, 356, 357, 358, 366, 402, 406, 

408, 409, 416, 417, 418, 426, 440, 443, 444, 

445, 470, 471, 483, 497, 503, 504, 507, 509, 

514, 542, 550, 551, 570, 571, 597, 601, 602, 

603, 606, 607, 617, 627, 628, 629, 636, 638, 

643, 651, 652, 660, 668, 669, 670, 678, 687, 

690, 691, 698, 699, 704, 710, 729, 731, 739, 

741, 759, 791, 799, 809, 816, 827, 828, 834, 

839, 848, 849, 861, 868, 869, 870, 871, 873, 

886, 887, 901, 908, 909, 910 

Washington and Lee University, 202 
Washington Union, 35 
Washingtonville, 515 
Washington Zouaves, 473 
Wasp (ship), 324 
Watson, Captain, 348 
Watson, Mrs. (Captain), 369 
Watson Flats, 591 
Watson, James, 520 
Watson, John Fanning, 450, 807, 900 
Watson, Luke, 793 
Watson, General Nathan, 335, 583 
Watson, Thomas, 900 
Watson, William, 900 
Watsontown, 306 
Watchman, The Danville, 299 
Waterford, 126, 413, 840 
Waterville (Pa.), 556 
Watteville, Baron John de, 824 
Watts, John, 255, 908 
“Watty & Meg,” 579 
Waverly, N. Y., 17 
Wayman, Elizabeth, 31 
Wayne, General Anthony, 1, 2, 3, 44, 138, 
210, 241, 307, 444, 445, 504, 571, 572, 597, 
603, 617, 629, 652, 653, 668, 690, 709, 848, 901 


Wayne County, 181, 194, 564, 596, 597, 775 
Wayne Guards, 279 
Wayne, Isaac, 450 
Wayne Junction, 754 
Waynesboro, 623, 707 
Weaver, Ethan Allen, 204 
Weaver’s Riots, Kensington, 466 
Webb, William, 79 
Webbe, John, 116 
Webster, Pelatiah, 18, 284 
Weheequeckhon, 437 
Weidrich, 454 
Weiser, Benjamin, 209 
Weiser, Conrad, 65, 66, 67, 155, 

235, 255, 272, 273, 302, 322, 326, 

449, 540, 541, 552, 562, 563, 640, 

721, 722, 726, 748, 757, 758, 759, 

798, 867. 868, 884, 885, 886 
Weiser, Samuel, 209 

Weiss, Colonel Jacob, 111 '- 

Weissport, 65, 111, 388, 577, 824, 918 

Weitzel, John, 209, 907 

Welcome (ship), 167, 531, 596 

Weletawash, 766 

Welsh’s Tavern, 628 

Weltner, Colonel, 616 

Wesley, Charles, 313 

Wesley, John, 313 

West, Benjamin, 565 

West, Robert, 206 

West Augusta (Va.), 489 

West Branch Battle, 586 

West Branch Canal, 132 

West Chester, 183, 504, 837, 920 

West Findlay (Pa.), 328 

West, Milton, 772 

Westminster, 673 

Westmoreland County, 61, 72, -87, 93, 100, 

101, 131, 145, 146, 147, 163, 164, 167, 168, 

177, 180, 181, 198, 216, 225 , 309, 402, 404, 

416, 420, 479, 489, 527, 551, 596, 660, 775, 

880, 895 

Westmoreland County (Conn.), 493 

YV estmoreland Township (Conn.), 493 

West Newton, 528 

West Pittsburgh, 201 

West Point, 91, 138, 280 

West Point Military Academy, 280 

West River, 328 

Weston, John, 257 

Weston, Richard, 257 

Wetherald, 719 

Wharton, Anne Hollingsworth, 613, 692, 744 
Wharton, Joseph, 71 
Wharton Mansion, 347, 352 
Wharton, Richard, 71 
Wharton, Samuel, 780 
Wharton, Thomas, 71, 284, 347, 699 
Wharton, Governor Thomas, Jr., 71, 485, 
604 

Wheatfield, 453 
Wheatland, 289 

Wheelock, James (Indian), 523 

Wheeling, W. Va., 37, 38, 167, 362, 488, 740 

Wheeling Creek, 412 

Whigs, 34, 93 

Whitacre, James, 586 

White, John H., 473 

White, Miss N., 348 

White, Samuel, 5 

White, Bishop William, 265, 304, 642 
White Deer, 772 

White Deer Creek, 467, 503, 614, 772 

White Deer Valley, 468 

White Eyes, 226, 281, 654, 749 

White Horse, 651 

White Horse Inn, 504 

White Marsh, 31, 307, 352, 869 

White Plains, 607 

White Thunder, 841 

White Woman of Genesee, 244, 813 

Whitefield, George, 32, 57, 312, 336 


172, 227, 
406, 421, 
658, 700, 
773, 797, 



INDEX 


957 


# 


Whitehill, Robert, 216, 248, 485, 896 

Whiteman, Benjamin, 150 

Whitemarsh, Heber, 299 

Whiteman, Adam, 808 

Whitten, O. J., 473, 474 

Whittier, John Greenleaf, 6, 886 

Whiskey (dog), 190 

Whisky, “Monongahela,” 687 

Whisky Insurrection, 52, 56, 199, 678, 687 

Whistling Johnnie, 350 

Wicacoa, 667 

Wichetunk, 710, 781, 912 

Wickam, J. J., 88 

Wickersham, State Superintendent, 160 
Wickes, Captain, 324 
Wiconisco Valley, 173 
Wiegner, Christopher, 32 
Wiggans, Dr. Thomas, 306 
Wilakinko, 71 
Wilcox, Crandall, 111 
Wilcox, John, 73, 292, 693 
Wilkins, Robert, 623 
Wilkins, Honorable William, 179, 552 
Wilkes Barre, 70, 71, 103, 111, 132, 194, 359, 
439, 440, 451, 457, 458, 491, 492, 556 
Wilkinson, General James, 144, 334, 571, 607 
Wilkinson, Mr., 97 
Will, Edward C., 379 
Wills Creek, 125, 470, 800, 841 
Wills, David, 810 
Willard, 375 
Willard, Edward N., 88 
Willard, Mrs. Mary, 376 
Willets, Frank P., 89 
William, 763 
William and Mary, 843 
Williams, Rev. A. S., 280 
Williams, Dunk, 792 
Williams, Captain E. C., 277 
Williams, Ellis, 297 
Williams, J. T„ 369 
Williams, J. Henry, 88 
Williams, Timothy, 326 
Williams Valley, 172 
Williams, Young, 109 
Williamsburg, 126, 661, 799, 802, 842 
Williamson, Colonel David, 174, 402 
Williamson, Henry 846 
Williamson, Dr. Hugh, 385 
Williamsport, 49, 95, 287, 398, 400, 434, 472, 
498, 542, 723, 877 
Willing, Charles, 80 

Willing, Thomas, 80, 106, 292, 459, 613, 780, 
919 


Willing & Morris, 80 
Willitts, Deborah, 7 
Willits, Isaiah, 820 
Willoughby Run, 452 
Willston, Honorable Horace, 195 
Wilmington, 503, 627 
Wilmot, Dr. Aquila, 224 
Wilmot, David, 49, 194, 195, 196, 432 
Wilmot Proviso, 432 
Wilson, Alexander, 214, 579 
Wilson, Judge A. S., 445 
Wilson, Clarissa, 80 
Wilson College, 624 
Wilson Fort, Story, 692 
Wilson, George, 146, 149, 178, 631 
Wilson, Honorable James, 60, 90, 216, 459, 
605, 749, 872 

Wilson, Lieutenant, 418 
Wilson, Mr., 80 

Wilson, William, 139, 443, 631, 749, 820 

Wilson’s Hall, Matthew, 852 

Winchester, 707 

Winchester, Mr., 298 

Windham, 491 

Winfield, 554, 677, 772 


Wingebone, 436 
Winter, Colonel, 400 
Wintermoot’s Fort, 456 


Winyard, Lieutenant, 348 
Wissahickon, 31 
Witchcraft, Story, 150, 151, 152 
Wohlheiter Family, 343 
Wolf, Charles S., 735 
Wolf, Governor George, 182, 276, 569, 839, 
889, 890, 891 
Wolf, Jacob, 474 
Wolf Run, 261 

Wolfe, General James, 149, 704 
Wolverton, Simon Peter, 192, 496 
Womelsdorf, 247, 407, 757 
Wood, Mrs. Rhoda, 250 
Woodmancy, William, 396 
Woods, George, 200 
Woods, Jean, 179 
Woods, John, 510 
Woodside, Mr., 299 
Woodvale, 378 
Woodward, George W., 34 
Woohnan, John, 359 
Work, Andrew, 172 
World’s Fair, Chicago, 384 
World’s Tour, Grant, 882 
Wren, Captain, 277 
Wright, James, 320 
Wright, John, 300, 821, 822 
Wright, John, Jr., 823 
Wright’s Ferry, 571, 680, 818, 822 
Wrightstown, 862 
Wrightsville, 135, 451, 650 
Wrightsville Meeting House, 650 
Wunderlich & Nead, 706 
Wyalusing, 359, 423, 458 
Wyalusing Falls, 17 
Wyckoff, Cornelius, 402 
Wyckoff, Peter, 402 
Wyngenim, Chief, 404 
Wynksop, Colonel, 879 
Wyoming, 17, 70, 71, 75, 102, 103, 104, 111, 
229, 254, 274, 366, 367, 368, 430, 438, 450, 

456, 460, 462, 468, 491, 492, 493, 496, 507, 

514, 540, 541, 559, 562, 563, 575, 588, 617, 

634, 673, 675, 711, 718, 765, 775, 868, 903, 

905, 911 

Wyoming County, 181, 208, 596, 598, 775 
Wyoming Fort, 560 

Wyoming Massacre, 228, 468, 618, 456, 911 
Wythe, George, 872 


Yadkin River Valley, 736 
Yaqueekhon, 437 
Yale, 46, 328 

Yankee-Pennamite War Story, 559 

Yardleys, 909 

Yarnell, Lieutenant, 626 

Yattman, John, 150 

Yeager, Captain, 277 

Yeates, Catherine, 606 

Yeates, James, 650 

Yeates,-Jasper, 372, 483, 606, 689, 874 , 
Yeates, Sara, 606 
Yellow Breeches Creek, 248, 300 
Yellow Creek, 361 
Yellow Fever, 355, 775, 789 
“Yellow Jack,” 847 
Yellow Springs, 224, 602 
Yohogania County, Va., 163, 489 
York, 11, 81, 258, 329, 415, 418, 569, 582, 616, 
680, 735, 836 

?oJkY B ounTy, E 33. t, 60 82 131 134 135, 180 181, 

& Z: Z: III: 2 & s“:Si Si 

698, 699, 731 „ 

York, Duke of, 165, 755 
York Haven, 298 
York Road, Old, 689 
Yorktown, 849 
York, Va., 661 




958 


INDEX 



Yost, B. F., 193, 314, 847 
Yost, Mr., 119 
Yost, Mrs. B. F., 315, 557 
Yost’s Mill, 719 

Youghiogheny River, 43, 148, 319 
Youghiogheny Valley, 38 
Young Bear (Indian), 767 
Young, Commissary James, 25, 759 
Young, Robert K., 137 

Z 

Zaccheus, 235 
Zacharias, 540 


Zahner, Mr., 846 
Zane, Ebenezer, 740 

Zeisburger, Rev. David, 16, 359, 42* 475, 
563, 584, 826, 867, 886 
Ziegler, George, 136 
Zimmerman, Christian, 558 
Zinzindorf, Benigna, 513, 868 
Zinzindorf, Count Nicholas Ludwig, 15, 16, 
32, 512, 513, 514, 639, 866, 888 
Zion, 464 
Zion, Mount, 464 
Zion Reformed Church, 81, 384 
Zuydt River, 123, 589, 856 




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